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24.06.2025
Innovation through cooperation - that is the aim of the pilot project Cooperation between SMEs and start-ups. One successful example is the collaboration between KERLING Kunststofftechnik and PCB Arts, in which an AI-supported solution for automated quality control in production was successfully developed and implemented.
KERLING Kunststofftechnik GmbH from Rednitzhembach near Nuremberg has been manufacturing sophisticated plastic injection molded parts for over 50 years. The medium-sized company processes thermoplastics, highly filled and flame-retardant compounds as well as high-temperature materials. From design to series production, KERLING offers complete solutions - with particular strength in hybrid and 2K components for industries such as automotive, electrical engineering and medical technology. The SME has been climate-neutral since 2022.
The cooperation project
KERLING Kunststofftechnik and PCB Arts have entered into a partnership to develop a modern machine vision solution for automated quality control in production. The aim of the project is to detect defects in components within fractions of a second - directly "on the edge", i.e. without a cloud connection, on an AI industrial computer from PCB Arts.
PCB Arts is responsible for the complete project implementation and acts as a central point of contact for all aspects of optical quality control. This includes the selection and integration of the camera, the lighting, the edge computing device and the development and training of the neural network.
The need for reliable, automated quality inspection for high volumes was the decisive factor for the collaboration. During the implementation phase, there were several changes to the production machine, which required optical adjustments to the components. Thanks to the close coordination and high flexibility of both partners, these challenges were successfully overcome and the solution was continuously developed further.
The project is currently in the final phase. The system has already been integrated into the target process and the final AI adjustments are being made to further maximize the reliability of the solution.
Contact initiation as part of the pilot project
The first contact between PCB Arts and KERLING Kunststofftechnik came about as part of the "Cooperation Talks: SMEs & Startups" matching format in September 2024. The two companies got to know each other during the structured one-on-one meetings - and quickly realized that their needs and solutions were an ideal match.
