AI monitors laminate flooring quality
/A leading laminate flooring manufacturer is utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor quality control during laminate flooring production.
Laminate flooring is manufactured at a rapid production line speed of one hundred meters per second. However, it relies on experienced operators to spot manufacturing defects. This is a highly skilled job, and there is a shortage of experienced personnel trained to detect flaws accurately and quickly.
The Unilin Group, which produces QuickStep flooring, approached computer vision technology company Robovision to develop AI technology capable of detecting defects in laminate flooring. The challenge was to create an automated system that could distinguish between a natural-looking wood grain pattern on laminate and a flaw, even on differently coloured flooring. Robovision successfully created an AI system that spots flaws and instantly alerts operators, who can quickly remove the defective plank. This significantly increases production output.
AI-powered inspection systems are expected to be the future of visual inspection in manufacturing. They use cameras and image analysis AI to accurately detect defects. The system developed by Robovision for Unilin can even detect minute flaws in laminate planks moving past cameras at high speeds. Dries Van Poucke, the Unilin Group Production Engineer said:
“Thanks to Robovision AI, monitoring defects of every single laminate plate is now feasible in such a complex and fast-moving production process.”
Due to AI, customers purchasing Quickstep laminate flooring for their homes or commercial premises in Chester and North Wales can be assured that their new floors will look immaculate.