Choosing the right inspection technology for your production line involves more than a simple equipment purchase. It requires a deep understanding of the unique safety risks associated with your specific product. While both metal detection systems and X-ray inspection technology aim to protect your brand, they rely on different scientific principles to locate foreign bodies like metal, glass, stone, plastic, rubber, or bones. Selecting the correct technology for your needs helps you effectively reclaim your inventory and maintain the highest standards for your finished goods.
Metal Detection System Technology
A metal detection system works by creating a perfectly balanced magnetic field. When a conductive substance moves through the field, it disrupts the balance, which the system then registers.
- These systems find various types of metal, including ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel
- A metal detection system cannot pick up non-metallic foreign bodies like glass, stone, plastic, rubber, or bones
- Products high in salt or moisture can cause a “product effect” that interferes with the magnetic field operation
X-ray Inspection Technology
X-ray Reclaim uses powerful Eagle PXT™ x-ray systems to deliver exceptional detection capabilities to reclaim and recover your goods. This technology spots a foreign body by looking at differences in density within the product.
- As x-ray inspection focuses on density, it works effectively even when your product is wet, salty, or completely wrapped in foil
- By leveraging the power of Eagle PXT™ x-ray systems, X-ray Reclaim can detect a foreign body like metal, glass, stone, plastic, rubber, or bones down to 0.2 millimeters in size
- These systems use photon-counting technology, which significantly elevates your inspection process
- X-ray inspection systems can also perform quality control checks like measuring mass, counting components, and monitoring fill levels
Key Factors in Your Decision
When you evaluate potential risk, you need to think about the most likely type of foreign body based on your ingredients. If your manufacturing environment presents risks from metal, glass, stone, plastic, rubber, or bones, then x-ray technology provides the comprehensive detection capabilities you need. Take a close look at your product characteristics. If you are packaging food or beverages in metallic film or foil, x-ray inspection could be the best choice. While the initial cost for x-ray equipment may be higher, you should compare that to the broad protection and product recovery capabilities the system offers. Eagle PXT™ x-ray systems represent the most advanced x-ray technology available, offering complete and thorough inspection for your brand security.
Complete Foreign Body Response Plan
Many facilities choose to implement a strategy that involves both technologies. You might install a metal detection system for checking ingredients upon arrival and use Eagle PXT™ x-ray systems after packaging for a final safety check. Getting this right means your finished products are more likely to meet all standards set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada.
When a foreign body like metal, glass, stone, plastic, rubber, or bones is found, your immediate reaction is crucial to protecting your profits. X-ray Reclaim offers a rapid service to recover and reclaim your finished goods that have been placed on hold. We respond quickly to x-ray inspect your products, allowing you to quickly separate good product from contaminated product. Whether you need us to come to you or use our off-site services, our primary focus is on maximizing your product recovery through expert rework.
Contact us for X-ray Food Inspection
If you need to reclaim inventory or require a rapid recovery of on-hold goods, X-ray Reclaim is ready to assist. We use washdown-ready Eagle PXT™ x-ray systems to enable your product to meet all safety requirements, so contact us today.