Line solutions // 35
Describe your lineMachine vision solutions for South African production lines
Complete inspection stations for products and lines that are common in South Africa, with HIKROBOT hardware, software, installation scope and budget or quotation inputs.
Technical review: Frank GuoReviewed
// Short answer
addaScan builds machine vision solutions as complete stations for one job on one line: returnable crates, can ends, bread clips, maize meal bags, export fruit cartons, plastic caps, cement bags, pipe print, rebar bundles, assembly error-proofing and more. Each page below names the faults a station catches and the ones it cannot, the HIKROBOT configuration, installation and PLC integration, and either a sourced indicative rand budget excluding VAT or the information needed for a quotation.
// Application map
Line solutions by industry
Not sure where to start? Use the inspection selector → Find your line, then the fault. Budgets are indicative installed ranges for a typical application, in rand excluding VAT as at 2 October 2026. Every project involves custom requirements, so the final price differs from case to case.
Food and beverage
Bottling, canning, dairy, bakery, meat and dry goods lines.
| Scenario | Faults it catches | HIKROBOT configuration | Indicative budget (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crate inspection | Missing, foreign and capped bottles; debris in empty crates | Overhead camera + VisionMaster, crate diverter | R 250 000 – R 1 370 000 |
| Multipack inspection | Missing bottles or cans, missing caps, wrong product in the pack | Top-view vision sensor, or top + side cameras, pusher | R 80 000 – R 660 000 |
| Can inspection | Missing, smudged or wrong can-end codes; visible dents in the can body | OCR vision sensor; four side cameras + VisionMaster DL | R 100 000 – R 1 180 000 |
| Straw applicator inspection | Straw missing, doubled or skew; cap missing; date code missing or unreadable | Two HIKROBOT vision sensors after the applicator, air jet | R 110 000 – R 390 000 |
| Yoghurt cup inspection | Foil lid missing or lifted; best-before and batch code missing or wrong | Vision sensor or two cameras + VisionMaster over the lanes | R 110 000 – R 680 000 |
| Bread bag closure inspection | No clip or tag; date on the bag missing, unreadable or wrong | OCR vision sensor, or colour camera + VisionMaster DL OCR | R 80 000 – R 540 000 |
| Weigh price label verification | Missing or wrong labels, wrong product, unreadable barcode, wrong date | Code reader + vision sensor or colour camera, tray pusher | R 160 000 – R 740 000 |
| Wine bottle label inspection | Missing, skewed or wrong labels; capsule or seal missing; code unreadable | 4–6 area cameras around the bottle + VisionMaster, reject | R 350 000 – R 1 170 000 |
| Pouch inspection | Missing or smeared codes; product in seal, folds, open edges; short cartons | Vision sensor on the code, line scan over seals, air-jet reject | R 80 000 – R 930 000 |
| Maize meal bag inspection | Wrong bag stock for the grade; missing or unreadable code; bag not closed | Vision sensor or 2 cameras in dust housings, bag reject | R 110 000 – R 770 000 |
| Egg pack inspection | Missing eggs, open lids, missing grade or date mark, visibly cracked eggs | Two vision sensors or two cameras with deep learning | R 180 000 – R 850 000 |
| Bottled water line inspection | Missing or crooked caps, broken bands, short fills, skewed labels, missing codes | Two vision sensors with backlight, or four views on a controller | R 190 000 – R 930 000 |
| Food tray seal inspection | Food reaches the tray flange; Film is folded or off-centre | HIKROBOT area-scan cameras with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release | Quotation after sample assessment |
| Food packaging version verification | The previous product’s labels remain on the line; The barcode is right but the artwork is old | HIKROBOT camera/reader selected for the actual identifying feature with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release | Quotation after sample assessment |
| Bakery product vision inspection | Broken biscuits reach packing; Surface appearance varies | HIKROBOT area-scan cameras with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release | Quotation after sample assessment |
| Returnable glass bottle inspection | A mouth is visibly chipped; Something remains at the base | HIKROBOT cameras positioned for mouth, base or sidewall tasks with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release | Quotation after sample assessment |
- Faults it catches
- Missing, foreign and capped bottles; debris in empty crates
- Scenario
- Crate inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Overhead camera + VisionMaster, crate diverter
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 250 000 – R 1 370 000
- Faults it catches
- Missing bottles or cans, missing caps, wrong product in the pack
- Scenario
- Multipack inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Top-view vision sensor, or top + side cameras, pusher
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 80 000 – R 660 000
- Faults it catches
- Missing, smudged or wrong can-end codes; visible dents in the can body
- Scenario
- Can inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- OCR vision sensor; four side cameras + VisionMaster DL
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 100 000 – R 1 180 000
- Faults it catches
- Straw missing, doubled or skew; cap missing; date code missing or unreadable
- Scenario
- Straw applicator inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Two HIKROBOT vision sensors after the applicator, air jet
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 110 000 – R 390 000
- Faults it catches
- Foil lid missing or lifted; best-before and batch code missing or wrong
- Scenario
- Yoghurt cup inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Vision sensor or two cameras + VisionMaster over the lanes
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 110 000 – R 680 000
- Faults it catches
- No clip or tag; date on the bag missing, unreadable or wrong
- Scenario
- Bread bag closure inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- OCR vision sensor, or colour camera + VisionMaster DL OCR
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 80 000 – R 540 000
- Faults it catches
- Missing or wrong labels, wrong product, unreadable barcode, wrong date
- Scenario
- Weigh price label verification
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Code reader + vision sensor or colour camera, tray pusher
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 160 000 – R 740 000
- Faults it catches
- Missing, skewed or wrong labels; capsule or seal missing; code unreadable
- Scenario
- Wine bottle label inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- 4–6 area cameras around the bottle + VisionMaster, reject
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 350 000 – R 1 170 000
- Faults it catches
- Missing or smeared codes; product in seal, folds, open edges; short cartons
- Scenario
- Pouch inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Vision sensor on the code, line scan over seals, air-jet reject
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 80 000 – R 930 000
- Faults it catches
- Wrong bag stock for the grade; missing or unreadable code; bag not closed
- Scenario
- Maize meal bag inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Vision sensor or 2 cameras in dust housings, bag reject
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 110 000 – R 770 000
- Faults it catches
- Missing eggs, open lids, missing grade or date mark, visibly cracked eggs
- Scenario
- Egg pack inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Two vision sensors or two cameras with deep learning
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 180 000 – R 850 000
- Faults it catches
- Missing or crooked caps, broken bands, short fills, skewed labels, missing codes
- Scenario
- Bottled water line inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Two vision sensors with backlight, or four views on a controller
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 190 000 – R 930 000
- Faults it catches
- Food reaches the tray flange; Film is folded or off-centre
- Scenario
- Food tray seal inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- HIKROBOT area-scan cameras with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- Quotation after sample assessment
- Faults it catches
- The previous product’s labels remain on the line; The barcode is right but the artwork is old
- HIKROBOT configuration
- HIKROBOT camera/reader selected for the actual identifying feature with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- Quotation after sample assessment
- Faults it catches
- Broken biscuits reach packing; Surface appearance varies
- Scenario
- Bakery product vision inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- HIKROBOT area-scan cameras with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- Quotation after sample assessment
- Faults it catches
- A mouth is visibly chipped; Something remains at the base
- HIKROBOT configuration
- HIKROBOT cameras positioned for mouth, base or sidewall tasks with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- Quotation after sample assessment
Agro-processing
Packhouses and export cartons.
| Scenario | Faults it catches | HIKROBOT configuration | Indicative budget (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit carton marking inspection | Missing, faint, skewed or wrong carton marking; unreadable carton barcode | Code reader + camera at the carton end, carton pusher | R 210 000 – R 940 000 |
- Faults it catches
- Missing, faint, skewed or wrong carton marking; unreadable carton barcode
- Scenario
- Fruit carton marking inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Code reader + camera at the carton end, carton pusher
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 210 000 – R 940 000
Packaging and consumer goods
Converters, closure moulders, personal care and paint.
| Scenario | Faults it catches | HIKROBOT configuration | Indicative budget (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closure inspection | Short shots, flash, broken tamper band bridges, missing or off-centre liners | Two to four views, backlight and dome light, air-jet reject | R 370 000 – R 1 290 000 |
| Folder gluer inspection | Glue missing on the flap (where visible), wrong print, unreadable barcode | Vision sensors or 4K line scan, UV light, machine kicker | R 170 000 – R 970 000 |
| Paint tin inspection | Lid missing or proud, wrong or skewed label, missing or unreadable batch code | Vision sensor + code reader, or 3 cameras on VC3000, pusher | R 130 000 – R 790 000 |
- Faults it catches
- Short shots, flash, broken tamper band bridges, missing or off-centre liners
- Scenario
- Closure inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Two to four views, backlight and dome light, air-jet reject
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 370 000 – R 1 290 000
- Faults it catches
- Glue missing on the flap (where visible), wrong print, unreadable barcode
- Scenario
- Folder gluer inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Vision sensors or 4K line scan, UV light, machine kicker
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 170 000 – R 970 000
- Faults it catches
- Lid missing or proud, wrong or skewed label, missing or unreadable batch code
- Scenario
- Paint tin inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Vision sensor + code reader, or 3 cameras on VC3000, pusher
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 130 000 – R 790 000
Building materials and metals
Cement, pipe and cable, steel bar.
| Scenario | Faults it catches | HIKROBOT configuration | Indicative budget (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cement bag inspection | Missing or illegible packing code, wrong pre-printed bag, bag count per order | Vision sensor or 2 cameras in purged housings, reject flap | R 140 000 – R 840 000 |
| Pipe print inspection | Missing, smeared or wrong marking text; metre count out of sequence | Vision sensor or 3 cameras around the product, encoder, alarm | R 110 000 – R 650 000 |
| Rebar counting | Short or over-counted bar, tube and pipe bundles; hand counts with no record | 20 MP camera + VisionMaster deep-learning count, operator screen | R 430 000 – R 1 190 000 |
| Anode plate inspection | Copper anode flatness, lugs, fins, blisters; carbon anode cracks, chips, stub holes | DP-series 3D profiler + 20 MP camera with deep learning, cooled | R 1 190 000 – R 2 760 000 |
| Aluminium extrusion inspection | Scratches, dents, die lines and pick-up on visible faces | 1 or 3 line-scan cameras, encoder, deep learning, marker | R 360 000 – R 1 340 000 |
- Faults it catches
- Missing or illegible packing code, wrong pre-printed bag, bag count per order
- Scenario
- Cement bag inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Vision sensor or 2 cameras in purged housings, reject flap
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 140 000 – R 840 000
- Faults it catches
- Missing, smeared or wrong marking text; metre count out of sequence
- Scenario
- Pipe print inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Vision sensor or 3 cameras around the product, encoder, alarm
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 110 000 – R 650 000
- Faults it catches
- Short or over-counted bar, tube and pipe bundles; hand counts with no record
- Scenario
- Rebar counting
- HIKROBOT configuration
- 20 MP camera + VisionMaster deep-learning count, operator screen
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 430 000 – R 1 190 000
- Faults it catches
- Copper anode flatness, lugs, fins, blisters; carbon anode cracks, chips, stub holes
- Scenario
- Anode plate inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- DP-series 3D profiler + 20 MP camera with deep learning, cooled
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 1 190 000 – R 2 760 000
- Faults it catches
- Scratches, dents, die lines and pick-up on visible faces
- Scenario
- Aluminium extrusion inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- 1 or 3 line-scan cameras, encoder, deep learning, marker
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 360 000 – R 1 340 000
Automotive and engineering
Component suppliers, tyre, harness and machined parts.
| Scenario | Faults it catches | HIKROBOT configuration | Indicative budget (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly verification | Missing screws and clips, O-rings, wrong variant, connector not latched | SC vision sensor, or smart cameras + ID5000 with PLC interlock | R 100 000 – R 960 000 |
| Tyre barcode reading | Tyres with no read, unreadable labels, wrong code for the lane | Two to six HIKROBOT ID5000 readers in a frame, MES check, divert | R 260 000 – R 1 390 000 |
| Fastener inspection | Wrong length or diameter, thread missing, mixed parts, profile burrs | Telecentric camera + backlight, VisionMaster, air-jet reject | R 270 000 – R 930 000 |
| Glue bead inspection | Gaps, thin or wide sections and off-path beads; low bead height in 3D | 2D camera + ring light, or DP 3D profiler on an axis or robot | R 230 000 – R 1 590 000 |
| Machined part dimensional inspection | The bolt holes do not line up at assembly; Slot width varies between batches | HIKROBOT area-scan cameras with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release | Quotation after sample assessment |
| Machined hole and feature inspection | One hole is missing after drilling; A chamfer operation was skipped | HIKROBOT smart camera or area-scan camera with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release | Quotation after sample assessment |
| Machined part burr inspection | A burr remains on an outside edge; A hole mouth has residual material | HIKROBOT area-scan camera with suitable optics with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release | Quotation after sample assessment |
| Machined part mix-up inspection | Left and right parts are mixed; Similar housings share the same outline | HIKROBOT smart camera or area-scan system with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release | Quotation after sample assessment |
- Faults it catches
- Missing screws and clips, O-rings, wrong variant, connector not latched
- Scenario
- Assembly verification
- HIKROBOT configuration
- SC vision sensor, or smart cameras + ID5000 with PLC interlock
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 100 000 – R 960 000
- Faults it catches
- Tyres with no read, unreadable labels, wrong code for the lane
- Scenario
- Tyre barcode reading
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Two to six HIKROBOT ID5000 readers in a frame, MES check, divert
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 260 000 – R 1 390 000
- Faults it catches
- Wrong length or diameter, thread missing, mixed parts, profile burrs
- Scenario
- Fastener inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- Telecentric camera + backlight, VisionMaster, air-jet reject
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 270 000 – R 930 000
- Faults it catches
- Gaps, thin or wide sections and off-path beads; low bead height in 3D
- Scenario
- Glue bead inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- 2D camera + ring light, or DP 3D profiler on an axis or robot
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 230 000 – R 1 590 000
- Faults it catches
- The bolt holes do not line up at assembly; Slot width varies between batches
- HIKROBOT configuration
- HIKROBOT area-scan cameras with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- Quotation after sample assessment
- Faults it catches
- One hole is missing after drilling; A chamfer operation was skipped
- HIKROBOT configuration
- HIKROBOT smart camera or area-scan camera with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- Quotation after sample assessment
- Faults it catches
- A burr remains on an outside edge; A hole mouth has residual material
- Scenario
- Machined part burr inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- HIKROBOT area-scan camera with suitable optics with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- Quotation after sample assessment
- Faults it catches
- Left and right parts are mixed; Similar housings share the same outline
- Scenario
- Machined part mix-up inspection
- HIKROBOT configuration
- HIKROBOT smart camera or area-scan system with task-specific lighting and PLC quality release
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- Quotation after sample assessment
Distribution
Distribution centres and dispatch.
| Scenario | Faults it catches | HIKROBOT configuration | Indicative budget (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scan tunnel | Unscanned and no-read items, codes unknown to the WMS, touching items | ID7000 + ID6000 tunnel, dimensioner and scale, WMS over TCP | R 1 210 000 – R 4 150 000 |
| Pallet identification | Missing, unreadable or mismatched SSCC labels; pallets not on the load | ID5000X or ID6000 readers on two sides, WMS match, hold | R 280 000 – R 1 180 000 |
- Faults it catches
- Unscanned and no-read items, codes unknown to the WMS, touching items
- Scenario
- Scan tunnel
- HIKROBOT configuration
- ID7000 + ID6000 tunnel, dimensioner and scale, WMS over TCP
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 1 210 000 – R 4 150 000
- Faults it catches
- Missing, unreadable or mismatched SSCC labels; pallets not on the load
- Scenario
- Pallet identification
- HIKROBOT configuration
- ID5000X or ID6000 readers on two sides, WMS match, hold
- Indicative budget (excl. VAT)
- R 280 000 – R 1 180 000
// Technology ↔ scenario
Which technology each solution relies on
Read across a row to see where a technology is the core of the station and where it supports it. Each technology links to the page that explains it.
// How we work
What you can check about us
Statements you can verify on this site, not claims about results.
Johannesburg-based integrator
Stations designed, built and commissioned from Douglasdale Village, Johannesburg, for lines across South Africa.
Sample test before a quotation
Your good and faulty samples are imaged first; the quotation follows what the test shows.
Accepted against agreed figures
False rejects and escapes are agreed in writing and measured at FAT and SAT.
Limits stated on every page
Each application and line solution says what a camera will not do.
One tool chain
Stations are built on HIKROBOT cameras, code readers and VisionMaster software.
Named author, sources and dates
Technical pages name their author, list their sources and show the date of the last content update.
// FAQ
Questions about line solutions
What is a machine vision solution for a production line?
A complete inspection station for one job on one line: cameras or a code reader, lighting, the vision software and its recipe, a trigger, a link to the line PLC, and a reject that removes the faulty unit and confirms it left. It is specified from the fault you need to catch and accepted on your own products.
Which machine vision solutions are most common in South African factories?
There are no public statistics on installed vision stations in South Africa. The scenarios on this page were chosen because the products and lines behind them are common here, for example returnable glass bottles, staple foods in bags, export fruit cartons, cement, plastic pipe and automotive components, and because each one can be built with HIKROBOT hardware.
How much does a machine vision solution cost in South Africa?
Scenario pages give either a sourced indicative installed budget in rand excluding VAT or the inputs needed for a quotation. Every project involves custom requirements, so the firm price follows a sample test on your products. Most single-camera or single-reader checks fall in the R 50 000 – R 250 000 range; multi-camera stations and complete stations with their own conveyor and reject cost more. How the ranges are built.
Why does every solution use HIKROBOT hardware?
addaScan builds stations on HIKROBOT cameras, smart cameras, code readers and VisionMaster software, so one tool chain covers vision sensors, smart cameras, code readers, line scan and 3D. This website does not claim any official HIKROBOT partnership or distributor status.
My product or line is not listed. Can you still help?
Yes. Start from the fault you need to catch; the inspection applications are organised that way. Then send samples so we can test whether a camera sees the fault reliably.
// Station integration
Plan the complete inspection station
Each line solution describes one inspection job. Our machine vision inspection systems in South Africa overview brings together applications, a delivered project, indicative budgets and the path from sample testing to commissioning.
// Next step
Tell us the line and the fault
Describe the products, the line and the fault you need caught. We test on your samples and reply with a feasibility note and a budget.