Aluminium castings for car engines are provided with a needled DataMatrix code for traceability. In order to read the data into the company's PDA system, a robust reading system is required that can also reliably read needled codes. With the Cognex In-Sight 5110, a reading system with outstanding software is available even for difficult applications. High reading rates are achieved with application-specific design. The systems have protection class IP67 and, when used in casting cells, are installed together with the lighting in an air-cooled housing. Codes with low quality can be read by station-specific processing. Readjustment and thus time-consuming manual intervention is not necessary.