Automated Expiry Date and Lot Number Verification
Verify that every product carries the correct, readable expiry date and lot number before it leaves your line – using high-speed machine vision systems that inspect printed and laser-coded text at full production speed.
Manufacturing Challenges
Operational Challenges and Solutions
Incorrect Dates Trigger Expensive Product Recalls
A single wrong or missing expiry date reaching the market can trigger a full recall, destroying margins and damaging customer trust irreparably.
Unreadable Lot Numbers Break Supply Traceability
Smeared, faded, or incorrectly printed batch numbers make it impossible to trace products through the supply chain when a quality issue arises.
Manual Date Checks Cannot Match Line Speed
Human operators cannot reliably read and verify small printed codes at high production speeds – missed errors reach distribution undetected.
Wrong Coding Exposes You to Penalties
Incorrect or absent lot numbers and expiry dates violate food, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods regulations, resulting in fines and potential market withdrawal.
Trusted Industrial Vision Experts Delivering Automated Systems
Future Then is a Norwegian machine vision and AI company specializing in automated inspection and traceability systems for industrial production environments.
We design and deploy date and lot number verification solutions that read, decode, and validate printed codes against your active production order – integrating directly with your ERP, MES, or quality management systems to guarantee full labeling accuracy on every unit.
High-Speed Date and Batch Code Reading at Full Line Speed
Our vision systems use high-resolution cameras combined with advanced OCR and barcode reading algorithms to capture and decode expiry dates, lot numbers, and batch codes on every product as it moves along the line.
At speeds that match even the fastest packaging operations without creating any production bottleneck.
Automatic Validation Against Active Production Order Data
Every decoded date and lot number is cross-referenced in real time against the expected values from your active production order, pulled directly from your ERP or MES system.
Any mismatch – wrong date format, incorrect batch number, or missing code – is flagged and rejected instantly before the product advances further.
Detection of Unreadable, Faded, or Misplaced Codes
The system doesn’t only check whether a code is correct – it also verifies that the print quality is sufficient for downstream scanning and consumer readability.
Low-contrast ink, laser coding errors, smearing, and incorrect positioning are all detected and treated as rejectable defects, ensuring full label legibility compliance on every unit shipped.
Full Traceability Logging and Compliance Reporting
Every inspection result is stored with a timestamp, product image, decoded code, and pass/fail decision.
This creates a complete, searchable audit trail for every production run – providing the documentation needed for regulatory inspections, customer compliance requirements, and internal quality management systems without any additional manual record-keeping.
01.
Compliance
Food and Beverage Manufacturing
We ensure food safety by automating seal inspection and foreign object detection, helping high-speed bakeries and beverage plants eliminate expensive product recalls.
02.
Monitoring
Oil, Gas, and Chemical Processing
Our AI systems monitor hazardous environments through thermal imaging and digital cyclone analysis, preventing dangerous leaks and ensuring 24/7 operational safety and efficiency.
03.
Validation
Contract Manufacturing and Packaging
We provide full production traceability and label verification, helping contract packers meet strict customer quality standards through integrated AI vision and ERP data.
04.
Precision
Paper, Pulp, and Converting Industries
Our high-speed web inspection systems detect microscopic surface defects and blade wear, optimizing material yield and preventing costly downtime in continuous paper production.
Proven Results
Why Choose Future Then
All-in-One Solution
We handle camera selection, OCR configuration, and ERP integration, delivering a fully operational verification system from a single, expert source.
Superior Read Accuracy
Our systems maintain reliable read rates on challenging surfaces, including laser coding, inkjet printing, and embossed characters with low contrast.
Flexible Verification Rules
Every product type can have unique date formats and quality thresholds, ensuring the system verifies accurately across your entire portfolio.
Dedicated System Support
Post-deployment, we provide read-rate tuning and new product onboarding, ensuring your system remains compliant as your coding equipment evolves.
Our Implementation Process
Comprehensive Problem Analysis
We evaluate your specific production challenges and imaging requirements to determine the most effective machine vision technical approach and hardware.
Custom Design and Development
Our team engineers tailored optical solutions and software algorithms, creating a robust digital blueprint that ensures seamless performance and accuracy.
Seamless System Integration
We handle the full installation and calibration of hardware on your production line, ensuring the system communicates perfectly with your existing infrastructure.
Dedicated Service and Support
We ensure peak efficiency through proactive maintenance, technical troubleshooting, and continuous updates long after system deployment.
Successful Deployments
Real World AI Case Stories
01.
Packaging
High-Speed 3D Flap Inspection for Pastille Boxes
Advanced laser sensors scan pastille box geometry to automatically reject unglued flaps without stopping production.
02.
Bakery
Automated Inspection Of Industrial Baking Forms
High-resolution cameras verify baking molds in real-time to eliminate organic dough leftovers and prevent collisions.
03.
Chemicals
Analyzing Industrial Cyclones To Detect Defects
True AI vision digitizes thirty heavy cyclones to track valve positions and identify early structural anomalies.
04.
Canning
Analyzing High Speed Sealing Of Pâté Cans
Compact smart cameras scan metal pâté rims to guarantee hermetic seals at four hundred units per minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you read smudged or blurry codes?
Yes, our advanced AI-driven OCR algorithms are trained to recognize distorted or low-contrast characters that standard industrial readers often miss.
What happens if a code is missing?
The system instantly identifies the absence of the code and triggers a rejection mechanism to remove the item from production.
Does it support multiple date formats?
Our software is fully configurable to recognize any international date format, alphanumeric lot numbers, and specialized industrial symbols or codes.
How do you handle high line speeds?
We use high-speed global shutter cameras and edge processing to capture and verify codes in milliseconds without slowing down production.
Can the system read embossed characters?
Absolutely. We use specialized low-angle lighting to create the necessary contrast, allowing our cameras to read colorless embossed or debossed codes.
Is the verification data logged?
Yes, every read is logged with a timestamp and image, providing a full audit trail for compliance and quality assurance.
How does it integrate with printers?
We can sync directly with your inkjet or laser coders to ensure the “intended” code matches the “actually printed” code.
Can operators easily change batch numbers?
Yes, the system can automatically pull the next batch number from your ERP or allow authorized manual input via touchscreen.
Trusted By Experts
What Our Industrial Partners Say
Ready to Automate Your Excellence?
Let’s discuss how AI Vision can eliminate errors in your production line – and what that means for your output quality, uptime, and bottom line.