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MACHINERY & MACHINE SAFETY


MAKE WAY FOR “MULTI-EVERYTHING”


Snack, bakery, and food-to-go manufacturers are feeling the squeeze from every direction. Stricter processing regulations, faster production loads, escalating operating and ingredient costs, combined with the rise of factory real estate prices, has left many seeking higher throughput, smaller footprint machines. Jodie Curry, commercial manager at Fortress Technology Europe, sheds some light on the pros and pitfalls of implementing multi-solution strategies onto metal detection, x-ray and checkweighing lines.


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ACCP states that critical control points (CCPs) are the areas on your production line where hazards can be prevented, eliminated, or reduced to


acceptable levels. The first step is identifying your main contamination hazards. For most manufacturers, this will be metal, predominantly stainless steel. Metal is commonly used throughout a production line and in processing and packing environments. Tiny pieces may shred off cutting blades or grinders, faulty packaging machinery might discharge small shards into products, or metal fragments can even be unintentionally introduced further upstream during harvesting. When assessing the risks, cost of the product at each checkpoint needs to be factored in. Jodie Curry explains: “Ideally you want to catch the metal contaminant in its larger form before it has been processed and packaged, where it could potentially break into many smaller fragments. This results in higher quantities of finished product going to waste, and an increased risk of very small, undetectable contaminants reaching the consumer. The most advisable CCPs in the majority of food production environments are before processing, checking incoming raw


materials, with an additional inspection system as close as possible to the end of the production line, after primary packaging.”


MULTI-FREQUENCY METRICS Following a risk analysis, if metal is determined the highest contamination risk, installation of a metal detection system is regarded as crucial. So, which one is best? Start by determining the optimum detection frequency for the product application being inspected. There are generally three metal detection


frequency options – fixed frequency, multi- frequency and simultaneous multi-frequency. With a single fixed frequency device, the


operating frequency is picked to suit the individual product. These fixed frequency devices are ideal when inspecting the same product day in and day out, for example, sliced white bread or a chocolate bar. However, with challenging conductive products like meat or cheese, or a larger product, the frequency must be set low to overcome the product effect. This makes the


Fortress created the multi-lane, multi-aperture configuration to help food processors save line space and reduce waste.


system less sensitive to the detection of some metals, especially stainless steel. Conversely, multi-frequency metal detectors


perform well on a range of products passing down the production line, as the machine will dial into a pre-defined menu of frequencies. However, not all multi-frequency systems are designed equally. Some utilise untuned coils where higher power switching devices are used. This can cause an increase in noise and background signal which can limit sensitivity in high-performance dry product applications. Machine operators on the production line may have to select the frequency from a menu, raising concerns about the basis of their decision- making. Automatic product learning can reduce the possibility of human error.


The ability to monitor


performance securely across multiple networked sites can be a real benefit for production managers.


Smarter deployment of digital logging and reporting tools can link machinery together


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30 NOVEMBER 2023 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS


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