Research Project inSpect X

inSpectX is an internal development project, co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund, which aims to develop and prototype an industrial vision system using X-ray technology. The co-financed amount is equal to 99.691,50 EUR or 50% of the planned project value.

It chiefly addresses the production of catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters, which currently predominantly uses one of two quality control methods: randomly select one part in a lot and either cut it up and inspect manually; or inspect it under an X-ray in laboratory conditions. Either way, the process is long, resource intensive, doesn’t provide quality assurance for every part, and, in one case, results in the destruction of the part.

inSpectX aims to develop a machine which will be able to emulate laboratory conditions directly on the production line and will therefore be able to thoroughly inspect the inside of every part as they come through. This will not only result in significantly shorter time spent on quality control but will also eliminate the need for expensive laboratory equipment and personnel needed to operate it, all while ensuring that every single part is compliant with increasingly stringent quality standards.

As we approach the energy transition, we need to do our best to keep the negative environmental impact of fossil fuels at bay. In vehicles with internal combustion engines, catalytic converters and/or particulate filters are the last line of defence before harmful emissions are expelled into the atmosphere, so their quality should be 100% assured. Through this project, we also contribute to economic sustainability, because thorough quality control lessens the chances of a batch recall and its negative societal and economic consequences.

The investment is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund (spiritslovenia.si, eu-skladi.si).