Manufacturers often rely on cameras, weight checks or X-ray systems to inspect packaged products, but each method has limitations when it comes to identifying hidden defects inside sealed packaging.
To address this challenge, Rohde & Schwarz has introduced the R&S IMAGER, a real-time millimetre-wave inspection system designed to examine packaged goods without opening them or exposing products and operators to ionising radiation.
The system uses millimetre waves to penetrate common packaging materials such as plastic, cardboard, laminated seals and glass. Reflected signals are captured by a sensor array and converted into high-contrast three-dimensional images, allowing manufacturers to inspect the contents of every package while products move along the production line. The generated volumetric images can also serve as digital twins and be analysed using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify defects automatically.
The technology is intended for a range of industries. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, it can verify the presence and correct positioning of syringes, needles, autoinjectors and other components inside sealed cartons without affecting sterile products. In logistics, it enables inspection of sealed shipments to detect missing or misplaced items that cannot be identified through weight measurements or external visual inspection. Food and beverage manufacturers can use the system to identify damaged products, sealing defects and vacuum loss inside closed containers while maintaining production throughput.
Unlike X-ray systems, the scanner uses non-ionising millimetre waves, eliminating radiation-related concerns while allowing continuous inspection at production speed. The system is designed to integrate with existing production control software, enabling manufacturers to expand quality inspection capabilities without significant changes to factory infrastructure.
As manufacturers face stricter quality standards and increasingly complex supply chains, volumetric millimetre-wave imaging could offer a practical alternative for high-speed, non-destructive inspection of packaged products.
Click here for the official announcement.
