Food Metal Detectors

An essential part of a comprehensive contamination control program, food metal detectors are primarily used in food and pharmaceutical industries to detect metal contamination in packets or products. With the highest accuracy and reliability, a food metal detector has the ability to detect all types of metals - whether it is ferrous, non-ferrous, or stainless steel. It plays a prominent role in ensuring product safety, equipment protection and regulatory compliance in the food industry. Furthermore, it is vital to enhance the reputation of a firm.
The working of food metal detectors is quite simple. The appliance consists of a balanced, three-coil system, wound on a non-metallic frame. The center coil is attached to a high-frequency radio transmitter, and the other coils serve as receivers. When anything metallic passes through the coils of a metal detector, the high frequency field is disturbed, thereby enabling easy detection of metal particles. However, the ease of detection is based on factors such as magnetic permeability and electrical conductivity of metals. Nowadays, many of the sophisticated types of food metal detectors come attached with automatic reject mechanism, to reject products on immediate detection of metal contamination.
Depending on the specific purpose, different types of metal detectors are available for checking metallic contamination in the food industry. For examining small and unpacked goods such as vegetables, snack items, frozen foods, sea foods and poultry, conveyor type metal detectors are most suitable. Metal detectors with advanced microprocessor-based technology are highly advantageous for checking coarse-grained food stuffs such as popcorn, cornflakes and soup noodles. Also available are pipeline metal detectors with hygienic stainless steel construction, ideal in pumped applications such as baby food and sausage meat.
Similarly, bakery industries employ metal detectors coupled with high frequency, crystal-controlled oscillators. In certain cases, food items such as cheese, jam and pickles generate a signal in the metal detector although metal is not found in them. This is known as product effect. For such applications, pinpoint metal detectors with analog technology and modular electronics are the perfect choice.
It is important to note that all food metal detectors cannot guarantee a metal-free food product. But a properly designed, installed and well-maintained unit, combined with an effective metal contamination control program, can best serve the purpose