SaintyCo Metal Detector

SaintyCo is a professional manufacturer of metal detectors for the food and pharmaceutical industry. We are the leading manufacturer for many now. All our metal detectors are approved by food safety standards such as:

• FDA
• GMP
• CFR
• IFS
• BRC
• GFSI and other standards

We manufacture metal detectors that is designed with high efficiency. It features a simplified sanitizing and cleaning process. It also offers extreme sensitivity and detection to stainless steel, magnetic and non-magnetic, and other metal contaminants.

SaintyCo metal detectors offer safe operation, precise performance, reduced ownership cost, and maximum system uptime. Here in SaintyCo, you can assure a lifelong service support.

Contact us now for your next metal detector inquiries and orders!

Metal Detector: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Before choosing your next metal detector equipment, read this guide.

It has everything that will help you choose a perfect metal detector equipment for all your applications.

Keep reading to learn more.

Why Should You Consider Using A Metal Detector In The Food Industry?

It is hazardous to have any metal contaminants in your food.

Furthermore, the smallest amount from worn-out equipment or unsafe operating conditions will compromise the food quality.

This leads to thousands of food items or stock worth thousands of dollars being recalled.

Besides, all this will damage your reputation, and consumers will trust you less.

metal detector

Here are the main reasons you should always use a metal detector in the food industry:

Product Safety

The metal detector ensures the food you are making has no metal fragments.

Besides, quality assurance by using your eyes cannot locate these contaminants.

This means your food products will be safe for human consumption.

Quality Assurance

Metal detectors will save you several hours in quality assurance processes.

Also, automatic low-maintenance metal detectors minimize the time for manual quality checks.

This means you will be able to conduct quality assurance quickly and efficiently.

Equipment Protection

When the food items you make have a high metal contamination level, it may indicate problems with your equipment.

This means you can conduct preventative maintenance practices before your machinery completely breaks down.

Also, it will save you lots of money that you would experience if your machine faces downtime.

Customer Requirement

Customers must consume safe food at all times.

This means you are obliged to produce safe food for human consumption without fail.

At What Stage In The Production Does Metal Contamination Happen?

Metal contamination can occur at different stages in your production line, therefore, you need to be keen at all times.

Contamination can occur at the following stages within the production cycle:

• In the field
• During food processing
• During packaging processes

How Does A Metal Detector Operate?

Metal detectors have evolved from the traditional coils wound on non-metallic frames connected to radio frequency receivers and transmitters.

The emergence of X-ray inspection is proving to be successful to find several sized contaminants.

However, metal detectors are still suitable for specifically identifying metal fragments rather than other types of contaminants.

Metal detectors will look for signal interference.

This means that non-conductive products are suitable for use with metal detectors.

When a metal is within a dry non-conductive substance like pasta, the metal detector can easily locate it.

In such suitable conditions, the metal detectors can easily detect and eliminate small metal fragments that the human eye cannot see.

This is because it is sensitive enough to recognize interference from such contaminants.

What Types Of Metal Contaminants Can Be Found In Food?

There are three versions of metal that a metal detector can remove from food items.

Besides, it is important to know such differences as it will determine which type of metal detector is suitable for your needs.

Such metal contaminants include the following:

Ferrous Metals

These metals have a high iron content level.

Besides, they are conductive and magnetic thus the metal detector can easily sense and eliminate them.

Non-ferrous Metals

These metals contain small amounts of iron.

Besides, non-ferrous metals are non-magnetic but are conductive, thus, the metal detector will easily detect and remove them.

Stainless Steel

This is a ferrous metal but has high levels of chromium.

Stainless steel is the most difficult metal to detect since it is not conductive or magnetic.

Furthermore, it is more difficult to identify if the product you are producing has high salt content or contains water.

However, you can install x-ray detection devices to assist in the detection and elimination of stainless steel.

When Should You Use A Metal Detector?

Also, you can use a metal detector at any phase in your production process.

Besides, using it at the end of the production line will increase the quality assurance of the items.

Also, it is more effective when you use it in the first step in the food production process when you are mixing the dry ingredients.

Using it at the first stage in the production line makes it cost-effective when locating contaminants.

This means you will lower waste and locate metal contaminants before you add other ingredients.

Manufacturers can employ HACCP units to evaluate their process and determine where the production contamination might happen.

For this reason, it is important to use the metal detector at all stages in the production line to ensure high-quality assurance.

When you use several ingredients and conduct a lot of production processes, it is advantageous to use the metal detector once you complete the process.

In such scenarios, manufacturers also include x-ray systems.

This is because using a lot of ingredients can increase the chances of contamination, which might be non-metallic.

What Detection And Inspection Issues May You Encounter While Using A Metal Detector?

Metal detectors can experience false triggers which can lead to wastage, profit loss, and slow production speeds.

Standard versions of metal detectors may struggle to repeatedly and accurately detect metals during production.

The reason for this is that various items emit different signals due to product effects such as fluctuating moisture content.

However, you can combat this issue by using multispectrum x-ray detectors.

Another issue is ensuring maximum efficiency while maintaining the robustness of the metal detector.

Besides, no producer wants to lower their production rate.

They need to balance their production requirements while ensuring food quality is of utmost importance.

Compliance with regulatory needs such as strict standards, legislations, etc., poses a challenge.

Another issue is operator safety as accidents can happen which is traumatic to their families.

This may lead to downtime and risks your reputation once the public gets wind of it.

Ensure the metal detector has safety systems like safety valves, guarded rollers, etc.

Also, ensure you correctly train your staff to handle the device as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

How Will A Metal Detector Improve Quality Assurance In Your Application?

The metal detector will ensure the following:

Raw Materials Purity

It will inspect the incoming items before the start of the production process.

This will minimize defect costs and you can evaluate your suppliers by conducting early detection of contaminants.

Final Product Purity

Metal detectors will inspect the final product to ensure the clients receive high-quality items free of metals.

Furthermore, ensure that the level of metal-free items you produce is as high as can be.

HACCP

This stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point.

A critical point is an area within the production line where if you fail to monitor the process, there is a high health risk occurrence.

Safeguarding Production Facilities

The introduction of metal components within the production devices can damage or destroy sensitive parts.

When you experience downtime, you will have a low production rate and this negatively affects volume and product quality.

Which Metal Detector Is Suitable For You?

Metal detectors come with various capabilities, which include the following:

Single-frequency

This version is suitable for basic product inspection because it has limited abilities to operate with various products.

single frequency metal detector

Multi-frequency

These versions of metal detectors function with several frequencies, that is, one frequency at a time.

multi frequency metal detector

They can detect various products that contain different characteristics.

Multi-spectrum

For a high-performance level, these metal detectors work simultaneously across a large spectrum of frequencies.

multi spectrum metal detector

This leads to optimum sensitivity and accurately compensates for the product effects.

What Are The Technical Limits Of A Metal Detector?

The maximum sensitivity of a metal detector relies on physical laws that determine the measuring principle.

For instance, food contains strong electrical conductivity because it contains water, salt, minerals, and sugar.

The sensitivity that a metal detector can achieve relies on how it can compensate for such product effects.

What Happens If Your Products Are Enclosed In A Metal Package?

The packaging material you use can impact how the metal detector’s capacity to varying degrees.

A metal detector can inspect a broad range of packaging materials commonly used in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Such packages include:

• Paper
• Ceramic pots
• Plastic trays
• Glass
• Metalized film
• Composite cartons
• Aluminum foil
• Doypacks
• Metal cans

The packages that will exhibit the most challenge are foil-packed items or those with any version of the metallic package.

However, you can use x-ray detection systems to combat this issue.

Besides, ensure the x-ray detection system compiles with BRC, supermarket practice codes, and has advanced linear systems with stable inspection algorithms.

Furthermore, metal-based packages are a barrier to traditional metal detectors.

This means that if your product has metallic packaging, employ x-ray inspection systems to ensure quality compliance.

A combination of special tools can detect contaminants in complex packaging types like glass or cans.

Unique software algorithms can inspect such packs and x-ray scanners can inspect specific areas of such packs.

In What Area Of The Production Line Should You Install A Metal Detector?

These include:

Beginning Of Production Line

Meat products come in contact with twist ties, metal tags, knives, etc. at the start of the production line.

Using the metal detector at this stage prevents your production machinery from damages from incoming metal elements.

Using metal detectors only at this point can lead to a high chance of contamination at other production stages.

End Of The Production  Line

Several industries use this process as it is the final phase before your customers receive your products.

Also, ensure the final product is not too large or dense as it may affect the sensitivity of the metal detector.

In-line

This entails placing metal detectors on critical control points in the production line.

Several Areas

This entails placing metal detectors at several areas within the production line as contamination can occur at any stage.

What Factors Should You Consider When Avoiding False Readings In A Metal Detector?

These include:

Environmental Factors

Place metal detectors away from vibrating environments, areas with temperature fluctuations, and electrical interference prone regions.

This is because they are sensitive to such elements.

Product Traits

The product effect may cause false rejections as it originates from the characteristics of the products.

For instance, the product may have moisture or high salt content which may cause voltage imbalances.

Advanced Technology

Combining check weighers and metal detectors lowers the overall cost as it ensures compliance with several industries.

Also, metal detectors occupy less space than x-ray inspectors.

Product Uniformity

This entails considering the products you are working with and if their consistency changes across the production line.

For instance, fluctuating moisture and salt content, and environmental conditions influence the effectiveness of the metal detectors.

Operating With Experts

Employ experts to analyze your environment and the products you need to test.

This helps as they will recommend a suitable metal detector for your operations.

How Do You Ensure The Efficiency Of A Metal Detector?

Regularly monitor all parts to ensure they are in good working condition.

This allows you to conduct preventative practices to prevent breakdowns.

Conduct performance checks at regular intervals to ensure they operate optimally.

Also, proper installation of the metal detectors ensures they operate as recommended.

Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning procedures and repair or replace parts with genuine parts.

What Types Of Metal Detector Will You Use In The Food Industry?

The types of metal detectors you can employ in food industries include the following:

X-ray Machines

They can detect non-metallic contaminants and can screen products in metallic packages with high accuracy.

Gravity Feed/Vertical Fall

They are suitable for granules, powders, and granules.

Pipeline For Pumped Items

These are suitable for soups, beverages, fairy, and sauces.

Conveyor Based Units

These are suitable for inspecting fruits, bread, cereals, vegetables, yogurt, and meat.

Check Weigher Combination Units

These are suitable if you will supply products to other vendors like supermarkets as they ensure compliance.

What Are The Applications Of A Metal Detector?

Metal detectors find their application in the following areas:

• Frozen and fresh produce
• Pharmaceuticals
• Animal feed
• Chemicals
• Ready meals

What Information Do You Require When Specifying A Metal Detector?

These include:

• Available utilities at installation site like compressed air
• Control descriptions such as manual or automatic
• Process description such as how you will make and handle the products where you are installing the metal detector
• Product description such as ingredients and the package of choice
• Operating environment description like humidity, temperature, etc.
• Reject mechanism description

What Is The Suitable Size Of The Metal Detector Head In The Food Industry?

This depends on the size of the package.

What Steps Should You Take If You Notice The Metal Detector Missed Some Metals?

To combat this issue, properly adjust the sensitivity of the metal detector as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.

When necessary, increase the metal size until the metal detector detects it.

Which Standards Should A Metal Detector Comply With?

Metal detectors need to comply with several international standards as you are handling food items.

Examples of these quality standards include the following:

• FDA
• BRC
• GMP
• IFS
• CFR
• GFSI, etc.

What Factors Should You Consider When Comparing Units In A Metal Detector?

These include:

Stability

Ensure they operate steadily without experiencing false alarms or erratic detections.

Also, regular adjustments such as when connecting to automatic rejection systems should not happen constantly.

Automated Monitoring

This system will notify you if there are errors or failures thereby allowing you to prevent such issues.

Ease Of Use

Complicated set-up processes can cause incorrect adjustments of parameters.

Ensure it is simple to install and adjust all parameters.

Repeatability

Metal detectors that can attain high repeatability levels mean you will inspect items once.

Electronic Drift

Temperature fluctuations and aging parts lead to sensitivity changes or drift which can trigger false alarms.

Higher sensitivity leads to a more stable metal detector.

What Affects The Sensitivity Of A Metal Detector?

These include:

Product Composition

For example, high salt content can cause false alarms due to electrical conductivity.

Product Characteristics

Dense products give varying signals than less dense items.

Also, in meat, products available such as emulsion or whole muscles can affect metal detection.

Temperature Variation

Fluctuations in temperature can affect how a metal detector performs even in the absence of metals.

Packaging Material

Aluminum foil, for instance, can cause metal detectors to relay misleading signals.

What Should A Metal Detection Program Entail?

These include:

Sensitivity

Identify your product type to set the correct sensitivity for the process.

Location

It is possible to place metal detectors in different areas in the production line.

Verification

Conduct testing against set standards by an expert to ensure it operates properly.

Maintenance

The manufacturer determines this factor and is conducted by experts.

Calibration

This is done by qualified agencies or manufacturers at set frequencies to ensure accurate operation.

Documents

Record all metals you detect, and identify and correct the contamination sources.

Can You Customize A Metal Detector?

Yes, you can customize your metal detector in the following areas:

• Aperture sizes
• Designs for broad environmental temperatures
• Detection rate
• Customization for hazardous environments
• Sanitary designs for dairy, pharma, meat, etc.
• Coil designs

customized metal detector

At SaintyCo, we offer accurate and sensitive metal detectors in the market.

Contact us now for all your metal detectors in the market.