Mespack and Spookfish have entered into a strategic partnership to integrate advanced thermal inspection technology into packaging operations, marking a significant step forward in automated non-destructive testing for the flexible packaging industry.
The collaboration will integrate Spookfish’s multi-spectral thermal cameras and AI-driven software into Mespack’s inline thermographic inspection (ITI) solution, hosted within the Athena digital platform. The combined solution is designed to shift quality assurance processes from reactive manual inspections to a proactive, fully automated inspection model aimed at identifying seal defects before products leave the production line.
For consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers, particularly those handling liquid and high-moisture products, the partnership introduces a non-destructive inspection approach that eliminates the need for traditional destructive “burst tests.” By using infrared imaging to analyze the thermal profile of each pouch seal immediately after sealing, manufacturers can inspect every package in-line without slowing production or generating additional waste.
The integrated ITI solution also enables real-time detection of seal contamination, one of the most common causes of packaging failure. By identifying thermal deviations linked to contaminants in the seal area, the system allows immediate rejection of faulty packs, reducing the risk of product recalls and improving operational efficiency.
In addition to enhancing inspection accuracy, the AI-enabled platform is designed to reduce reliance on specialized labor by simplifying thermal imaging analysis into actionable insights. The solution aligns with Industry 5.0 principles by enabling operators to manage advanced inspection workflows without requiring deep thermal imaging expertise.
Recognizing the operational realities of existing manufacturing fleets, the companies have also developed the ITI solution to be retrofittable, allowing food and beverage manufacturers to upgrade existing Mespack machinery with advanced automated inspection capabilities without the need for full line replacement.
Guillem Clofent, president of Mespack, stated that the partnership is an “important step” in integrating advanced inspection directly into the packaging process to enhance “efficiency, reliability, and product integrity.”
Dr Anupriya Balikai, managing director of Spookfish, highlighted the broader industrial impact: “Integrating our solution into the Athena platform brings us one big leap closer to realising the values of Industry 5.0. This human-centric, proactive AI-driven approach increases value in the production chain through continuous data-driven process validation.”
The partnership highlights the growing role of AI-enabled non-destructive testing technologies in manufacturing environments, where real-time inspection and automated quality assurance are becoming increasingly critical to operational performance and product integrity.
