Selecting the Best Metal
Detector
INFORMATION
Consumers expect consistent and high-quality products. Metal detection assists manufacturers in effectively ensuring
product quality while staying within budget. When evaluating a metal detector, look for technical performance.
One of the most important functions of a food and pharmaceutical manufacturer is brand protection in the marketplace.
However, your investment in establishing a reputation for product quality could be wiped out by a single safety recall.
Developing and maintaining an effective, verifiable inspection programmer is no longer an option for processors; it was
never an option in the first place.
How can you protect your customers and brand while staying within your budget? Metal detection is an effective and
reasonably priced solution. While price, delivery, and other commercial considerations are important, technical
performance should be the primary consideration when deciding which metal detector to entrust with your brand’s
reputation.
PRODUCT IMPACT
When choosing a metal detector, consider the product effect. If your products are conductive (usually due to the
presence of water, salt, or iron), they will affect the electromagnetic field of the metal detector, resulting in a
false reject. In general, dry or neutral products do not have this effect. If product effect is a factor, choose the
appropriate frequency to shift the product effect signal away from the contaminants’ signal. A single-frequency
metal detector cannot accommodate much signal variation, making it unsuitable for inspecting a variety of
product types or those that vary in temperature. For these applications, a metal detector with multiple
frequencies is preferable. Multi-spectrum technology is used in the most sophisticated metal detectors on the
market. Instead of relying on a single frequency, a spectrum of multiple frequencies works simultaneously to
filter out product signals, which is a much more effective method than a single frequency and reduces the
number of false alarms significantly.
ADVANTAGES OF AUTO-CALIBRATION
AND AUTO-LEARNING
The metal detector that successfully integrates into a plant
quality control programmer has good sensitivity
performance, is simple to set up and use, and has a low level
of false rejects. Most metal detectors on the market today
perform self-checks to ensure that the unit is balanced and
operating properly. The auto-learn routine enables the user
to acquire product characteristics in the unit so that the
product can be inspected. An efficient auto-learn provides the
highest sensitivity with the fewest false rejects and requires
the fewest manual adjustments. This expedites the unit’s
production of a new product.
COMMUNICATION AND SENSITIVITY
Metal detection sensitivity requirements are frequently determined by the operation. For example, if the
primary function of a metal detector is to protect a critical piece of equipment, such as a sheeter or slicer, the
goal would be to eliminate metal large enough to damage the equipment. A different level of sensitivity would
be required in another part of the line to inspect a bulk flow of product. Furthermore, because final package
inspection is typically the most demanding, a higher level of sensitivity would be required to protect your
product before it reaches the market. For each inspection operation, your plant’s quality control group should
set specific sensitivity targets for ferrous, nonferrous, and stainless steel contaminants (including the difficultto-detect type 316). These targets should be communicated to the metal detector manufacturer so that the
appropriate equipment can be selected for each application. Remember to be adaptable in order to achieve
realistic and reachable goals within your budget.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Begin by assessing your inspection area. Is the weather wet or dry? What is the temperature range? It is critical to
choose a metal detector that is appropriate for your operating environment. Water intrusion into the electrical
components is one of the most common causes of metal detector failure. Is the wash-down regimen in the plant high or
low pressure? Take note of the IP rating. An IP65 wash down rating indicates that the metal detector can withstand low
pressure wash down with room temperature water; an IP69K rating indicates that the metal detector can withstand
sustained high temperature and pressure. However, keep in mind that these ratings are typically self-reported. The
manufacturer’s industry reputation for the ability of its equipment to withstand wash down can be a good indicator.
Is there anything caustic in the wash down? If this is the case, special consideration should be given to the specific alloy
of stainless steel used for the metal detector’s case. These caustic agents are more resistant to Type 316L. Is the metal
detector’s finish painted for dry environments? Placing a painted surface in the product stream may result in paint
chips contaminating your products. Consider impact resistance as well. Plastic covers and membranes are prone to
abrasion and impact penetration. A durable display screen and keyboard help to reduce downtime and part
replacement costs.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR COMMUNICATION
Will the metal detector be a stand-alone piece of
equipment, or will it have to be integrated into the
plant’s network to provide periodic data reporting
for a statistical package? Is there ready-made
software that can perform these functions on the
unit? Is it Ethernet capable? Some manufacturers
provide software packages that enable remote
programming and diagnostics via laptop, including
oscilloscope emulation via Bluetooth, without
requiring the power supply cabinet to be opened.
EVENT MONITORING
Equipment must keep up as food and pharmaceutical
manufacturing regulations become more stringent.
What are the internal requirements for metal detector
event tracking? Is it necessary for all operators to use
the same passwords? Should each user have a unique
password that allows them to access only the levels
that management deems appropriate for the
individual? Each machine entry (e.g., product change,
sensitivity change, reset) in this case can be traced
back to a specific operator. Choose a metal detector
that meets the access and event tracking
requirements of these internal requirements.
PRE-SALES INVESTIGATION
Equipment must keep up as food and pharmaceutical
manufacturing regulations become more stringent. What are the
internal requirements for metal detector event tracking? Is it
necessary for all operators to use the same passwords? Should
each user have a unique password that allows them to access
only the levels that management deems appropriate for the
individual? Each machine entry (e.g., product change, sensitivity
change, reset) in this case can be traced back to a specific
operator. Choose a metal detector that meets the access and
event tracking requirements of these internal requirements.
AFTER-SALES SERVICE
As with any equipment purchase, the buyer is
entering into a long-term relationship that
includes upfront application assistance,
training, parts supply, and technical support.
Choose a dependable supplier with whom you
feel at ease and who provides ongoing
assistance.
Reference: https://shortkro.com/selectingthe-best-metal-detector/
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