ECS President and Co-Founder Brian Mock was recently featured on MVPro Media’s Vision Podcast to discuss how machine vision, edge computing, and AI are changing the way pulp and paper mills approach safety, quality control, and uptime.
The conversation covered Brian’s early days in industrial video technology, when troubleshooting meant rewinding VCR footage to understand what happened before a break. That experience helped shape the foundation for what ECS does today: helping mills capture the right visual data, understand root causes, and make better decisions across the production process.
Brian also explained why pulp and paper is such a demanding environment for machine vision. Many mills are operating with older machines, thin margins, and high-volume production demands. In that environment, even small improvements in efficiency, waste reduction, or product quality can have a major impact.
A major focus of the episode was the shift from server-heavy vision systems to edge-based devices. Brian discussed how processing data at the source helps reduce failure points, improve response time, and make AI more practical on the mill floor. This is especially important as ECS continues deploying AI-driven safety systems that detect human presence in red zones and communicate directly with machine PLCs.
The episode also touched on ECS’s broader role in the paper industry, from chip quality inspection and web inspection to roll handling, workplace safety, and better lighting strategies for difficult mill environments. Through it all, Brian emphasized ECS’s people, process, and technology approach. The goal is not simply to install cameras. The goal is to deliver systems that work in real production environments and support them for the long term.
For anyone working in pulp and paper, machine vision, industrial safety, or quality control, this is a worthwhile listen. Brian gives a practical look at where the industry has been, where it is headed, and why better data can help mills protect people, improve uptime, and keep promises to their customers.
Listen to the full episode here: https://mvpromedia.com/vision-podcast-19-modernizing-pulp-paper-vision-podcast-19-w-brian-mock/
