Mittelstandspresse
01.06.2026
Modern Strip Production Requires More Than Conventional Width Measurement
EMG iCAM® is THE solution for strip and slit strip width measurement and hole detection
Wenden, 01.06.2026 (PresseBox) - Modern flat metal production is changing rapidly. Higher line speeds, tighter tolerances and increasing quality requirements are pushing conventional strip width measurement systems to their limits. At the same time, producers are under constant pressure to improve material utilisation, reduce scrap and increase overall process stability.
Increasing Demands in Modern Flat Metal Production
Whether in steel, aluminium or flat metal production in general, modern strip processing lines are expected to deliver higher throughput while maintaining increasingly strict dimensional tolerances. Applications such as slitting, coating, forming, stamping or foil production require highly stable strip dimensions over the complete coil length.
Even minimal strip width deviations can create problems in downstream production steps. In slitting lines, inaccurate strip width measurement can affect knife positioning and lead to dimensional deviations of individual slit strips. In forming or coating processes, unstable strip dimensions may result in defective products, process interruptions or additional scrap.
Another important aspect is the material loss caused by inaccurate trimming processes. If strip edges cannot be measured precisely and continuously, producers often compensate by increasing safety margins during trimming operations. This results in unnecessary edge trim, reduced material yield and higher production costs, particularly in high-volume production environments. At the same time, rising raw material costs are increasing the pressure on producers to optimise material utilisation and minimise avoidable losses. Reliable and highly precise strip width measurement systems therefore play a key role in improving yield and reducing production costs.
In addition, modern production environments increasingly rely on process transparency and data-driven optimisation. Continuous inline measurement data provides valuable information for process control, quality assurance and long-term process improvement.
Why Conventional Width Measurement Systems Are Reaching Their Limits
Many conventional strip width measurement systems were developed for production environments with significantly lower requirements than those seen today. While these systems may still fulfil basic measurement tasks, they increasingly struggle to provide the precision, stability and process integration required in modern production lines.
Traditional systems often rely on contact-based sensors or mechanically moving components. These solutions are susceptible to wear, misalignment and mechanical drift over time. In harsh production environments with vibrations, oil mist, dust or fluctuating ambient conditions, maintaining stable measurement performance becomes increasingly difficult.
Another challenge is the limited capability of many conventional systems to measure across the complete strip width with high resolution. This becomes particularly critical in slitting applications where accurate monitoring of individual slit strips is required.
Another growing challenge is hole detection inline. In many production facilities, hole detection is either implemented separately or not integrated into the strip width measurement system at all. This creates fragmented process information and delays the identification of defective material.
As production requirements continue to increase, these limitations become even more visible. Delayed measurement responses, unstable signals or insufficient measurement accuracy can directly influence downstream production quality and process stability.
The Hidden Costs of Inaccurate Measurement
The impact of insufficient strip width measurement is often underestimated. Even small measurement inaccuracies can generate significant costs over time.
Excessive edge trim, unstable slitting processes, incorrect knife positioning or the processing of defective material all reduce yield and increase operational costs. In high-volume production environments, minimal dimensional deviations can accumulate into substantial material losses.
Undetected holes create additional risks. Defective material that enters downstream coating, forming or pressing operations can lead to production interruptions, rejected products and unplanned downtime.
At the same time, unstable or incomplete measurement data limits the ability of operators and quality departments to identify process deviations at an early stage. Without reliable inline data, process optimisation becomes significantly more difficult.
For this reason, modern strip width measurement systems are increasingly expected to do more than simply provide dimensional values. They must support stable production processes, improve transparency and contribute directly to higher process efficiency.
EMG iCAM® - A New Generation of Integrated Strip Width and Slit Strip Width Measurement or Hole Detection
To address these increasing requirements, EMG has developed the EMG iCAM® system. The camera-based solution combines strip width measurement with slit strip width measurement or hole detection within one integrated platform.
The system was specifically designed for demanding flat metal production environments where conventional solutions increasingly reach their limits. Its optical multi-camera technology (see image) enables continuous, non-contact measurement with high precision and robust operation even under difficult production conditions.
By combining precise inline measurement with integrated quality monitoring, EMG iCAM® supports improved process stability, reduced scrap and more efficient material utilisation.
In the next article of this series, we will take a closer look at the technology behind EMG iCAM® and explain how multi-camera systems, infrared backlight technology and high-speed image processing are redefining modern strip width measurement.
More Information
Further information about EMG iCAM® and its applications in modern flat metal production don’t hesitate to contact out product management under: icam@emg-automation.com or our international sales and service organisation.
Download product brochure: Inline measurement of strip & slit strip width & hole detection with EMG iCAM®
Ansprechpartner
Claudia Schreiner
+49 (2762) 612-282
Zuständigkeitsbereich: Product Marketing EMG Automation GmbH
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EMG iCAM® View of the EMG iCAM® - multi-camera detection unit with protection glass
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