In food production, quality and safety are non-negotiable. Even a small failure in detecting foreign materials can damage brand reputation, result in costly recalls, and put consumer safety at risk. This was the challenge a leading Korean baby food producer faced when customers reported chicken bone fragments in minced chicken products.
Founded in 2020, ELROILAB is a South Korean deep-tech company specializing in AI-driven hyperspectral imaging (HSI) solutions. Partnering with Specim, a global leader in hyperspectral imaging, ELROILAB developed the world’s first proprietary AI deep learning software dedicated to HSI. Their technology allows food manufacturers to automatically detect and remove foreign materials that would otherwise go unnoticed with traditional inspection methods. Today, several major Korean food companies rely on ELROILAB’s solution to safeguard their products.
Bones in Baby Food: A Hidden Challenge
Chicken bones are extremely difficult to spot in minced meat, especially since their color closely matches the surrounding tissue. Conventional cameras and manual inspection proved ineffective, inconsistent, and labor-intensive. The baby food producer needed a highly reliable, automated solution to protect consumer safety and restore customer trust.
Hyperspectral Imaging + AI: A Reliable Solution
ELROILAB implemented a system that combines Specim’s FX10 and FX17 hyperspectral cameras with its own SPECTRAL AI deep learning software. Unlike visual inspection, hyperspectral imaging analyzes the unique spectral signature of materials, enabling the detection of bones, plastics, and other contaminants invisible to the human eye.
Once detected, contaminants are removed in real time using automated dropdown, air-blow, or robotic vacuum extraction methods—eliminating the need for manual sorting.
Proven Results: 90% Fewer Complaints The results were transformative: the food producer reported a 90% reduction in customer complaints, minimized safety risks, and reduced labor costs. In addition, the system ensures consistent quality standards and generates valuable production data for ongoing process optimization.
Looking Ahead
Building on this success, ELROILAB plans to expand its hyperspectral AI solutions to recycling and manufacturing, helping more industries benefit from automated, data-driven quality inspection.
“Specim products deliver high-performance hyperspectral data that clearly distinguish materials invisible to the human eye. They are a highly reliable choice for fields requiring precise quality analysis.” – Jay Lee, Marketing Manager, ELROILAB
With Specim’s proven HSI technology and ELROILAB’s AI expertise, manufacturers can now achieve safer products, lower costs, and stronger consumer trust.
About Specim
Specim, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Oulu, Finland, is a global leader in hyperspectral imaging solutions. Part of the Konica Minolta Group, it provides high-speed cameras from visual to thermal range for advanced material analysis and inspection for industry and research.
About ELROILAB
ELROILAB, founded in 2020, specializes in combining hyperspectral imaging technology with deep learning AI. Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, the company develops advanced solutions for industrial inspection and quality control.
