Guide to X-Ray Inspection for Food Processors
Food quality and safety are high-level priorities for food processors in all parts of the industry. One area where both quality and safety can be impacted is where contaminants make their way into food products. X-ray inspection equipment is designed to identify foreign bodies at various stages of your production line, significantly reducing the risk of contaminated products going into your distribution chain.
As well as detecting the presence of contaminants, X-ray inspection equipment integrated into your production line can also be used to detect product defects and/or weight.
What Contaminants Can X-Ray Inspection Equipment Detect?
Some of the main contaminants that X-ray inspection equipment can detect include:
- Metal, including non-ferrous metals like stainless steel.
- Bone in meat and poultry products.
- Dense plastic, such as the plastic used to manufacture tools and equipment.
X-ray inspection equipment can also detect stones, ceramics, concrete, rubber, and glass (except for thin glass).
What Can’t Be Detected with X-Ray Inspection Equipment?
While X-ray inspection equipment can accurately detect a wide range of contaminants, there are limitations. The materials that X-ray inspection equipment can’t detect include:
- Low density plastic
- Hair
- Wood
- Fabric
- Seeds
- Stones from fruit
- Cardboard or paper
- String
- Cigarette butts
- Thin glass
Applications for X-Ray Inspection Equipment
X-ray inspection solutions are suitable for a wide range of applications, including:
- Red meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Ready meals
- Prepared foods
- Dairy
- Vegetables
- Fruit
- Cereals
- Bakery
X-ray inspection equipment can also be located at various stages of your production process, depending on your requirements. This includes inspecting bulk products towards the start of your production line up to end-of-line inspection of products already packaged in boxes, bags, or trays.
The Capabilities of X-Ray Inspection Solutions
- Foreign body detection
- Product defect detection
- Product size checking
- Product weight checking
- Product fill level checking
- Seal inspection
Other key points to highlight include the fact that foil or metallic packaging does not impact the ability of X-ray inspection equipment to identify contaminants. Furthermore, X-ray inspection equipment can operate in a range of different environments.
The Benefits of X-Ray Inspection Equipment for Food Processors
- Improved product quality
- Improved food safety
- Improved compliance
- Reduced risk of product recalls
- Reduced risk of reputational damage because of product recalls or contamination incidents
- Reduced costs related to product recalls
- Prevent litigation
- Improved customer satisfaction
- Enhanced customer confidence
- Sets you apart from competitors
- Meet the requirements of customers
X-Ray Inspection Solutions for Your Food Production Line
At SF Engineering, we supply X-ray inspection machines from our equipment partner Ishida. This includes supplying on an equipment-only basis, or we can integrate the machine into your production line. We also supply X-ray inspection machines on larger production line projects, up to and including full factory fit outs.
Ishida is an industry-leader in X-ray inspection technologies, with solutions designed specifically for the food industry. The equipment uses cutting-edge software to analyse the images produced by the X-ray machine, enabling highly precise foreign body detection and product analysis.
There is a range of X-ray equipment options available, plus we can also design reject solutions, in-feed and outfeed solutions, and more. We also provide comprehensive aftersales support, including servicing and spare parts.
To speak to a member of our team about X-ray inspection solutions for your food manufacturing facility, get in touch with us today.
