At StreamTech Engineering, a material handling systems integrator, logistics automation is the name of the game. The company works with a range of customers across e-commerce, retail, and logistics with the goal of designing and implementing automation solutions that increase throughput, ensure accuracy, and achieve on-time customer deliveries.

For most of its customers, the objective is to increase the level of automation. Some customers are just beginning to adapt manual processes over to automated processes due to staffing shortages or other factors; others are trying to fast track company growth by adding a higher level of automation. This is where StreamTech develops custom, all-in-one solutions for logistics processes such as order picking, print and apply, packing, shipping, sortation, and more.

“Most companies we work with are taking their next step, the company is growing, and they need to automate more; for others, we’re installing their first automation system,” said Patrick Bradford, product development manager at StreamTech. “Some customers are also looking to increase throughput and were unhappy with their previous automation strategy.”

Across its solutions, StreamTech leverages Cognex DataMan barcode readers and the 3D-A1000 dimensioning system to ensure its solutions run smoothly, accurately, and efficiently.

“Machine vision is becoming more common in logistics and Cognex has a lot of experience with barcode reading and machine vision technology,” Bradford said. “We buy Cognex because they are our preferred products for a number of reasons, including ease of use and setup, investments in software development, barcode reading performance, and more.”

Powering StreamTech and Logistics Customers with Accurate Barcode Reading Technology

Patrick Bradford, product development manager at StreamTech, says the company began partnering with Cognex in 2016 because of ease of use, solution performance, and most of all, the ability to help customers ensure on-time deliveries.

“We spec Cognex because the devices pick up the barcode, they’re easy and fast to connect, and more technicians know Cognex than the alternative,” Bradford said. “Oftentimes companies don’t have enough labor to get the job done and in partnership with Cognex, we’re helping customers get packages out the door quickly and accurately at the right times of day.”

In particular, the DataMan image-based barcode readers have made it easier to deliver solutions that work for customers long-term.

“Image-based barcode reading allows you to see the entire code and makes it easy to facilitate remote support. It’s also easy to train our technicians on the products because the devices are built with the same firmware, flash key, and more. Therefore, if the customer changes their specs in the future, we can easily change configurations for them.”

For example, StreamTech’s FoldSerter™ Packing Slip Print Fold Inserter Machine handles multi-page packing slips and uses Cognex DataMan barcode readers to verify the packing slip against the carton before placing it into the box. This ensures that customers are getting the right packing slip with the right item. The Cognex readers achieve 100% scan verification during insert.

“Cognex is one solution we can depend on and not worry about,” Bradford said. “We know the readers are going to work, we'll have them on time, and we can focus on other things”

Expanding into Vision-Based Solutions for Logistics

When it comes to Cognex vision products, StreamTech sees much of the same value for its logistics customers.  

“The 3D-A1000 is a great dimensioner for us. It’s easy to set up, non-contact, and takes the least amount of deployment time. Customers like it because it sits overhead, and a lot of other solutions require equipment closer to the floor. Vision-based dimensioning is a huge win for us.” 

For example, StreamTech’s Sprinter™ end-of-line print and apply labeling system identifies packages, weighs them, and dimensions them with the Cognex 3D-A1000 Dimensioning System, then prints and applies a label and sorts it to the right location. The data they receive from the 3D-A1000 helps customers with rate shopping and reduces shipping costs based on dimension and weight charges.  

“For dimensioning, having accurate measurements is invaluable because if dimensions are off by more than one inch, you will see fees from carriers, which can be significant,” said Bradford. 

What’s Next for StreamTech? 

Bradford said he sees automation playing a bigger and more significant role in StreamTech’s business in the future. And when it comes to choosing the right partners, he’s excited to continue innovating with Cognex. 

“We’re seeing a strong pace of innovation from Cognex. At every annual tradeshow, we can depend on something that’s better, faster, and cheaper or a new application with machine vision or dimensioning that’s easy to integrate, easy to support, in a solid state, and with no mechanical wear.” 

Bradford said he is looking forward to taking barcode reading to the next level with the latest Cognex Modular Vision Tunnel. 

“We’re working on a new scan tunnel design for a client and adopting the new Cognex series of readers, the DataMan 380. We think they’re really cool because they have a very large depth of field and field of view. It basically includes everything you could ever want. In the past, this has seemed unachievable because typically you’d need between seven and nine cameras and when they have read issues, it’s hard to pinpoint, hard to set up, and hard to figure out which is underperforming. One camera per side of the box is fantastic, so we’re keen to adopt this early on.”