Waldkirch/Düsseldorf, March 2025 – At LogiMAT 2025 from March 11–13, SICK (Hall 1, Booth F51) presented the new Pallet Integrity Inspection System (PAIS) for non-contact 3D quality control of unloaded and loaded pallets. Damage such as cracks, missing and broken off parts, twisted blocks or protruding nails that can impair the stability or handling of the pallet are automatically and reliably detected using 3D cameras. This ensures the mechanical integrity and full usability of the examined pallets, thereby avoiding not only disruptions to intralogistic processes but also improving their productivity through faster workflows and fewer system downtimes.
The pallet cannot be picked up, it topples over or breaks under its load, blocks the hoist, cannot be rotated in the foil wrapper, or brings the conveying line to a standstill – these are all possible scenarios when using damaged pallets in the material flow technology. Reliable help is at hand with the PAIS from SICK.
Multi-check of the physical structure of the pallet
The PAIS achieves its especially high speed and quality in pallet inspection thanks to the use of four TriSpector 3D laser triangulation cameras from SICK. As a pallet passes by, they scan if necessary the loading surface, the base of the pallet, all four sides as well as the internal components, thereby detecting any mechanical defects. The PAIS evaluation unit – a SIM controller from SICK – analyzes the scan results and immediately determines the condition of the examined pallet. This fast feedback makes it possible to use high transport speeds. Through the use of the robust and surface-independent laser triangulation method, even wet, discolored or dirty pallets can be checked. This reliably avoids the incorporation of damaged pallets into the material flow, handling and storage processes.
Flexible in design, seamless in integration
The PAIS offers OEMs and users an intuitive software operation that allows, for example, limit values for different error types and individual pallet elements to be customized. To enable custom inspection tasks to be performed as well, the PAIS provides not only the basic inspection routines but also customization options – the results of which also flow into the statistics for the quality control. With regard to integration, the PAIS is characterized by its rugged and space-saving design as well as industrial-standard connectivity. This ensures a fast and seamless connection either to a conveying line or OT and IT systems.
SICK is one of the world’s leading solutions providers for sensor-based applications in the industrial sector. Founded in 1946 by Dr.-Ing. e. h. Erwin Sick and headquartered in Waldkirch in Breisgau near Freiburg, the company is one of the technology and market leaders and is present around the globe with 60 subsidiaries and holdings as well as numerous agencies. SICK has more than 12,000 employees worldwide and generated a group revenue of EUR 2.3 billion in the 2023 fiscal year. Additional information about SICK is available on the Internet at www.sick.com.
