Smart empty crate detection

Preventing errors before they happen

In many production environments, a crate is more than just a means of transport, it’s a crucial part of quality control and traceability.

But what happens when a crate is marked as empty while it still contains product?

What may seem like a minor mistake at first can have serious consequences. If leftover product remains in a “supposedly” empty crate, there’s a risk it will end up in a new batch. For example, onions from a previous load mixing with a different variety or quality. That doesn’t just affect the end product; it can also jeopardize food safety certifications. And if that crate is left standing unnoticed, the contents may spoil before anyone notices.

Get more out of your factory, with the hardware you already have

At Eqontrol, we understand how essential reliability is in processing and packaging environments. That’s why we focus on preventing mistakes before they can even occur.

Many of our clients already have cameras mounted above conveyor lines, originally installed to automatically generate crate content reports.

Now, we’ve added extra value by using those same cameras for an additional purpose: smart empty crate detection.

The system analyzes the images in real time before the crate is reused, allowing it to determine whether the crate is truly empty.Is there any doubt? Then an alert is triggered, and the operator can decide, using a photo whether the crate can be reused or not.

This prevents situations where:

A “supposedly” empty crate containing leftovers is refilled
A crate with product is left standing and only discovered days later, potentially spoiled.

Key benefits

No additional hardware required, we use the existing camera infrastructure
Fully integrated within the Eqontrol platform, real-time image analysis
Error prevention at the source, essential for fresh production and certification
Less downtime, less manual work, more control.

This optimization is a great example of how you can get more out of your factory with smart software and existing resources, without extra hardware investment.

Curious how this could work for your operation? Get in touch.

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Whether you’re looking for a complete solution for your entire factory or a flexible partial solution, we are here for you. Together, we prepare your company for the future.

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