Surface Inspection System For Glass Fiber Production Launched
AMETEK Surface Vision, a leading automated surface inspection partner for fast and accurate materials checking, has developed its surface inspection systems for glass fiber production.
Glass fiber is a synthetic material consisting of numerous, extremely fine fibers of glass. It is a unique industrial textile material, strong and versatile for a range of applications including infrastructure, building and construction, pipes and tanks, oil, gas, chemical and transportation.
Also known as fiberglass, glass fiber and the use of glass fiber mats are growing in a wide range of applications, which has increased the need for accurate, automated inspection. The volume of wetlaid nonwoven materials for construction interiors is continuing to grow alongside the demand for high-quality construction materials.
These markets expect products with perfect fiber formation. AMETEK Surface Vision uses its SmartView web inspection and SmartAdvisor web monitoring systems along with SmartSync, creating a unified inspection platform to ensure high-quality results in the production process.
This total vision integration combines the power of advanced SmartView classification with the flexible, multi-position camera technology of SmartAdvisor. A customizable, modular inspection system, SmartView uses multiple cameras and lights, expertly arranged on glass fiber production processes. This can range from an optimized optical arrangement to selecting the suitable light to highlight topographical, 3D defects like wrinkles or contamination, missing binder, or any other damage of the web. Patented air knives are used to reduce the maintenance work, while special cooling components embedded in the mechanical design allow the system to be installed close to the dryer section.
As a result, the operator can rapidly determine the root cause of any defects and take the necessary corrective action. An integrated fault map provides an accurate process quality overview, while classified defects are synchronized with the associated video files from upstream cameras. An integrated database provides comprehensive reporting for all visual anomalies.
Volker Koelmel, Global Manager of Plastic, Nonwovens & Paper, said: “Defect-free glass fibers are essential in a growing range of applications. Our proven SmartView and SmartAdvisor systems provide manufacturers of glass fiber non-woven materials with the assurance they need that defects will be identified during the production process, leading to a high-quality product and a reduction in customer claims.”
For more information: www.ameteksurfacevision.com
