The UK-based company said its RB Series Profile system, with an aperture of 650mm x 400mm, is able to detect stainless steel contaminants with a diameter of less than 1.8mm. In the past, machines with this aperture size have only typically been able to pick up objects of around 3mm, company marketing manager Neil Giles told FoodProductionDaily.com.
“This is significant because getting down below the 2mm-barrier has always been a challenge, particularly for non-magnetic stainless steel grades such as 316, but also for ferrous, non-ferrous metals,” he added. “We’ve been to achieve this thanks to re-designing the detection coil and introducing advanced detector head geometry.”
The company said the new equipment challenged the belief that high detection sensitivity could only be associated with small aperture systems with regard to the inspection of bulk products.
The system is also flexible and can be configured to inspect bulk bags and sacks of granular and powdered products from 25kg to 50kg. It can also handle dry, wet, loose or packed bulk products such as meat, poultry, cheese, and dairy products.
Early warning
The system’s updated software system represents a key advance and ensures that food manufacturers are able to comply with quality and safety standards such as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), said Giles.
Its Condition Monitoring feature provides an early warning of potential operational problems that could, if left unaddressed, lead to detection system failure.
“These machines can be located in a remote part of the facility which means keeping an eye on them can be challenging,” said Giles. “The system can send an email or SMS which ensures that an issue is flagged up to give an early warning about adverse trends.”
He added that the machine can be allowed to run until the end of the shift and then repaired when off-line – helping to maximise production time and minimise downtime.
Software
The equipment also has an in-built performance verification system that confirms it is operating to the necessary standards – which speed ups the quality checking process as it can be done via the software package.
Operator access is password protected which means only authorised personnel can enter the system to adjust parameters and that all actions are automatically logged.
The software is easier to use thanks to its touch screen technology and a full colour display. It can also be configured to perform in particularly demanding working environments with sealing standards available up to IP69K level - enabling them to withstand high-pressure, high temperature cleaning routines, said Mettler Toledo Safeline.