RGB print mark detection at high production speeds with the B&R Color Camera
In industrial printing, precision is everything. A slight misalignment, an undetected print mark, or a change in material can quickly lead to waste, downtime and rising costs. At the same time, production environments are becoming more complex: shorter runs, frequent design changes and increasingly demanding packaging materials are used.
For years, print mark detection has relied heavily on monochrome systems. They are fast but they reach their limits when colors blend into the background or when substrates change. Glossy films, transparent materials and multi-colored designs make consistent detection much more challenging.
Increased uptime and OEE while minimizing material waste
The use of color cameras is therefore an obvious choice. But in practice, it often comes with a trade-off: slower processing speeds, more complex system integration, reduced synchronization with the printing press – and higher costs, as processing up to three times more data requires significantly greater CPU power.
With its new Color Camera, B&R takes a holistic approach. Instead of treating machine vision as a separate system, it becomes an integral part of the machine control loop.
This means that image capture, data processing and machine response are fully synchronized. The result is real-time print mark detection and immediate, in-cycle corrections at production speeds of up to 500 m/min. By addressing deviations as they occur, the system helps reduce scrap at the source. For printing applications where material costs and waste margins are critical, this can make a measurable difference in ROI.
Constant quality despite variable conditions
One of the key challenges in modern printing is variability. Materials change, lighting conditions shift, and designs evolve. To handle this, the Color Camera continuously adapts during operation. Its auto-exposure functionality dynamically adjusts exposure time and contrast, maintaining consistent detection performance without interrupting the process. In practice, this means fewer manual interventions, less reliance on operator experience and a more stable production process.
We are making vision an integral part of the process. Our Color Camera is native to the machine control system. This means we deliver a complete printing solution – one that enables a higher level of autonomy.
A step toward more autonomous machines
The integration of vision, motion and control opens the door to a new level of automation. Processes no longer depend solely on predefined settings or manual adjustments but can react dynamically to real production conditions.
This is particularly relevant in printing, where small deviations can quickly escalate into costly waste. By enabling immediate feedback and correction, vision becomes an active part of the process. And that marks a clear shift: from reactive quality control to proactive, closed-loop process optimization.