Scratches, dents, chips and edge damage
Configured against agreed examples, limits and the required line response.
Inspection systems
Surface and defect detection
Surface inspection looks for visible departures from an accepted appearance. The challenge is making the target defect stand out while allowing harmless texture and finish variation.
Application-led engineering
A vision system engineered around your process.
We select bright-field, dark-field, diffuse, backlight or structured illumination according to how the defect interacts with light, then prove the inspection on good and bad samples.
We start with representative products, known defects, acceptable variation, line speed and the required response. That evidence determines the field of view, resolution, optics, processing and mechanical design.
Optical designCamera, lens, light and background
Line integrationPLC, tracking, reject and HMI
Acceptance testingAgreed products and defect samples
Complete system scope Optics, software, controls and mechanical integration.
What it can inspect
Typical surface defects checks.
Every item below is subject to application proof using the actual product, presentation and production conditions.
Visible contamination and foreign marks
Configured against agreed examples, limits and the required line response.
Coating gaps, streaks and finish inconsistency
Configured against agreed examples, limits and the required line response.
Moulding flash and incomplete features
Configured against agreed examples, limits and the required line response.
Print, decoration and artwork defects
Configured against agreed examples, limits and the required line response.
Seal-area and pack-surface damage
Configured against agreed examples, limits and the required line response.
Production value
Make the inspection part of the process.
Detection is only useful when the result is delivered to the right control, operator or quality record at the right time.
- Reveal subtle defects with application-specific lighting
- Apply consistent acceptance criteria
- Store failed images where the architecture allows
- Monitor defect types and production trends
Capture to action
One coordinated inspection workflow.
Capture
Trigger a stable image using controlled lighting, suitable optics and repeatable product presentation.
Decide
Apply proven rules, measurements or trained models with product-specific acceptance limits.
Act
Reject, divert, stop, alarm, guide automation or pass the result to production data systems.
Where it fits
Applications across UK manufacturing.
Questions, answered
Vision inspection FAQs
Can vision find every type of surface defect?
No single optical set-up finds every possible defect. We define the defect set, size, contrast and viewing conditions, then test representative samples.
Can glossy or transparent surfaces be inspected?
Often, yes, but reflections must be controlled using carefully positioned lighting, polarisation and sometimes multiple views.
Do you use AI for surface inspection?
AI can help where normal variation is complex, but conventional tools remain preferable when a deterministic rule solves the inspection reliably.