About Us

Peco InspX is a leading provider of inspection systems for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, we combine cutting edge technology with rugged construction to produce high performance, reliable inspection equipment. From X-ray inspection to fill level detection, Peco InspX equipment addresses a broad range of inspection applications.

Our history

peco controls corporation history

Peco Controls was founded in 1955 after developing the first inductive can sensor. Since that time, Peco Controls has continued to develop systems with “no touch” sensing for bottlers, fillers and packagers. Peco has been recognized time and again for its innovative, long-lived systems. In fact, Peco systems are created to such high standards that there are processing and manufacturing plants continuing to use Peco systems that were installed as many as forty years ago.

Peco takes pride in its heritage of invention and innovation and today we offer a complete line of line and process control sensors, modules, container stops and diverters through an established network of global sales and service representatives. The depth of Peco’s on-going technical development and innovation program is our commitment to our customers that our systems and components offer the greatest value and the most cost effective solutions for today and tomorrow.

Inspx corporate history

The Peco Controls legacy is important to understanding the DNA of InspX. Peco has long been a technology and market leader in the inspection of rigid containers – cans, bottles, jars – with their two primary technologies of vacuum/pressure checking to confirm seal integrity of closed containers (also commonly referred to as ‘dud-detection’) and gamma source inspection of contents for fill level/head-space verification. From invention of the proximity sensor decades ago, to high speed vision systems today, Peco continues as a leader in the inspection and product handling requirements of high speed packaging lines.

In 1997 Peco Controls developed one of the first X-ray systems for food inspection, and the recognition that application of that technology has far broader appeal than just rigid packaging lines led to the creation of InspX in 2000. Formed as a separate but co-located company afforded a dedicated focus on X-ray inspection, while maintaining the ability to leverage the technology and experience resident at Peco.

Peco Inspx corporate history

In 2015, to address market evolution and operating synergies, InspX merged with Peco Controls to form the current company, Peco InspX. Peco InspX is headquartered in Burlingame, California. Peco InspX manufactures all systems and finished components in our facility in Modesto, California.

History Timeline

Line control...

1955

Ed Dudley forms Peco Corporation to develop control equipment for the canning industry. Peco integrated inductive sensing and magnetics into can line handling and control elements such as vertical dividers, can end orienters and - most importantly - the Peco Can Sensor, the first no touch (non-contact) sensor for detecting presence of metal objects such as cans
1958

The first double sheet detector for control of tin sheets used in can-making - eliminating jams and broken tools in the scrolling shears and body blanking machines
1960

Introduces the “M” series of discrete controls for regulating the flow of single file cans in the manufacturing and filling process. The M series replaced the original “T” series and included functions such as “On / Off Delay,” “Motion,“ and “Two Input” to protect machines and manage the flow of cans through the process
1968

Publishes the “Systems Engineering Guide.” Still the Bible for single file, high speed container control systems
1974

Launches the VacTrac Vacuum Inspection System, a module based system (the VTM). The VTM introduced a three sensor measurement head for measurement of lid deflection even on cable conveyors
1977

Introduces two standards for container line control, the C3801 Container Stop and the “Standard Can Diverter.” The former provided an electro magnetic armature to enter the can flow gently while accelerating to provide a firm stop between the nested cylindrical can bodies. The Standard Diverter allowed cans to move to an angled position on a cable where the armatures would switch to allow the can flow to move to an alternative path without stopping the line and with the assurance that the last can switched would roll down the angled path at the switching point. These standards are still in existance today
1978

Renames Peco to add “Controls” and introduced the new hockey stick logo
1979

Introduces the first digital fill level monitor in the US, the Gamma 101
1983

Peco introduces the Gamma 101P, the first micro-processor based, digitally-controlled Fill Level Monitor. Housed in a Stainless Steel housing, the Gamma 101P extended applications for fill level monitoring beyond beverage into the wet environments of pet food and vegetable canning
1985

Sells “hockey stick” logo to Burroughs and introduces new logo evocative of rolling cans
1986

Peco fill level and filler monitoring sampling systems provide performance cornerstones for the first 2,000 can per minute beverage can filling line
1987

Introduces the Case Inspector for high speed inspection for count and volume of 24 count cases of metal cans at 200 feet per minute
1989

Supplies fill level and filler management systems on the first 2,000 can per minute beverage can filling line in Milton Keynes, UK for Coca-Cola
1991

Develops and supplies fully automated fill level systems and sampling for first fully automated beer canning line for the Kirin New Yokohama brewery

...To x-ray inspection

1998

Relocates from Milpitas to Fremont, California with production operations moved to Modesto, California
2002

Introduces the ScanTrac X-ray Inspection system for the non-contact inspection of containers running at speeds up to 600 fpm using a complete container image. The ScanTrac Solo initiated the current era of the continued expansion of X-ray use as an important tool for identification of foreign material, contents verification, and process monitoring
2005

Introduces the ScanTrac Crescendo system for the high resolution inspection of large format containers such as the Number Ten can. The Crescendo pioneered the use of multiple beam X-ray systems to enhance the resolution and precision of X-ray technology across a range of packages

Source: Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
2006

Introduces the ScanTrac Duo system with two angled beams to address the physical properties of glass containers. The multiple beam approach (and as extended in the three beam Trio model) enables high speed X-ray inspection of containers that greatly improves resolution on the bottom of the container while creating images for detection of asymmetrical shaped contaminants
2010

Expands the multi-beam ScanTrac Duo system with two angled beams to include a third beam in the ScanTrac Trio. The three beam Trio model enables high speed X-ray inspection of containers, greatly improving resolution on the bottom of the container and detection of asymmetrical shaped contaminants
2014

Acquires 1616 Culpepper in Modesto to allow for the expanded production of all Peco InspX systems in the facility. The modernized facility provides ready access to local vendor support and to the administrative center for Peco InspX in Santa Clara County
2016

ScanTrac Glissando system introduced for enhanced inspection of glass containers using two X-ray tubes. By separately imaging the bottom of the glass container while simultaneously imaging from the side, 100 percent of the glass container can be inspected without separation between the containers
2018

Launch of the Shield generation of X-ray inspection machines. This next generation utilizes human-centered design to ensure a seamless interface between hardware and software interactions. Under the hood, our intelligent architecture uses load-balancing and redundancy in critical systems to achieve maximum system availability and minimum downtime. Native Industry 4.0 support, real-time telematics allow for proactive monitoring and communication to plant control software
2020

Introduces the HRX High Resolution option for its X-ray systems that provides for a 16 X improvement in the resolution size of the typical X-ray diode
2020

Peco InspX Headquarters moves to Burlingame, California
2021

Launch of the Peco InspX IoT Platform – delivering production integration for X-ray and other line control and measurement devices. Compatible with all leading SCADA Data Visualization Platforms, Peco InspX’s Industry 4.0 compliant solution simplifies management and accelerates issue identification