Seam Inspection · Peco InspX
Can Seam Inspection with SeamTrac Legato
Can seam integrity is critical to product safety, shelf life and brand protection — a faulty seam can lead to leaks, contamination, spoilage, recalls and costly downtime. Molenaar supplies the Peco InspX SeamTrac Legato, an inline, non-contact X-ray seam inspection system that inspects every can at full production speed. By monitoring seam quality continuously and linking results to individual seamer heads, the Legato helps manufacturers move from reactive quality checks to predictive seam management.
The Challenge
The Problem with Traditional Seam Sampling
Many canning operations still rely heavily on periodic teardown sampling to monitor seam quality. While this remains an important quality-assurance process, it only checks a small number of cans from the run. If a seamer head drifts out of specification between manual checks, thousands of defective cans may be produced before the issue is identified — creating risk across the entire process:
- Production stoppages
- Product rework
- Increased waste
- Customer complaints
- Recall exposure
- Lower overall equipment effectiveness
The Technology
Inline 360° Seam Inspection
The Peco InspX SeamTrac Legato inspects can seams inline, at full line speed, without contacting or damaging the container. Multiple X-ray beams provide overlapping 360° coverage of the seam, detecting seam deviations and identifying critical defects in real time.
Unlike methods that rely on periodic samples, the Legato inspects every can — and critical defective containers can be rejected automatically, preventing compromised products from continuing down the line.
Predictive Maintenance
Seamer Head Monitoring
A major advantage of SeamTrac Legato is its ability to correlate seam results with the specific seamer head that produced each can — giving operators a clearer view of seamer performance and making it easier to pinpoint the source of a problem. Instead of only discovering defects after the fact, manufacturers can monitor trends and act before a seamer fault becomes a major issue. This supports:
- Predictive maintenance by seamer head
- More targeted machine adjustments
- Reduced reliance on unnecessary teardown checks
- Improved visibility of seamer performance
- Faster response to developing seam issues
What It Detects
Common Seam Defects Detected
The Legato can assist with detection of a range of seam defects and deviations, including:
- Droops, vees and spurs
- False seams
- Cut or cracked seams
- Knocked-down flanges
- Short cover hooks or body hooks
- Seam wrinkles
- Lap defects
- Insufficient overlap
Also Monitored
Additional Headspace Monitoring
Beyond seam inspection, the Legato provides headspace monitoring — helping identify underfills, overfills and variations that may affect downstream quality. It adds another layer of control to the production line and supports more consistent product quality.
At a Glance
Key Benefits
- Inline inspection of every can
- 360° non-contact seam analysis
- Operation at full production speed
- Real-time defect detection
- Automated rejection of critical defective cans
- Seam score linked to individual seamer heads
- Predictive maintenance support
- Reduced downtime, rework and waste
- Improved OEE and quality assurance
- Lower recall and liability risk
Line Fit
Built for High-Speed Canning Lines
SeamTrac Legato is designed for high-speed canning environments and can be mounted over the existing single-file seamer discharge conveyor. It needs only a compact line footprint — with no product contact and no additional transfer points.
Partner Support
Peco InspX Seam Inspection, Supported by Molenaar
Molenaar represents Peco InspX technology across Africa and can assist canning operations with seam inspection system selection, implementation and support. Where seam quality is a critical cost and safety concern, SeamTrac Legato offers a modern approach to inline quality control.
- System selection
- Implementation
- Support
Seaming brochures
Download full specifications and system datasheets.
Seaming Videos
Get In Touch
Improve Seam Quality Visibility
Want to improve seam quality visibility and reduce seamer-related production risk? Contact Molenaar to discuss the Peco InspX SeamTrac Legato for your canning line.
