Automated Label Inspection: How to Protect Your Brand and Reduce Costs

It may seem trivial, but errors or missing information on labels can have significant consequences, not just for the brand image but also for the entire production batch. They can cause substantial damage to the producing or marketing company despite the quality and safety of the food being guaranteed.

Why should producers pay maximum attention to label compliance?

Labels provide essential information for safe food consumption, many of which are legally required. Some information is pre-printed, while the producer adds other details during the production line. Errors or malfunctions during this phase can lead to non-compliant labels, causing product batches to be recalled despite the product's quality being guaranteed. For example, missing expiration dates due to package misalignment or printer malfunction can result in batch recalls, as it is impossible to verify each package manually. Other issues may include missing labels, barcodes, or discrepancies between the expiration date on the product and its secondary packaging. To prevent entire batches of compliant products from being recalled, minimizing the risk of these unforeseen issues is crucial, which can lead to significant costs for companies.

Today, available technologies can be a valuable aid for F&B companies

Technology can significantly help automate controls, preventing many issues. These controls must be integrated and flexible, adapting to the company's various needs. Mandatory information can be located in different positions on different supports and materials depending on the type of packaging, such as bottles, food bags, or trays. With the increasing variety of packaging, greater attention is needed to ensure the presence of mandatory information. For example, when changing the material used for the expiration date label, the company must verify the compatibility between the material and the ink to prevent the color from fading and making the data unreadable. Additionally, some specific packages have the mandatory information label on the bottom, which is not visible during packaging or shelving. For these reasons, it is increasingly important to adopt automated systems to check the presence/absence of labels and verify the printed information.

Solution for code and label inspection in bottles and packaging for the food industry

Antares Vision Group's solutions for code and label inspection are designed to address these challenges. They utilize advanced cameras dedicated to accurately verifying labels and reading codes on packages, positioned both above and below the packaging. This ensures that even labels situated beneath the packaging, not visible to direct manual visual inspection, are checked for the presence and correctness of data. The inspection precisely verifies variable data such as expiration dates, batch codes, as well as graphical elements like symbols and logos. This proactive control is crucial in preventing errors such as label swapping, incorrect language application on labels, or the printing of mandatory information that is erroneous or illegible due to unsuitable printing materials or misalignment of products. These solutions are particularly beneficial during production, where the increasing diversity in packaging formats, frequent format changes, and high production line speeds can lead to significant issues. By ensuring proper and reliable label management, these solutions not only help in regulatory compliance but also in maintaining high standards of product quality and safety, which are fundamental for consumer trust and business success.