PET Food Processing - December 2020 - 41

EQUIPMENT

Adept,Reliable,Repeatable
A look at the latest in-line inspection advancements.
By Keith Loria | petfoodprocessing@sosland.com

Historically, one of the most critical parts of ensuring pet
food or pet treats are free of contaminants from foreign
substances is by using metal detection and x-ray systems at
the end of inspection lines.
However, new technology has come along in recent
years to help eliminate these unwanted materials at earlier
stages of the manufacturing process. This upstream in-line
detection can help identify contaminants before they are
fragmented into smaller parts that are more challenging to
detect and remove.
Food manufacturers want to inspect product during processing to detect contamination and reject product prior to
adding more value. Lanel Menezes, business manager of
Safeline X-ray for Mettler Toledo, Lutz, Fla., said the company's gravity flow or throat detectors can inspect dry kibble products using Safeline's zero-metal-free-zone (ZMFZ)
technology. He explained the Safeline X38 pipeline x-ray
technology inspects product that is being pumped during
the processing stage.
" The goal is to find foreign matter - including bones
- prior to fine grinding, " Menezes said. " This permits the
detection of contaminants before they are shredded into
smaller pieces as they go through different grinders. "
Today's state-of-the-art metal detectors employ a balanced electrical field to detect metal. They measure min-

ute changes caused by an electrical disturbance and in sufficient measure, a trip occurs. Most often, metal detectors
use an automatic reject device to remove the metal.
Confirming the equipment is working correctly is
achieved through verification and validation protocols.
" Verification is the act or process of proving that the
metal detector meets its sensitivity requirements, " said
Ray Spurgeon, metal detection product manager, Eriez
Magnetics, Erie, Penn. " This is accomplished by challenging the detector in a repeatable manner with a certified
metal sphere at a pre-described time. Most often, this procedure is executed at the same time, on a daily basis. "
Meanwhile, validation is the process of authenticating
the metal detector. If a metal detector has been verified to
detect a 2mm stainless steel sphere, a processor would validate these results (typically annually) by a third party.
" If these critical steps are ignored or incorrectly executed, non-compliance can result and product impurities can
go unnoticed, " Spurgeon said.

Advancements in
camera technology
allow a wider variety
of products to employ
vision systems on the
production line.
Sightline Process Control

Getting smarter
With more automation and fewer people on the production line, Spurgeon noted that today's metal detection
equipment needs to be " smart " - it must be proactive and
alert operations.

www.petfoodprocessing.net | December 2020 | PET FOOD PROCESSING

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PET Food Processing - December 2020

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