As industrial operations become more automated and data-driven, video cameras are no longer just tools for security; they’re becoming essential components within the machines themselves. Across industries, video systems are being embedded directly into processing equipment to monitor operations, capture system upsets, and provide real-time visibility into critical functions. The result: faster diagnostics, reduced downtime, and improved reliability.
More Than a Visual Aid
Today’s industrial machinery often operates at high speeds, under extreme conditions, or in hard-to-access environments. When something goes wrong—a jam, a spill, or a misalignment—it’s not always clear what happened or why.
Video from embedded cameras gives operators and maintenance teams a clear visual record of what occurred before, during, and after a system upset. Combined with timestamps and sensor data, this footage becomes a powerful diagnostic tool. Apart from that other crucial benefits of video analytics like cutting troubleshooting times and sometimes reducing them from hours to minutes can empower industrial environments.
A Growing Trend Among OEMs
An increasing number of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) machine builders are now incorporating video systems directly into their equipment, either as a standard option or a configurable add-on. These manufacturers are turning to companies like IVC not just for cameras, but for complete, field-proven solutions that include industrial-grade enclosures, mounting systems, and software platforms—often running on Linux for stability, flexibility, and integration with other control systems.
For a deeper dive into integrating video into manufacturing processes, check out our Video Camera Integration Guide in Manufacturing.
By partnering with a company that offers both hardware and software, OEMs can provide their customers with fully integrated, turnkey monitoring capabilities, eliminating the need for the end user to source and configure components independently. This improves machine value, simplifies installation, and supports faster commissioning.
Key Use Cases
- Steel and Metals Processing: Cameras capture coil feeds, furnaces, and cutting stations to verify smooth operation and detect anomalies in real time.
- Mining and Aggregates: Video is used at crushers and conveyors to catch blockages or uneven feed before they cause costly shutdowns.
- Food and Beverage: Line-integrated cameras inspect product flow, monitor fryers or ovens, and verify cleanliness without halting production.
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Machinery: In sealed or hazardous environments, cameras provide the only safe and practical way to monitor internal operations.
What Makes a Camera Industrial-Ready?
Machine builders and end users alike need cameras designed for the realities of their operating environments:
- Ruggedized enclosures to withstand vibration, high temperatures, and dust or washdown conditions
- Thermal imaging to identify overheating components or verify proper heating in batch processes
- High frame rates and resolution to capture fast-moving materials and subtle failures
- Onboard or network-based video recording for diagnostics, training, and compliance
- Flexible Linux-based software platforms that allow local processing, integration with SCADA, and remote access with high reliability
For further insights into thermal imaging applications, take a look at our post on How Thermal Imaging is Changing Industrial Safety.
Smarter Machines, Better Outcomes
As more OEMs adopt video technology, the machinery itself becomes smarter, capable of self-documenting failures, assisting remote support, and even triggering process adjustments based on visual feedback.
At IVC, we specialize in delivering complete solutions, working closely with machinery manufacturers and industrial end-users to design camera and software packages that fit seamlessly into their systems. For example, one machinery manufacturer is developing a solution that integrates IVC’s VMS software with their own machinery monitoring software. IVC is providing video analytics software and live and recorded video clips that can be played back within their HMI via IVC’s REST APIs.
Whether it’s a single inspection camera or a network of video feeds across a plant, our solutions are designed for reliability, flexibility, and performance in the most demanding environments.
Learn more.
To learn more about IVC’s video monitoring solutions, visit: www.ivcco.com. Or, call (617) 467-3059 to speak with a member of our technical sales team about your application.
About the Author: Bill Richards is the co-founder and Vice President of Operations at Industrial Video & Control. He leads the company’s hardware engineering team and has over 20 years of experience developing products for hazardous areas. Bill holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Michigan.