Industrial Process Monitoring Camera for Process Control

Q: How do you handle maintenance and fouling of the viewing window?

We address it in the spec up front by selecting the right window material, purge or air-knife approach, and cleaning strategy so you maintain a clear, usable image without constant manual intervention.

Seeing the process is useful. Controlling the process is better.

When you need more than “video,” JM Canty process monitoring cameras can be configured as process control tools—turning real-time visuals into actionable signals for operators and PLC/DCS systems.

With the right combination of camera + lighting + mounting/window + VCM + CantyVision™ analytics, you can alarm, trend, and automate responses based on what’s happening in the process—without opening equipment or waiting for downstream quality checks.

Talk to a specialist: (844) 880-2469

Contact: https://www.clippercontrols.com/contact-us

Industrial process monitoring camera viewing spray nozzles inside a spray dryer for real-time process control.

👉 Ready to see if a process camera makes sense?

Call (844) 880-2469 or send us your application details and we’ll help you size the right JM Canty camera and VCM package for your process.

Why this is a process control solution (not just a camera)

A standard industrial camera helps you see the process. A process control monitoring camera system helps you control it by adding:

Analytics (CantyVision™): converts images into measurable variables (application dependent)
Edge processing (VCM): runs the analytics workflow and operator interface
Control-ready outputs: commonly configured for OPC UA / Modbus / 4–20 mA (configuration dependent)

Simple concept:
Image → Measurement → Signal → Alarm/Action

JM Canty Vector Control Module hardware family used to run CantyVision analytics and generate control-system outputs. — JM Canty VCM provides control and plant-network integration for process monitoring cameras.

JM Canty Industrial Process Monitoring Camera System

what variable you want (pattern deviation %, blockage detection, stability index, etc.)
required interface (OPC UA / Modbus / 4–20 mA)
alarm thresholds and required actions
where the signal should land (PLC/DCS/SCADA/historian)

Clipper Controls typically specifies these systems as a complete package:

Camera + lighting (built for harsh environments)

Rugged camera and enclosure options for industrial service
Integrated or external lighting strategies (continuous or strobe, as needed)
Optics selected for your working distance and target feature

Viewing interface (mounting, window, purge)

Port/nozzle sizing and aiming support
Window/sight-port strategy matched to temperature/chemistry
Purge/air knife or cleaning approach to keep the view usable

VCM + CantyVision™ (where “monitoring” becomes “control”)

VCM provides the compute layer for analytics and integration
CantyVision™ generates variables/alarms for trending and control logic
Outputs delivered to your PLC/DCS or SCADA environment (configuration dependent)

👉 Not sure which configuration you need?

Message us to share a P&ID or a short description of your vessel, dryer, or line, and we’ll recommend a camera, window, and VCM configuration that fits your controls architecture.

Common applications

These are proven “camera + analytics” use cases where the output drives action:

Spray dryer monitoring

Use image-based monitoring to detect:

spray pattern drift
nozzle clogging or partial plugging
pattern instability that can cause off-spec product or buildup risk
changes in droplet size or distribution that indicate emerging problems

Typical control value

alarm before quality issues cascade
support operator intervention or automated corrective actions
optimize CIP timing by spotting buildup trends earlier
document spray performance as part of batch or lot records

Froth control (biotech, pharma, and mining)

In biotech and pharma, excessive foam on fermenters and bioreactors can:

blind exhaust filters
trigger nuisance alarms
drive overuse of antifoam and impact downstream steps

In mining flotation, froth behavior directly affects recovery and grade — but operators are often relying on a quick visual check and experience.

With a BioCam and VCM-based analytics, you can:

monitor froth/foam height and coverage
track changes in texture, bubble size, or stability over time
generate variables and alarms that correlate with your “good” operating window

Typical control value

reduce nuisance trips from foam and froth excursions
optimize antifoam or reagent dosing instead of over-treating
stabilize performance across shifts by giving operators and control systems the same, consistent froth/foam feedback

JM Canty BioCam monitoring changes in foam and froth for biotech, pharma, and mining flotation applications.

Vessels, mixers, and batch steps

Use visual confirmation and analytics to:

reduce “open and look” checks
confirm phase behavior, agitation outcomes, or abnormal conditions
create repeatable verification points during critical steps
verify that solids are fully wetted or dissolved before advancing
detect stratification, dead zones, or poor mixing early
visually confirm CIP/SIP coverage and cleaning effectiveness
document batch consistency with image-based records for QA/QC

JM Canty process monitoring camera example for vessels and mixers, showing in-vessel camera hardware, live trending dashboard, and batch quality measurement.

👉 Have a tricky application?

Whether it’s a spray dryer, fermenter, flotation cell, or something stranger, we can tell you if a process camera + VCM is a good fit—or if another approach makes more sense.

Integration notes for controls engineers

Interfaces (configuration dependent): OPC UA, Modbus, 4–20 mA
Alarm logic: warning vs trip/interlock setpoints
Trending: historian-ready variables for batch records and optimization
Network access: remote operator/engineering access (as required by IT/OT policies)
Architecture: camera(s) + lighting + window/purge + VCM analytics + PLC/DCS outputs

What to specify (RFQ checklist)

Process conditions

normal/upset temperature
pressure/vacuum
dust/abrasives or sticky vapors
corrosive chemistry exposure
washdown requirements (sanitary/CIP/SIP)

Mechanical + optical

port/nozzle size and location
desired field of view (what you need to see/measure)
working distance and target feature size
window/sight port requirements
purge/cleaning approach (to avoid fouled optics)

Controls + outputs

what variable you want (pattern deviation %, blockage detection, stability index, etc.)
required interface (OPC UA / Modbus / 4–20 mA)
alarm thresholds and required actions
where the signal should land (PLC/DCS/SCADA/historian)

Why buy through Clipper Controls

Most “process camera” projects fail for predictable reasons:

the camera survives, but can’t see what matters (bad angle, wrong optics, glare, fouling)
you get video, but no usable signal for control
there’s no plan for window/purge/cleaning, so the image degrades over time

Clipper Controls helps you specify the complete system—so it remains useful and maintainable in real plant conditions.

Clipper Controls sewer flow meter specialist

👉 Need help specifying a process monitoring camera in CA, NV, or HI?

Reach out at (844) 880-2469 or send us your application details. We’ll help you choose and configure the right JM Canty process camera and VCM solution for your application.

FAQ

Is this just for monitoring, or can it support control?

It can do both. The camera provides the image, and the VCM with analytics turns that image into variables and alarms that can be used in your PLC/DCS logic.

How does it integrate with my PLC/DCS or SCADA system?

Systems are typically configured with industrial outputs such as OPC UA, Modbus, and/or 4–20 mA. Those signals can be used for alarms, interlocks, and trending in your existing control architecture.

What has the biggest impact on project success?

Getting the complete system right: view angle, optics, lighting, window/purge strategy, and the analytics configuration. When those are aligned to a clear control objective, the system is reliable and actionable.

Can this be retrofitted onto existing equipment?

In many cases, yes. If you have an available nozzle or can add a sight port in a suitable location, we can usually design a mounting and purge solution that ties into your existing controls.

How do you handle maintenance and fouling of the viewing window?

We address it in the spec up front—selecting the right window material, purge or air-knife approach, and cleaning strategy so you maintain a clear, usable image without constant manual intervention.

​​Industrial Process Monitoring Camera for Process Control

​​Why this is a process control solution (not just a camera)

​JM Canty Industrial Process Monitoring Camera System