Transforming Pharma Packaging with Optomech’s Silica Desiccant Canister Inspection System

 

In pharmaceutical packaging, every detail matters—right down to the tiny silica desiccant canisters tucked inside bottles. These canisters play a critical role in moisture absorption and product stability, ensuring that tablets and capsules remain effective throughout their shelf life. However, if a defective canister slips through—whether cracked, malformed, or missing entirely—it can compromise product safety, patient trust, and regulatory compliance.

That’s why leading pharmaceutical companies are moving beyond unreliable manual inspection and embracing automated vision systems. One standout solution is Optomech’s Silica Desiccant Canister Inspection System (CANIS), designed to deliver 100% high-speed inline detection of defects at production scale.

This case study highlights how a global pharmaceutical manufacturer successfully implemented CANIS to address inspection challenges, reduce rejection rates, and improve compliance.

The Challenge: Manual Inspection Limitations in Pharma Lines

Our customer, a top-tier pharmaceutical manufacturer, was facing growing challenges with its silica canister quality control:
- High rejection rates: Manual inspectors were missing defects like mesh breakage, short molding, or blocked holes, leading to downstream rejections.
- Operator fatigue: With production running at thousands of canisters per hour, manual inspection was slow, inconsistent, and error-prone.
- Regulatory risks: Incomplete inspections created gaps in compliance reporting, a red flag for stringent pharma audits.
- Escalating costs: The reliance on human labor not only slowed throughput but also inflated quality control costs.

The company needed a solution that would eliminate manual errors, assure 100% accuracy, and keep up with their high-speed production line—without compromising on compliance or efficiency.

The Solution: Optomech’s Silica Desiccant Canister Inspection System

The turning point came with the deployment of Optomech’s CANIS – Silica Desiccant Canister Inspection System.

How CANIS Works

- High-Speed Machine Vision: CANIS leverages precision optics, advanced lighting, and machine vision cameras to inspect up to 14,000 canisters per hour.
- Inline Integration: Installed directly on the production line, it performs real-time inspection, sorting, and reporting without slowing operations.
- Defect Detection: The system reliably detects a wide range of issues, including:
  - Diameter variations & height deviations
  - Ovality and shape variation
  - Short molding or incomplete blowing
  - Flashes/extra material
  - Mesh breakage, blocked holes
  - Black spots, contamination

User-Friendly Features

- Touchscreen Interface: Operators can view live images of inspected canisters, with rejected ones stored for review.
- Defect Analytics: The system graphs the last 100 defects detected, helping teams pinpoint recurring issues.
- Customizable Tolerances: QC teams can define acceptance criteria based on customer or regulatory requirements.
- Compliance Reporting: Automated, customizable reports are generated to ensure regulatory alignment.
- Remote Access: Online support enables quick troubleshooting and minimal downtime.

The Results: Measurable Impact on Quality and Efficiency

Within weeks of implementation, the pharmaceutical company recorded significant improvements:
- Inspection Accuracy: Achieved 100% defect detection with zero reliance on manual sorting.
- Throughput: Maintained production speeds while inspecting 14,000 canisters per hour inline.
- Rejection Rate Reduction: Minimized false rejections and caught critical defects before packaging, protecting product quality.
- Regulatory Confidence: Automated reporting and defect traceability streamlined audit compliance.
- Cost Savings: Eliminated labor-intensive manual inspection, resulting in faster ROI and long-term operational savings.

Customer Testimonial (placeholder):
"With CANIS, we’ve seen a dramatic reduction in defective canisters reaching our packaging lines. It has given us both speed and peace of mind, ensuring compliance with global pharma standards."

Why Optomech?

For over 40 years, Optomech has been at the forefront of machine vision and quality inspection systems for industries like pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, and packaging. CANIS reflects the company’s commitment to:
- Innovation: Leveraging optics and AI-driven vision for reliable quality inspection.
- Customization: Tailoring inspection tolerances, reporting formats, and integration options to customer needs.
- After-Sales Support: Providing onsite training, online support, and long-term service.
- Trust: Backed by decades of successful deployments across global manufacturing sectors.

With CANIS, Optomech not only delivered a machine but also became a strategic partner in the customer’s quality journey.

Conclusion: Future-Proofing Pharma Packaging with CANIS

This case study demonstrates how Optomech’s Silica Desiccant Canister Inspection System helped a major pharmaceutical company overcome manual QC limitations, reduce rejection rates, and strengthen regulatory compliance.

By combining high-speed automation with intelligent defect detection, CANIS ensures that every silica canister reaching the packaging line meets the highest quality standards—protecting both the manufacturer’s reputation and patient safety.

For pharmaceutical companies aiming to achieve flawless packaging quality and 100% inspection reliability, Optomech’s CANIS is the trusted solution.

👉 Ready to eliminate manual inspection errors and future-proof your pharma packaging line? Connect with Optomech today to explore CANIS.