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Building on its proven applications in flexible packaging and label printing, LUSTER introduced new VisionPrint 8 (VP8) capabilities for carton packaging at All in Print China 2026, demonstrating how AI can address some of the industry’s most demanding inspection challenges.
Held from October 12–16 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, the exhibition brought together printing and packaging professionals to explore new technologies and production solutions.
At Booth N5A110, LUSTER presented the latest advancements in its AI-powered print inspection software, alongside live equipment demonstrations and smart factory solutions for the printing industry.
Bringing AI Inspection Further into Carton Packaging
Carton printing presents a different set of quality control challenges. Fine text on pharmaceutical cartons, highly reflective gold and silver paperboard, holographic effects, and complex decorative finishes all demand exceptional inspection accuracy.
Meanwhile, frequent job changeovers and false rejects can increase operator workload, waste valuable materials, and slow down production.
Building on the experience gained from flexible packaging and label inspection, LUSTER has extended the capabilities of VisionPrint 8 to meet these specific requirements.
The latest VP8 advancements focus on four areas:
Simplifying job setup and changeovers.
AI-assisted job setup, including one-sample setup on supported systems, reduces manual configuration and operator dependency. This is particularly valuable for carton converters handling frequent changes in designs, substrates, and production orders.
Together, these improvements address a key challenge for carton manufacturers: achieving more reliable quality control without sacrificing production efficiency or material yield.
Reducing false rejects through intelligent classification.
Not every visible difference is a defect. VP8 uses AI to distinguish critical printing defects from acceptable material characteristics, such as paper fibers and natural substrate variations. This reduces unnecessary alarms, manual reinspection, and the rejection of good products.
Inspecting challenging substrates with greater confidence.
Gold, silver, and holographic paperboard, along with foil stamping and other decorative effects, can create reflections and visual interference. Optimized imaging and AI inspection help improve defect visibility and inspection reliability across these demanding applications.
Detecting defects that are harder to see.
Enhanced AI algorithms improve the detection of subtle, low-contrast defects and imperfections against complex printed backgrounds, helping manufacturers maintain consistent quality even on challenging designs.
From AI Capabilities to Real Production Applications
Beyond the software introduction, visitors were able to see how LUSTER’s inspection technologies work across different stages of carton production.
The demonstrations featured the VisionProof Inspection System for comparing artwork and printed samples, and the CartonHERO Offset Inline Printing Inspection System for 100% inline inspection on sheet-fed offset presses.
For downstream quality control, LUSTER presented the CartonTANK-C Folder Gluer Connecting Inline Quality Inspection Equipment, integrating inspection with folder-gluing operations, and the CartonTANK-430S Cigarette Packaging Quality Inspection Equipment, designed for the demanding quality requirements of cigarette packaging.
These systems demonstrated how improved defect detection, AI classification, and simplified operation can be applied to different processes, materials, and production environments.
The LabelTANK-F Offline Quality Inspection Equipment was also featured, reflecting LUSTER’s continued commitment to quality inspection across label printing and converting.
Rather than treating inspection as an isolated step, LUSTER’s approach connects quality control throughout production, helping manufacturers detect problems earlier, reduce unnecessary waste, and improve the consistency of finished products.
Connecting Quality Control with Smarter Factory Operations
While AI inspection helps manufacturers improve product quality, greater efficiency also depends on how production processes, information systems, and material flows work together.
Alongside its inspection technologies, LUSTER presented Smart Factory Solutions for Printing Industry, covering factory planning and consulting, ERP/MES information systems, intelligent logistics, and automated warehousing.
By integrating digital systems with production and material-handling operations, these solutions help manufacturers improve production visibility, reduce manual handling, optimize material flow, and strengthen traceability.
The exhibition highlighted how intelligent quality inspection and factory automation can work together to support more efficient printing and packaging operations.
Continuing the Conversation Beyond the Exhibition
On October 11, ahead of All in Print China, LUSTER also welcomed customers and industry partners to its Industrial AI Taihu Park in Suzhou for a dedicated Open Day.
Through technical presentations, factory tours, and discussions, visitors explored VisionPrint 8 innovations, data-driven quality improvement, and practical approaches to smart factory development.
The event provided an opportunity to look beyond individual technologies and discuss how AI and automation can deliver measurable value in real manufacturing environments.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at All in Print China 2026 and LUSTER Open Day.
As printing and packaging requirements continue to evolve, LUSTER will keep advancing VisionPrint 8 and its inspection solutions to help manufacturers achieve higher quality, less waste, and greater efficiency.
Explore LUSTER’s carton packaging inspection solutions at www.lusterprint.com.
