X-ray or metal detector? What pays off at the end of the line
A metal detector is cheaper but only finds metal. X-ray also detects glass, stone and bone, sees through metal packaging and stores an image of every piece. A comparison of the two and when X-ray pays off.
This article is based on material from Mekitec. Utily Solution is Mekitec's exclusive sales and service partner in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Metal detectors have been the standard in food production for years. More and more producers are switching to X-ray, however, because retailers and the IFS and BRC standards ask for more than metal detection. How do the two technologies differ?
Price
X-ray costs more because it contains an X-ray source and a detector. The price gap is narrowing every year, though. When deciding, it is worth considering what a single product recall or a retailer complaint costs.
What a metal detector finds and what X-ray finds
A metal detector responds only to metal. It struggles with stainless steel, with products high in moisture or salt, and with metal packaging such as aluminium foil or metallised bags.
X-ray sees anything denser than the surrounding product:
- metal including stainless steel,
- glass and ceramics,
- stones,
- calcified bone,
- dense plastics and rubber.
Moisture, salt and packaging are no obstacle. It also inspects products in aluminium trays or cans.
More than contaminant detection
X-ray stores an image of every piece. It serves as evidence in an audit or a complaint, because it shows exactly what the product looked like when it left the line. X-ray also checks quality:
- fill level and missing items in a pack,
- broken or damaged products,
- amount of filling, for example in doughnuts.
When X-ray pays off
- Your raw materials may contain glass, stone or bone.
- You pack in aluminium, metallised film or cans.
- Your customer requires inspection of every piece and records.
- You want one machine to check quality and completeness as well.
Try it on your products
The best way to find out what X-ray finds in your products is a test. Send us samples, with contaminant test samples if you like, and you will receive a report with images and results. More about testing.
