Antares Vision Group has stood out in recent years for its ability to innovate in traceability, inspection, and quality control within the food industry. Introducing innovative solutions such as the "All-in-One" inspection machines has marked a significant turning point in the efficiency of production lines and product quality. We spoke with Matteo Bandini, Business Owner of Food & Packaging, to delve deeper into these technologies' main advantages and the sector's future outlook.

The “All-in-One” series has been described as a true revolution in food inspection. What were the main advantages observed when integrating this solution into production lines?

The “ALL-IN-ONE” series introduced a new approach to inspection by integrating multiple controls into a single machine. This has allowed our clients to simplify process management, reduce operational costs, and optimize space. However, the main advantage lies in the completeness of the inspection: we can simultaneously perform checks on weight, in-line microleak detection, foreign body presence—or weight control, seal integrity check, and label and code inspection. This enables quality control to be carried out at a single point, with differentiated rejection depending on the type of product defect, reducing complaints and protecting the brand.

The application of in-line microleak detection technology has marked a paradigm shift, moving from sample-based checks to 100% in-line inspection. Beyond productivity impact, what benefits has this brought to producers? Which sectors has it been most widely applied, and where do you still see room for growth?

Moving from sample-based inspection to total inspection means drastically reducing risks, enhancing the assurance of product quality control, and increasing consumer trust. The benefits are tangible: fewer risks of non-compliant products on supermarket shelves, fewer complaints, and stronger brand protection. We have applied laser spectroscopy technology across various sectors: baked goods, cheese, fresh-cut products, meat, cold cuts, fresh pasta, grated cheese, fish, and olives—particularly for products packaged in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). However, we see significant growth opportunities in the fresh food sector, especially in markets where distribution spans long distances and shelf life is a competitive factor. A concrete example includes long shelf-life products such as farro salads stored at room temperature but containing MAP. Ensuring packaging integrity during the packaging phase is essential to guarantee product quality and consumer safety.

What are the main issues related to label defects in the food sector, and how can Antares Vision Group support companies in preventing product recalls or complaints?

Even a minor labelling error can have significant consequences in the food sector. We’re discussing issues like incorrect ingredient or allergen listings, missing or illegible expiration dates, non-compliant codes, or poorly placed labels. These defects can lead to product recalls due to missing mandatory information or consumer complaints, with economic and reputational impacts for the company. In this context, our IE 700 inspection solutions for horizontal products and the IE4000 for vertical products are designed to ensure label quality control and the presence and readability of codes during production. Our systems verify the presence, accuracy, and legibility of information in real time, and they detect printing or application defects.