Computer Vision Defect Detection: Thirteen Years of Experiene With the Composite Laminate Panel Flooring and Laminate Furniture Industry Components, 2006 Decorative & Industrial Laminates Symposium

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The concept of computer vision defect detection in the wood products industry is well over two decades old. The successful development of computer vision defect detection, invented by Protronics SRL for inspection of their company’s laminate panel products, is just about one decade old.

For composite panel production, slow computer speed versus line speed in the plant was the bottleneck in the 1970’s and 1980’s. No “for profit” factory is going to slow down the line speed so the camera-computer system could get a better “look” at the product for defect inspection. As line speeds increased and customer expectations rose, every company responded the same way, they added more human eyes to the line. This company developed this computer vision technology approximately 10 years ago and is the only company that remained in the industry over this period of time. The current product in the market is a fifth generation technology with company manufactured “cameras,” since commercial cameras were not adequate for the diverse demands for the wood panel industry.

The success and durability of this technology is due to coordination of the Frati Group engineering manufacturing their own manufacturing key components, software design, and sales efforts.