Quality Assurance for the Coating of Metal Sheets, Foils, Glass and other Materials

Detecting defective coatings with an infrared camera has many advantages:

  • In-line and offline process control avoids costly rejects
  • Non-destructive and automated monitoring of coating quality
  • Flexible adaptation to different measurement tasks (recipes, belt speed)
  • Integration into existing process and system environments

Surface coating of metal sheets, foils, glass or even plastics effectively protects them from external influences, prevents corrosion and wear, and increases scratch resistance, for example. Using infrared cameras and active excitation – for example with the reflectography method – allows non-destructive and process-synchronous monitoring to ensure that these coatings are free of defects as soon as they are applied.

In the process, it is possible, for example, to test the homogeneity and quantity of liquid coatings such as water, oil and adhesive coatings. Furthermore, the properties of various functional coatings made of metals, semiconductors, dielectrics, organic and nanomaterials can be tested by means of thermography.

LayIR-CHECK: Automated Solution for Testing

The LayIR-CHECK system for reflectography consists of one or more cooled infrared cameras of the ImageIR® series with special lens and plant-specific installation design, for example with extra water cooling, modified connection units and a control cabinet. The application-specific INDU-SCAN software developed in-house by InfraTec controls the LayIR-CHECK system, processes the measurement data and generates the test results.

InfraTec supplies the thermographic inspection system as a complete solution consisting of consulting, design, installation and commissioning. The installation of the system components takes place directly in the existing plant and enables the direct integration into internal processes, which ensures an efficient and permanently operational inline inspection. Flexible, industrial-grade cabling technology ensures the connection of the infrared camera. The camera can be equipped with task-specific spectral filters via an integrated filter wheel, so that its sensitivity range is precisely matched to the spectral properties of the coating to be detected.

Detecting Defective Coatings using Infrared Cameras

LayIR-CHECK is an automated solution to inspect the surface coating of sheet metal or other materials. Based on information about the layer thickness, coating defects with a diameter of up to approx. 1 millimetre can be efficiently identified. The system alerts immediately and automatically initiates or requests process interventions. Machine parameters can thus be readjusted immediately and production continues optimally.

Measurement as well as storage, evaluation and comparison of measurement data are carried out with a powerful thermographic special software based on the INDU-SCAN modular system. This software allows a very flexible response to daily changing inspection tasks - characterised by changes in types and recipes as well as different belt speeds.

The thermography-based characterisation of coatings by means of reflectography is a special procedure whose high specificity is largely determined by the materials involved in the process. Specially developed emitter units with tailored spectral properties are used for this purpose. Their thermal radiation is in turn reflected spectrally differentiated on the surface of the test object and recorded by the infrared camera. The intensity of this reflected radiation then allows the desired conclusions to be drawn about the coating process. Thus, the method is part of active and spectral thermography. This form of measurement not only allows conclusions to be drawn about upstream processes, but it also permanently characterises the quality of the coating online. This makes it possible to monitor production, with the findings of which the product quality can be raised to the next level.

Advantages over other Test Methods

The inspection is fully automated, online, direct and above all non-destructive. Fully integrated into existing processes and system environments, it avoids costly final inspections and rejects. The automated system can be operated in very fast subframe modes for very fast processes, such as strip processes. Here, the highest sampling rates are combined with the highest geometric resolution. In addition it can be flexible adapted to different measurement tasks (recipes, belt speed).

Use of LayIR-CHECK for these Industries & Applications

  • thermal imaging for automotive applications
    Automotive Industry

    Automotive Industry

    Infrared camera systems help you to secure a high product quality in production and at your suppliers.

  • thermal imaging in metallurgy
    Metallurgy

    Metallurgy

    Efficiently reduce the energy consumption of your metallurgic processes using infrared camera systems.

  • thermal imaging in plastic industry
    Plastics Industry

    Plastics Industry

    Cost-efficiently control die-casting and extrusion processes by means of infrared camera systems.

  • thermal imaging in glass industry
    Glass Industry

    Glass Industry

    Measure correctly temperature distributions behind and on glass by using selected spectral filters.

  • thermal imaging in aviation
    Aerospace Industry

    Aerospace Industry

    Comply with highest security demands by applying state-of-the-art infrared camera systems.

Get in contact with InfraTec thermography division

Would You Like to Know More?

It is not unusual for tasks to be associated with special requirements. Discuss your specific application needs with our specialists, receive further technical information or learn more about our additional services.

United States

InfraTec infrared LLC
75024 Plano, TXUSA
InfraTec service
Comprehensive Service from InfraTec

Comprehensive Service

Our Company’s own service department accompanies you even with complex automation solutions far beyond the actual sale. In the event of malfunctions, your enquiry is forwarded directly to the employees via a hotline. By remote maintenance, you will receive an initial diagnosis. Together with you, we analyse the cause of the problem and quickly find a solution.

InfraTec Service - Technical Support
InfraTec Service – Technical Support

InfraTec Service – Technical Support

For more than 30 years, InfraTec has been implementing thermographic solutions with partners worldwide. Based on this wealth of experience, a thorough analysis of the initial situation is one of the first steps in cooperation. We prepare feasibility analyses and advise you on the planning of your future thermographic system. Afterwards, you will receive an offer adapted to your specific requirements.

Thermography trainings
Training of your Employees

Training of your Employees

In our training centre in Dresden, you can attend practical thermography training courses. After the transfer of the turnkey system, upon request qualified employees of our service team will introduce you step by step to your automation solution and instruct future users on your premises.

Camera protective housing for infrared cameras by InfraTec
Wide Range of Protective Housings

Wide Range of Protective Housings

The InfraTec product range includes numerous protective housings. The all-weather and robust metal housings allow the use of the thermographic cameras in harsh environments and protect against mechanical stress, dust and splash water. Depending on requirements, users can also choose ATEX-certified protective housings that can be used in potentially explosive atmospheres.

InfraTec camera equipment
Ask for your suitable accessories

InfraTec IR Camera Equipment

InfraTec offers high-quality accessories for all camera series. This allows users to flexibly adapt their camera to changing test and measurement environments and optimize it for daily indoor and outdoor use. The corresponding components are specially designed for the corresponding model and open up new possibilities – for current applications and new tasks.

Infrared Cameras for LayIR-CHECK

Fairs and Trade Shows