Food & Drink
detectors is to ensure no metallic contaminants, from a fault in the manufacturing process, make it through to the consumer. From a quality control perspective both checkweighers and metal detectors can protect brand integrity and identity whilst ensuring food safety.
Adaptable machinery
Seafood processing traditionally challenges most metal detectors. Due to the product being wet and salty it can cause equipment to trigger false alarms resulting in disruption to production. This, coupled with a working environment that fluctuates from cold and humid during operation to hot and humid during sanitation, requires the purchase of food safety systems to be carefully considered as an incorrect selection can
cause significant problems and result in downtime and inefficiency of accuracy. The machine needs to be adaptable to cope with a variety of products, durable and have the ability to be thoroughly cleaned in what can sometimes be a ‘hostile’ production environment.
Loma Systems, the leading global supplier of metal detection, checkweighing and X-ray inspection systems provide a precise solution to fish processors with their innovative IQ3 and IQ3+ range of metal detectors that are the first to offer true variable frequency operation with tough IP69K environmental protection. Loma’s metal detectors are robust and sensitive and can operate at frequencies between 40KHz and 900KHz. Furthermore, the system can be configured to automatically calibrate up to 200 different products as opposed to the standard few with multi frequency detectors. The IQ3 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.
Technology matters
Innovation within the food inspection industry has been revolutionised by the integration of combination checkweigher and metal detectors. This creates an ideal space saving aspect in smaller production lines, cost benefits and provides extra product safety. Manufacturers have also been developing a touch control panel that allows for ease of set up and continuous production, monitoring and control. Seafood processors should ensure that they are using the most up to date technology in their production lines to ensure consistent quality standards. Adhering to safety standards is an essential part of the food production process. With growing concerns about food safety, increasing efforts have been undertaken to improve the quality of Asian aquaculture products. Malaysian seafood exports have reported an estimated loss in sales and production of more than 1.5 billion to date. Ready stocks are currently in cold rooms, but are not viable for export to foreign countries due to packaging and regulation requirements The introduction of mandatory HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) requirements for exports to the USA and European Union has heavily impacted and influenced suppliers to demonstrate due diligence. With the growth of modern distribution channels expanding, companies are under increasing pressure to monitor and record all stages of food safety for
26 Solids & Bulk Handling • August 2010
www.solidsandbulk.co.uk
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