Industrial Metal Detection Systems
WOMAG Systems supplies, installs and supports industrial metal detection systems for food, pharmaceutical and manufacturing applications throughout the UK. Designed for integration into production and packaging lines, metal detectors provide reliable detection of ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless-steel contamination, helping manufacturers protect product quality, maintain compliance and reduce the risk of contaminated products reaching customers.
Metal detection systems can be supplied for packaged products, loose and bulk materials, powders, granules and pumped products. Depending on the application, systems can be integrated with conveyors, automatic reject mechanisms, checkweighers and production control equipment to provide a complete inspection solution.
WOMAG works with customers to select the correct metal detection technology based on the product, packaging, production environment, line speed, required sensitivity and potential contamination risks.
How Does Industrial Metal Detection Work?
Industrial metal detectors generate an electromagnetic field through which the product passes. Metallic contamination changes this field, allowing the system to identify the presence of metal within the product.
The achievable detection sensitivity depends on several factors, including the type of metal, product characteristics, aperture size, product temperature, packaging and operating environment.
Ferrous metals are generally the easiest to detect, while non-ferrous metals and stainless steel can require greater sensitivity. Products with high moisture or salt content can also create a product effect that must be considered when selecting and configuring the system.
Conveyor Metal Detection Systems
Conveyor metal detectors inspect packaged and unpackaged products as they travel along a production line. When contamination is detected, the affected product can be automatically removed using a suitable reject mechanism without stopping normal production.
Systems can incorporate reject confirmation, locked reject bins, alarms and other failsafe features depending on the application and quality requirements.
Conveyor systems are widely used within food manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, packaging and other automated manufacturing environments.
Gravity-Fed Metal Detection
Gravity metal detectors are designed to inspect free-flowing products such as powders, granules and dry ingredients as they move through pipes or chutes.
These systems can be positioned within production processes to detect and automatically reject metallic contamination before the product reaches subsequent processing or packaging stages.
Pipeline Metal Detection
Pipeline metal detection systems inspect liquids, pastes and other pumped products as they move through a production process.
They are commonly used for applications including sauces, meat products, dairy products and other pumpable materials, with automatic reject systems available to divert contaminated product from the production flow.
Metal Detection and Checkweighing
Metal detection and checkweighing can be combined into a single inspection system, allowing products to be checked for metallic contamination and incorrect weight within the same section of the production line.
Combination systems can reduce the amount of production floor space required while providing automatic rejection and centralised control of both inspection processes.
Metal Detection or X-Ray Inspection?
Metal detection and X-ray inspection perform different functions, and the most appropriate technology depends on the product, packaging and potential contaminants.
Metal detection provides an established and effective method of identifying ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless-steel contamination. X-ray inspection can additionally identify certain dense non-metallic contaminants, including glass, stone, mineral and calcified bone, depending on the application.
Packaging is also an important consideration. Products packaged in aluminium foil, metal trays or some metallised materials may be better suited to X-ray inspection.
WOMAG can assess the product, packaging and contamination risks to determine whether metal detection, X-ray inspection or a combination of inspection technologies provides the most appropriate solution.
Installation, Service and Support
WOMAG Systems provides application consultation, installation, commissioning, training, preventative maintenance, repair and ongoing technical support for industrial metal detection systems throughout the UK.
Metal detection equipment can be supplied as a standalone system or integrated with checkweighing, X-ray inspection, machine vision, reject systems and wider production-line control equipment as part of a complete product inspection solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an industrial metal detector detect?
Industrial metal detectors are designed to detect metallic contamination within products, including ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and stainless steel. Detection sensitivity depends on the type of metal, product characteristics, aperture size, packaging and system configuration.
What is the difference between ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless-steel contamination?
Ferrous metals contain iron and are generally the easiest contaminants for a metal detector to identify. Non-ferrous metals include materials such as aluminium, brass and copper. Stainless steel can be more difficult to detect because of its lower magnetic and electrical properties, particularly certain grades commonly used within food manufacturing equipment.
How sensitive is an industrial metal detector?
Metal detector sensitivity varies according to the application. Important factors include the detector aperture size, product dimensions, type of metal, product temperature, moisture and salt content, packaging and production environment. A system should therefore be selected and tested using the actual product wherever possible.
What is product effect in metal detection?
Product effect occurs when the characteristics of the product itself generate a signal within the metal detector. Products containing high levels of moisture or salt can be electrically conductive and may behave similarly to metallic contamination. Modern metal detection systems use signal processing and product setup techniques to compensate for this effect.
Can a metal detector detect stainless steel?
Yes. Industrial metal detectors can detect stainless-steel contamination, although stainless steel is generally more difficult to detect than ferrous metal. The achievable sensitivity depends on the grade and size of the stainless steel as well as the product and detector configuration.
Can a metal detector detect aluminium?
Yes. Aluminium is a non-ferrous metal and can be detected by industrial metal detection systems. However, products packaged in aluminium foil or metal containers may require X-ray inspection rather than conventional metal detection.
Can a metal detector detect glass, stone or bone?
No. Conventional metal detectors are designed to detect metallic contamination. Where the contamination risk includes materials such as glass, stone, mineral or calcified bone, an X-ray inspection system may provide a more appropriate solution.
What is the difference between metal detection and X-ray inspection?
Metal detection identifies metallic contamination by detecting disturbances in an electromagnetic field. X-ray inspection measures differences in density and can therefore detect metal as well as certain dense non-metallic contaminants such as glass, stone and calcified bone. The correct technology depends on the product, packaging and contamination risks.
Can metal detection and checkweighing be combined?
Yes. Metal detection and checkweighing can be integrated into a combination system that checks products for both metallic contamination and incorrect weight. This can reduce the production-line footprint and provide a single inspection point for both processes.
Where should a metal detector be installed on a production line?
The optimum position depends on the manufacturing process and identified contamination risks. Metal detectors can be installed at ingredient intake, during processing or after final packaging. In food production, the location is often determined as part of the manufacturer's HACCP or food safety assessment.
What happens when metal contamination is detected?
The system can automatically activate a reject mechanism to remove the affected product from the production line. Depending on the application, additional features can include reject confirmation, locked reject bins, alarms, production stops and inspection data recording.
Does WOMAG install and service industrial metal detectors?
Yes. WOMAG Systems supplies, installs and supports industrial metal detection systems throughout the UK, including application assessment, commissioning, operator training, preventative maintenance, repairs and ongoing technical support.
