The growing worldwide focus on food safety and compliance with international legislations are pressuring manufacturers to pay more attention than ever to food quality. The latest product detection technologies play a fundamental role in ensuring food safety, while building consumer confidence in food quality.

Quality assurance is a top priority for consumers, businesses and governments. To satisfy demands for greater quality in food production, manufacturers can turn to the latest solutions in product inspection. Advances in detection technologies now allow food manufacturers to rapidly and accurately detect contaminants, such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, without compromising production schedules. This ensures the health and safety of the consumers and brand protection for manufacturers.

Manufacturers are generally held responsible for any incidents that occur during production. Therefore they need to keep pace with the latest updates and changes in food safety laws by investing in quality detection technologies that are future proof and ‘designed to survive.’

The latest solutions in metal detection and X-ray inspection systems have brought product detection equipment to the next level in terms of accuracy and efficiency. Loma Systems, a global supplier of metal detection, checkweighing and X-ray inspection systems, provide proven solutions to food manufacturers with their innovative IQ³ and IQ³+ range of metal detectors and are the first to offer patented variable frequency operation with tough IP69K environmental protection. The IQ3+ metal detector operates at frequencies between 40 KHz and 900 KHz and can be configured to automatically calibrate up to 200 different products. This provides flexibility to manufacturers where metal detectors are used at different stages of the production process, from checking bulk raw materials to individual and packed final products. Loma’s Metal Detector can select the correct operating frequency in seconds, eliminating the past performance restrictions caused by single or multi frequency detectors, significantly reducing machine costs and simplifying the production process.

This innovative technology of the IQ3 Metal Detector conveyor proved particularly beneficial for cheese packaging company, Alpine Slicing & Cheese Conversion, in Monreo, WI. Alpine convert bulk cheese from different cheese plants into slices, chunks and shreds. The end result usually ranges from an 8-oz. chunk, wedge or package of slices, to a 5-lb. deli piece. This huge and varied product range historically meant that single or ‘multi frequency’ calibration showed compromised capability. Saving considerable downtime through the significant reduction in the need for regular re-calibration, the patented Loma Variable Frequency technology allows Alpine to run several types, shapes and sizes of product through the metal detector at the same time. Accuracy, sensitivity and stability have been greatly improved due to the machine’s state-of-the-art technology.

Bill Stuart, Alpines Plant Manager comments, “More and more companies won’t do business with you if you don’t have metal detectors. In our business we’re not running one product all the time, we change to different products and the variable frequency gives us flexibility to do that. A lot of times, metal detectors are set for one size and type, but the variable frequency gives you the option to run multiple sizes and shapes.”

As the food manufacturing industries increase automation of production tasks, a significant number of manufacturers are moving towards vision systems, in particular X-ray inspection systems. This provides advanced contaminant detection as it can inspect and eliminate non-metallic as well as dense contaminants such as bone, stone and glass. Today’s vision systems can accurately conduct item inspections ranging from missing components or internal fillings to verifying the volume and ratio of product within a pack. Furthermore, X-ray inspection systems offer an all round solution to products packed in aluminum trays, metal films or other materials that render traditional metal detectors obsolete.

Loma has extended its X⁴ X-ray range with recent groundbreaking developments, the X⁴ SideShoot and X⁴ FinePitch, which have been specifically designed for the food industry. The X⁴ SideShoot allows for accurate inspection of vertically orientated packages and products such as cans, bottles or PET cartons. The unit offers the highest levels of accuracy, reliability and longevity and operates consistently at speeds over 600 ppm (90 m/min). The X⁴ FinePitch is ideal for the most sensitive inspection and difficult applications, such as chicken bone splinters. The unit demonstrates the innovative diode arrays for an ultra sensitive, accurate inspection and is ideal for small products and packages.

A critical requirement for food manufacturers is to install detection systems that allow strict cleanliness to meet the demanding hygiene standards and environments. To help suppliers demonstrate due diligence there are a number of key safety standards that must be adhered to. One of these is Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. This is increasingly becoming the cornerstone to most food manufacturers safety programs to help build retailer confidence in a particular product.

Adhering to all food production safety standards is an essential part of the process for food manufacturers; however, companies must also keep track of every packaged product that is dispatched. Manufacturers must continue to build compliance and traceability into their production process, with a focus on creating product and process traceablity through every stage of a products life cycle. For full compliance, it is essential that food manufacturers are able to access this information simply and quickly. Loma’s OPC Data Capture System and LomaEnet are designed to help quality managers use their inspection equipment as a management tool as well as a process control by compiling fully featured production reports. The Ethernet OPC system benefits manufacturers with multiple checkweighers, metal detectors and X-ray systems, as it amalgamates weight, overfill data and contamination detection reports.

Compromises on safety can lead to product recalls that damage brand image. In a recall situation, manufacturers are required by food legislations (e.g., the UK’s 1990 Food Safety Act) to prove their products have been inspected thoroughly, this includes written evidence of due diligence. By integrating comprehensive data capture systems into food safety systems, food processors are safe guarding quality control, brand identity and consumer confidence.

Today we are seeing a growing focus among food manufacturers making strategic actions to improve food safety by proactively mitigating the food safety risk with automated solutions. Manufacturers that are receptive in dealing with food safety assurance by investing in implementing new safety solutions will reap the rewards of greater efficiency and customer satisfaction. ♦

For more information, please contact Loma Systems on 1-800-USA-LOMA or 630.588.0900 or visit our Web site at www.loma.com.

Martin Lymn is the U.S. commercial manager of Loma Systems.