Mespack and Spookfish partnership to automate thermal inspection

Mespack, a global leader in flexible packaging machinery, and Spookfish, an AI-driven vision technology firm, have formalised a strategic partnership to integrate advanced thermal inspection into the packaging process.

The agreement sees Spookfish’s multi-spectral thermal cameras and AI software become a core component of Mespack’s inline thermographic inspection (ITI) solution, housed within the Athena digital platform.

The move marks a shift from reactive, manual quality checks to a proactive, 100% automated inspection model designed to eliminate seal defects before they leave the factory floor.

For CPG manufacturers, particularly those in the liquid and high-moisture categories, the integration of thermographic technology addresses several critical production risks.

1. 100% non-destructive inspection. Traditionally, testing seal integrity often involves destructive “burst tests” on a small percentage of samples. The Mespack-Spookfish solution uses infrared imaging to analyse the thermal profile of every single pouch seal immediately after the sealing process. Because it is non-destructive and in-line, manufacturers can verify the integrity of every pack without slowing down production or wasting product.
2. Real-time detection of seal contamination. One of the most persistent issues in flexible packaging is product contamination in the seal area (eg, a drop of liquid or a grain of powder caught in the seal). By detecting thermal deviations, the ITI system identifies these potential leaks in real time, allowing for the immediate rejection of faulty packs and preventing costly recalls.
3. Reduced reliance on specialised labour. By integrating the technology into the Athena platform, the system uses AI-based algorithms to simplify complex data. This human-centric approach — aligned with Industry 5.0 principles — means operators do not need to be thermal imaging experts to manage the system. The user-friendly interface provides clear, actionable data, reducing the risk of human error in quality assurance.
4. Scalable retrofitting. Recognising that many manufacturers operate older fleets, the partners have made the ITI solution retrofittable. This allows food and drink producers to upgrade existing Mespack machinery with advanced AI inspection without the capital expenditure required for an entirely new production line.

Guillem Clofent, president of Mespack, stated that the partnership is an “important step” in integrating advanced inspection directly into the packaging process to enhance “efficiency, reliability, and product integrity.”

Dr Anupriya Balikai, managing director of Spookfish, highlighted the broader industrial impact: “Integrating our solution into the Athena platform brings us one big leap closer to realising the values of Industry 5.0. This human-centric, proactive AI-driven approach increases value in the production chain through continuous data-driven process validation.”