Exploring the CMC-KUHNKE SEAMscan XTS: Features, Applications & Demonstration

Overview

The CMC-KUHNKE SEAMscan XTS III is a fully automated, stand-alone non-destructive double seam inspection system designed for aluminium and steel cans. In this video, you’ll see how the SEAMscan XTS III operates, what makes it the trusted choice for beverage producers and metal packaging quality control teams, and how its X-ray technology delivers fast, accurate, non-destructive seam measurements without wasting product or requiring a destructive teardown. 

Key Features of the SEAMscan XTS III

• Fully automated, stand-alone non-destructive double seam inspection for round aluminium and steel cans 
• X-ray technology measures internal seam parameters without cutting or destroying the can 
• Unique radial measurement system – not tangential – for the most accurate single-point measurement available 
• Measures seam height, body hook, cover hook, overlap, seam gap, and % body hook butting 
• 360° tightness scan for objective wrinkle detection and tightness monitoring 
• TÜV Rheinland tested and certified X-ray shielding to < 0.1 mSv per year for safe operation 
• Added drainage for easy cleaning; 270° accessibility for low-downtime maintenance 
• Third generation of the XTS platform – zero-waste, non-destructive seam inspection 
• Reduces labour costs and spoilage compared to destructive testing methods 

What You’ll Learn in This Video

• 00:00 – Demonstration of how to load a sample and begin the test
• 00:44 – Showcase of test results and print / savable options

Understanding Non-Destructive Double Seam Inspection with X-Ray

Traditional double seam inspection requires cutting the seam to expose its internal structure for measurement. This destructive approach has two significant limitations: it wastes the can and its contents, and it can only check a small sample of cans per inspection cycle. In high-volume beverage and food canning operations, this means that large numbers of cans are produced between inspection points, with no visibility of seam quality during those intervals. 

The SEAMscan XTS III addresses this by using X-ray technology to measure the internal geometry of the double seam without any cutting or destruction of the can. X-ray imaging provides a cross-sectional view of the seam structure, from which all critical internal dimensions – body hook, cover hook, overlap, seam gap, and % body hook butting – can be measured automatically. Combined with external measurements from the radial gauge system, the SEAMscan XTS III provides a complete seam measurement package in a single, fast, non-destructive test cycle. 

The instrument’s radial measurement approach – rather than the tangential method used by some competitors – delivers a single, precise measurement point for each parameter, eliminating the focus variation and geometric averaging that can introduce error into tangential systems. The 360° tightness scan adds an objective, quantified assessment of wrinkle and tightness across the full circumference of the seam, replacing the subjective operator judgement required in conventional teardown-based wrinkle rating. 

Typical applications include: 

• Non-destructive double seam quality control on beverage filling lines 
• Food and general line can double seam inspection 
• New line commissioning and seamer qualification 
• High-frequency seam monitoring without product waste 
• Audit and compliance verification against BCME and other seam standards 

Technical Summary

 For full technical specifications, visit the product page to download the product sheet. 

Speak With an Expert

If you’re looking for the right non-destructive double seam inspection solution for your canning operation, our team is here to help. Contact our experts today.