How Does A Food Metal Detector Work?
Want to improve the speed of your production lines?
Most food manufacturers do, especially as it can help them to keep their costs low and maximise their profit margins. However, you should never prioritise speed over safety, as food could end up being contaminated with small fragments of metal.
When products are contaminated, you can expect to be faced with product recalls, which cost your business money. Customers are likely to take to social media to complain too, meaning that the years spent building up a trusted brand will be wiped away instantly.
To protect your company and consumers, avoid product recalls, and keep your reputation intact, it’s worth investing in a food metal detector.
Why are metal detectors used in the food industry?
Metal is one of, if not, the most prevalent contaminants within the food industry. It can enter the production line at any point, either from machinery, handling equipment, or utensils.
Metal detectors typically detect 3 types of metal:
- Ferrous metals – magnetic and conductive, so are easy to spot in food goods.
- Non-ferrous metals – non-magnetic but conductive, making them relatively simple to spot in raw and cooked food.
- Stainless steel – neither magnetic nor conductive, which makes them tricky to detect. It’s even harder to identify them in products that contain water or salt.
How food metal detectors work
There are various types of food metal detectors on the market – but most have a transmitter coil and 2 receiver coils.
The transmitter coil generates a constant electromagnetic field whilst the receiver coils detect a signal.
An electronic unit then analyses the signal and evaluates it before producing a sound and signalling metal contamination.
Usually, food metal detectors have an automatic reject function that stops contaminated goods from progressing any further along the production line.
Here at Stainless Steel Manufacturing & Equipment (SSME), our metal detectors have conveyor belts that effectively transfer products from one area to the next. These feature adjustable speeds and outputs, allowing you to dictate the rate at which products convey – ensuring maximum safety and efficiency.
Although food metal detectors can be placed anywhere, we suggest having one at the end of the production line – especially for packaged products. This way, a final quality check can be made before goods are distributed to consumers.
Invest in a food metal detector today
If you’re looking to add a food metal detector to your production plant, be sure to take a closer look at the systems we supply here at SSME.
Our food metal detection systems are manufactured from food-grade stainless steel. They are extremely hygienic and can withstand harsh environments. They’re also available for a highly competitive price!
If you have any questions about our conveyorised metal detectors, or you’d like help choosing the best one for your production area, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 0121 661 6346. We’re always on hand and will gladly share our expertise.