In this article, Temas introduces visual inspection applications in the pharmaceutical industry—an industry directly tied to human life and health, where exceptionally strict standards and high reliability are required. This article provides practical insights to help address real-world challenges in your production line.

Key Inspection Items in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Foreign Objects, Scratches, and Stains

If foreign objects, scratches, or stains on packaging or blister packs reach end users, they can pose serious health risks. For this reason, inspection processes must be carried out with extreme rigor to ensure that no defects are overlooked. 

Black Spots and Contamination

Black spots on pharmaceutical packaging or the presence of foreign materials with different colors from the product can create a strong sense of insecurity for consumers and negatively impact brand image. Even when functionality is not affected, the inspection system must still be capable of detecting extremely small contaminants.

Cylindrical Product Inspection

Syringe Visual Inspection

The system inspects foreign objects on the surface of plastic syringes and measures the length of the syringe tip. In conventional systems using line scan cameras, equipment costs are high, and images are easily distorted due to curved surfaces, making it difficult to acquire suitable images for inspection.

The proposed solution replicates line scan inspection performance by using area scan cameras combined with image stitching techniques. Specifically, the object is rotated while the area camera captures images around its circumference. These images are then stitched together to inspect the entire surface.

Compared to line scan cameras, area cameras allow for easier adjustment of focus and lighting. In addition, by aligning each segmented image before stitching, the system can automatically compensate for positional deviations even when the object is off-center. This prevents image distortion and ensures optimal images for inspection.

Visual Inspection for Various Types of Foreign Objects

Foreign Object Inspection on Medical Patches

This is the final inspection step before medical patches are packaged. Due to the transparent film on the surface, which causes light reflection, many inspection systems struggle to achieve reliable results. The requirement is to detect multiple types of foreign objects while keeping the protective film intact.

ViSCO proposed a solution using the VTV-9000 machine vision inspection system ViSCO in combination with specialized lighting control equipment. By varying lighting conditions and performing multiple image captures with high-resolution cameras, the system meets inspection requirements within the specified cycle time.

ViSCO optimized the optical conditions and employed dedicated cameras to eliminate the effects of reflection, enabling the acquisition of images suitable for reliable foreign object detection.

High-Precision Full-Circumference Inspection

Plastic Housing Visual Inspection

Foreign objects, stains, or burrs on plastic housings are critical safety-related defects. As a result, the inspection system must be capable of inspecting the entire circumference of the product.

The proposed system captures side images while the product rotates, then takes top-view images at multiple focal depths to ensure both the opening and deeper interior areas are in focus. Each inspection station is configured with optimized optical conditions, enabling accurate detection of foreign objects and scratches using dedicated inspection tools.

Other Applications

In addition to the applications above, ViSCO has implemented a wide range of inspection systems, including printed content inspection (such as decimal points in ingredient tables), spout visual inspection, needle inspection, detection of mixed tablet types, foreign object inspection in infusion bags, and detection of misaligned or peeling labels on packaging.

Key Considerations to Avoid Failure in Image-Based Inspection Implementation

Many manufacturers worry that even after investing in inspection systems, they may not be able to fully utilize them. To maximize effectiveness, sample testing and feasibility evaluation in actual production environments before deployment are critical. It is essential to confirm whether inspection targets are achievable, under what conditions, and with what level of accuracy. This ensures the selection of a truly suitable inspection system that delivers long-term value to the factory.

“Alternatively, working directly with an experienced system integrator with proven factory implementation experience can help accurately define inspection requirements from the early stages. Temas is the authorized distributor of ViSCO camera-based and AI Vision visual inspection solutions in Vietnam, providing support for sample testing, system configuration consulting, operator training, and on-site tuning during commissioning."

Early technical discussions help clearly define inspection requirements and select solutions that match actual production line conditions, avoiding incorrect configurations or underperforming investments. Engineers and factories interested in ViSCO’s automated inspection solutions or seeking consultation for real-world inspection challenges are welcome to contact Temas for in-depth technical support.

Why ViSCO?

The VTV-9000 machine vision inspection system ViSCO integrates high-speed hardware with ViSCO’s proprietary software, enabling highly accurate inspection with short processing times. The system supports high-resolution cameras, advanced processing capabilities, and large-capacity memory for image storage.

The software includes more than 70 inspection tools, offering both broad applicability across industrial products and deep specialization for specific industries. It is also designed for easy setup and operation, even for users without advanced image processing expertise.

In addition, ViSCO provides proprietary optical solutions that focus on acquiring optimal images before applying complex processing algorithms. Technologies such as ultra-deep depth-of-field cameras enable angled imaging while keeping the entire surface in focus, achieving inspection accuracy comparable to—or exceeding—human visual inspection.

Furthermore, ViSCO’s inspection algorithms are designed to mimic human observation and judgment. A notable example is CrackFinder®, which accurately detects subtle cracks even under low-contrast conditions by identifying defects based on shape rather than relying solely on brightness differences.