Machinery Technology

New systems see through common inspection and detection roadblocks

Technological advancements pave the way for faster speeds, better sanitation, lower costs and more versatility.

X-Rays get a power boost

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has upgraded its popular Thermo Scientific Xpert C400 X-ray system for detecting metals and other foreign objects in food. By adding an X-ray source with twice the power of the original model, the system is better suited for thicker, denser products and high speed production. The system targets a broad range of food applications including challenging wet and semi-frozen products, as well as metalized packaging structures that do not lend themselves to metal detection.

The Xpert C400 also offers a new compact sanitary drum motor to drive its conveyor. The drum improves safety and performance, minimizes maintenance requirements and simplifies sanitation by enclosing all the moving parts. With the drum motor as part of the conveyor framework, the unit takes up less space.

“Food processors demand a high level of performance from their product inspection equipment. Also high on the list of deliverables is equipment that can perform within a smaller footprint to maximize use of valuable floor space. The new Xpert C400 upgrades reflect Thermo Fisher’s continual investment in product inspection enhancements designed to meet customer needs,” says Bob Ries, lead product manager, metal detection and X-ray inspection, Thermo Fisher Scientific.

In addition to detecting metal, glass, dense plastics and other contaminants in packaged food, the system can analyze X-ray images to estimate weight and fill or determine if a product has missing objects. Because the Xpert C400 features highly sensitive detectors in multiple resolutions (0.8/0.4mm) and has a suite of algorithms designed to find small contaminants in complex images, it functions with few, if any, false rejects.

Reject a future of false rejects

CEIA MS-21 Multi-Spectrum metal detectors from HEAT AND CONTROL Inc. (www.heatandcontrol.com) eliminate the waste and delay of false rejects while maintaining a high level of sensitivity to all metal contaminants. Using multi-spectrum technology, the CEIA MS-21 can differentiate between metal contaminants and product effect conditions better than multi-frequency detectors. Multi-frequency detectors can choose one of several frequencies when inspecting a product. However, only one frequency can be used, which often results in compromise and false rejections.

CEIA Multi-Spectrum technology simultaneously and continuously uses a spectrum of multiple frequencies to differentiate between actual metal contaminates and product effects. This allows for more accurate metal detection, as well as less product waste. It also permits reliable inspection of products with different characteristics on the same products line.

Metal detection doesn’t have to cost a pretty penny

Food production lines in need of a cost-effective metal detector can turn to METTLER TOLEDO Safeline’s Signature metal detector, which features a full-color touchscreen, membrane key panel and product inspection data collection capability.

Signature detectors can be fully automated when combined with material handling systems, such as conveyors. Because they are designed to work within a variety of food manufacturing environments, Signature detectors come in a variety of sizes, finishes and sealing standards.

METTLER TOLEDO has created Signature detectors to detect even the most elusive non-magnetic stainless steels and non-spherical fine wire contaminants. An optional set-up routine allows end users to configure Performance Validation Routine testing to their own needs and choose to test on a time bases or pack count basis. Operating in conjunction with a Reject Confirmation Unit, the system meets all Global Food Safety Initiative standards.

Make no bones about poultry bone detection

To face the challenges presented by bone particles and foreign matter found in products, Anritsu offers the DualX X-ray. All of Anritsu’s machines feature Innovative HD and DualX technology, which can detect smaller poultry bones, including lower density fan bones.

With its easy set-up, operation, maintenance and cleaning, the high speed DualX X-Ray Inspection System is suited for the stringent quality control requirements of leading poultry plants. It uses two X-ray energy signals to simultaneously distinguish between the product and the contaminants. The DualX detects calcified bone fragments as small as 2.0mm, and glass, stone, rubber and metal can be detected as small as 0.7mm.

Don’t let testing destroy good packages

Many leak-detection methods result in product destruction. To prevent this, the PTI VeriPac Vacuum Decay Series of inspection systems are capable of carefully testing packaging at the production line. The system detects leaks as small as 10 microns, identifying any process issues before they become critical. The VeriPac D-Series features a patented FLEX-Chamber that eliminates the need for changeover when testing different size pouches and is immune to package variations. It is also possible to test multiple packages in a single test cycle. VeriPac provides a qualitative result (PASS or FAIL) as well as quantitative data that correlates to leak rate and leak size.

The VeriPac Series is a practical alternative to destructive testing because it eliminates the subjective results. Water bath testing also increases the risk of bacteria and moisture contamination of the product being packaged. Case studies have proven that vacuum decay leak testing technology provides a rapid return on investment when compared to destructive test methods. Good packages are not discarded, reducing waste from quality testing. Significant product savings can be created at the plant and retail levels.