Maximizing Business Value with GigE Vision Cameras

Do you want to significantly increase your manufacturing output while reducing your production costs?

If so, you aren’t alone.

The drive for higher efficiency and lower expenses is a universal challenge faced by any business that invests in industrial automation. From smaller operations to large enterprises, manufacturers all around the world share the same strategic priorities:

Higher-quality control

Faster production lines

Lower operating costs

The challenge?

Choosing the right camera technology can easily end up costing you thousands of wasted resources.

In recent years, GigE Vision cameras have been rapidly rising to the top of the list of preferred camera choices for businesses serious about machine vision.

Offering high-speed data transfer rates, long cable lengths, and plug-and-play compatibility with existing networks, GigE Vision cameras deliver serious business value and return on investment (ROI).

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Why GigE Vision Cameras Matter for Business
• The Key Benefits That Drive Value
• Applications That Generate the Highest ROI
• How to Choose the Right GigE Vision Camera

Why GigE Vision Cameras Matter for Business

GigE Vision cameras utilize Gigabit Ethernet technology for image transfer. This provides high-speed data transfer rates of up to 1000 Mb/s with maximum cable lengths of up to 100 meters.

Frame grabbers aren’t required for GigE Vision cameras. These cameras directly connect to your existing network infrastructure with standard CAT5/6 cables and interface with system software using standard TCP/IP communications.

The GigE Vision cameras from VA Imaging have become the kind of trusted, professional-grade equipment that every business needs for serious machine vision applications.

Industrial systems and automation equipment readily interface with GigE Vision cameras. These cameras deliver the kind of performance and quality of results that modern manufacturing demands.

This isn’t a trivial detail. The GigE camera market is quickly expanding. Per Research Nester, the GigE camera market was valued at $1.39 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $4.86 billion by 2037. This is a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 10%.

Businesses are heavily investing in this technology because the results are proven.

The Key Benefits That Drive Value

What exactly makes GigE Vision cameras such an intelligent investment?

Let’s break it down.

Cost-Effective Infrastructure

Traditional machine vision systems use frame grabbers and proprietary interfaces which can be expensive. GigE Vision cameras use existing Ethernet infrastructure instead.

Since every modern computer already has Ethernet ports, this reduces initial costs and simplifies the overall system architecture.

Scalability Without Limits

Need to add additional cameras later?

GigE Vision cameras can support multiple cameras on the same network without capping the number of devices.

This enables you to quickly and cost-effectively scale production lines by simply adding more GigE Vision cameras.

Long Cable Runs

USB cameras are limited to cable lengths of approximately 5 meters. GigE Vision cameras can run up to 100 meters on standard Cat5e/Cat6 cables.

If you have a large manufacturing facility, this extra flexibility can be critical. GigE Vision cameras can be positioned where needed without worrying about exceeding maximum cable distances.

High-Speed Data Transfer

Speed is important in machine vision.

GigE Vision cameras can support transferring RAW images at speeds of up to 1000 Mb/s. This enables real-time inspection even on high-speed production lines. Defects can be caught as they happen, rather than downstream.

Applications That Generate the Highest ROI

For which applications do GigE Vision cameras provide the most value?

Let’s take a look at some of the highest-value applications.

Quality Inspection

Machine vision has long been most closely associated with quality control and inspection applications.

Quality control and inspection applications make up the largest market share of the machine vision industry at 35.4% per Market Research Future. GigE Vision cameras perform best at detecting defects, contamination, and other production flaws at high speeds.

The result is fewer defective products, lower recall costs, and better brand reputation.

Automated Sorting and Identification

Warehouses and logistics centers are also common use cases for GigE Vision cameras. Common tasks include:

• Barcode scanning and reading
• Package dimensioning
• Object recognition and sorting
• Inventory tracking

All of these tasks need to run 24/7 without any degradation in performance. Machine vision can do it non-stop, without ever getting tired.

Accuracy is consistent whether it is the first hour or the hundredth.

Robotic Guidance

Vision-guided robotics is a rapidly growing segment of the manufacturing industry.

GigE Vision cameras can be connected to industrial robots to provide them with vision capabilities. They can be used to identify parts, verify assembly, and even help robots to navigate around dynamic workspaces.

The result is more flexible automation that can handle multiple product variations on the same line.

Security and Surveillance

Industrial facilities also require robust security monitoring.

Industrial security and surveillance use cases often require long-distance high-resolution imaging. GigE Vision cameras also fit neatly into existing network infrastructure and easily support multiple simultaneous video streams.

This makes it possible to perform comprehensive facility monitoring without going way over budget.

How to Choose the Right GigE Vision Camera

Not all GigE Vision cameras are created equal. Keep the following points in mind when deciding which equipment to use for a specific application.

Resolution Requirements

Higher resolution equals more detail.

However, that also results in larger file sizes and slower processing. Align resolution to the specific application’s requirements. High-resolution cameras are ideal for surface inspection of small parts. Low-resolution cameras are fine for general monitoring.

Frame Rate Needs

How fast is the line moving?

The production line’s speed must be taken into consideration. For high-speed applications, you’ll need to choose cameras with a faster frame rate. The calculation for the required frame rate is as follows:

• Line speed
• Object size
• Required inspection detail

Sensor Type

Area scan cameras capture a single 2D image.

Line scan cameras capture 1D images line by line.

Area scan cameras work best with stationary or slow-moving objects. Line scan cameras are excellent at continuous web inspection and high-speed conveyor applications.

Environmental Conditions

Pay attention to the operating environment.

Industrial environments often have dust, moisture, temperature extremes, and vibrations. It is important to select cameras with the appropriate IP rating and temperature specifications. In this respect, GigE Vision cameras by VA Imaging are excellent as they are constructed with industrial conditions in mind.

Software Compatibility

The camera is just one component of the system.

Make sure your GigE Vision camera is compatible with your machine vision software and with existing automation platforms. GigE Vision is an open standard, which helps. However, always double-check that the integration requirements are met before finalizing the purchase.

Getting Started

If you are ready to get started with implementing GigE Vision cameras, here are some steps to follow.

• Define the specific application requirements
• Calculate the expected ROI based on current costs
• Select cameras that match technical specifications
• Plan the network infrastructure
• Test extensively before final deployment

Businesses that achieve the best results don’t try to solve every problem at once. They focus on a single application first, prove the concept, measure the results, and then expand further.

Wrapping Things Up

GigE Vision cameras provide a powerful combination of performance, flexibility, and value. By eliminating the need for expensive frame grabbers and supporting longer cable runs and easy scalability across large installations, GigE Vision cameras are an excellent way to get serious results.

The technology is mature and battle-tested. The increasing market growth is a result of real business value being delivered across thousands of installations around the world.

For businesses serious about industrial automation and quality control, GigE Vision cameras represent a smart investment. The trick is simply to match the right camera specifications with the specific application’s requirements.

Begin by developing a clear understanding of what problem needs to be solved. Select the appropriate equipment based on that and then carefully measure the results.

This is how to maximize business value with GigE Vision cameras.