Product Inspection Systems
WOMAG Systems supplies, installs and supports industrial product inspection systems for food, pharmaceutical and manufacturing businesses throughout the UK. Our solutions include X-ray inspection, metal detection, checkweighing, machine vision and weigh price labelling, available as standalone equipment or integrated as part of a complete production or end-of-line inspection system.
Product inspection technology helps manufacturers detect contamination, verify product weight, inspect packaging and labels, identify production defects and maintain consistent product quality. The correct inspection technology depends on the product, packaging, potential contaminants, production environment, line speed and applicable quality or compliance requirements.
WOMAG works with customers to identify the most appropriate inspection method for each application, from individual inspection machines through to integrated systems combining multiple inspection technologies, automatic rejection, data capture and production control.
X-Ray Inspection Systems
X-ray inspection systems are used to detect foreign bodies and quality defects within packaged, unpackaged and bulk products. Depending on the product and application, X-ray technology can detect contaminants including metal, glass, stone, bone and other high-density foreign materials.
Unlike conventional metal detection, X-ray inspection can be used with many products packaged in aluminium foil, metallised film or metal containers. Advanced systems can also perform additional quality checks including missing product detection, component counting, fill-level inspection, seal inspection and product integrity checks.
WOMAG supplies a range of X-ray inspection systems for food and industrial applications, including solutions for packaged products, bulk materials, tall products, glass containers and challenging applications such as glass-in-glass detection.
Metal Detection Systems
Industrial metal detection systems provide reliable detection of ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless-steel contamination within products and production processes.
Metal detectors are widely used throughout food, pharmaceutical and manufacturing environments and can be installed on conveyor systems, pipelines and gravity-fed production processes. Systems can be configured with automatic reject mechanisms to remove contaminated products from the production line.
The most appropriate metal detection system depends on factors including the product characteristics, packaging, aperture size, production environment and the type and size of contamination that needs to be detected.
Where products are packaged in metal or metallised materials, or where contaminants other than metal need to be identified, X-ray inspection may provide a more appropriate solution.
In-Line Checkweighing
In-line checkweighers automatically verify the weight of individual products as they travel along a production line.
Products outside predetermined weight limits can be automatically rejected, helping manufacturers identify underweight and overweight products, maintain consistent production and reduce unnecessary product giveaway.
Checkweighing can support quality control, production monitoring and compliance with average weight requirements. Systems can also provide production data including product counts, average weights, rejected products and weight trends.
Checkweighers can operate as standalone inspection systems or be combined with technologies such as metal detection to provide multiple inspection processes within a single production-line solution.
Machine Vision Inspection
Machine vision inspection systems use industrial cameras, controlled lighting and image-processing software to automatically inspect products and packaging at production-line speeds.
Vision systems can be used to verify labels, barcodes, date and batch codes, packaging, product appearance, positioning and other visible quality characteristics. They can identify products that do not meet predefined requirements and trigger an automatic rejection process where required.
Machine vision complements technologies such as X-ray inspection, metal detection and checkweighing by inspecting characteristics that cannot be assessed by weight or internal contaminant detection alone.
WOMAG provides machine vision solutions for both individual inspection applications and integration into complete end-of-line inspection systems.
Weigh Price Labelling Systems
Weigh price labelling systems combine dynamic weighing, product identification and automatic label application to provide accurate weight and product information at production speeds.
Systems can support fixed-weight and catch-weight products and can be configured to print and apply information including product weight, price, batch details, dates, barcodes and traceability information.
Weigh price labelling is widely used within food production and processing environments where accurate product identification, weight information and traceability are essential.
Complete End-of-Line Inspection Solutions
Product inspection does not always rely on a single technology. Different inspection methods identify different product characteristics and potential defects.
WOMAG can combine weighing and inspection technologies to create integrated end-of-line inspection solutions tailored to the product and production process. Systems can incorporate checkweighing, metal detection, X-ray inspection, machine vision, weigh price labelling, automatic rejection and production data capture.
By considering the complete application rather than individual machines in isolation, inspection systems can be designed around product characteristics, packaging, line speed, available space, contamination risks, quality requirements and existing production equipment.
Our team can support the complete project from initial application assessment and equipment selection through to system design, installation, commissioning, operator training, validation and ongoing technical support.
Product Inspection System Installation, Service and Support
WOMAG Systems provides nationwide installation, commissioning, preventative maintenance, repair and technical support for industrial product inspection equipment.
Regular maintenance and performance testing help ensure inspection systems continue to operate correctly throughout their working life. Our engineering team can provide ongoing support for both standalone inspection equipment and integrated production-line systems.
Product Inspection FAQs
What is a product inspection system?
A product inspection system automatically checks products during manufacturing or packaging to identify contamination, incorrect weight, packaging defects, labelling errors or other quality issues. Technologies commonly used for product inspection include X-ray inspection, metal detection, checkweighing and machine vision.
What types of product inspection systems are available?
The main types of industrial product inspection include X-ray inspection systems, metal detectors, in-line checkweighers and machine vision systems. Weigh price labelling can also form part of an integrated inspection and traceability process. The correct technology depends on what needs to be detected or verified.
What is the difference between X-ray inspection and metal detection?
Metal detectors are specifically designed to detect metal contamination, including ferrous, non-ferrous and stainless-steel materials. X-ray inspection can detect a wider range of high-density contaminants, potentially including metal, glass, stone and bone. X-ray can also be suitable for products packaged in materials that can make conventional metal detection difficult, including aluminium foil and some metallised packaging.
Is X-ray inspection better than metal detection?
Neither technology is universally better. The correct solution depends on the product, packaging, contamination risk, required detection performance and production environment. Metal detection can provide a highly effective and economical solution where metal is the primary contamination risk. X-ray inspection may be more suitable where multiple contaminant types need to be detected or where packaging limits the effectiveness of metal detection.
Can product inspection systems detect glass?
X-ray inspection systems can detect many types of glass contamination where there is sufficient density difference between the contaminant and the product. Detection capability depends on factors including the product, packaging, glass type, contaminant size and system configuration. Specialist X-ray systems can also be used for challenging glass-in-glass inspection applications.
Can X-ray inspection be used with foil packaging?
Yes. X-ray inspection can generally inspect products packaged in aluminium foil, metallised film and other packaging materials that may make conventional metal detection difficult. The suitability and achievable detection performance should always be assessed against the specific product and packaging.
What does an in-line checkweigher do?
An in-line checkweigher automatically weighs individual products while they travel along a production line. Products outside defined weight limits can be rejected automatically. Checkweighers can help control product weight, identify production problems, reduce giveaway and support compliance requirements.
What can machine vision inspection detect?
Machine vision systems can inspect visible product and packaging characteristics including labels, barcodes, date codes, batch codes, product presence, positioning, orientation, packaging appearance and other predefined quality features. The exact inspection capability depends on the camera, lighting, software and application.
Can different product inspection technologies be combined?
Yes. Checkweighers, metal detectors, X-ray systems, machine vision and labelling equipment can be combined within an integrated inspection process. Combining technologies allows different product characteristics and potential defects to be checked at different stages of production or within a complete end-of-line inspection system.
Which product inspection system do I need?
The correct inspection system depends on what needs to be detected or verified, the product characteristics, packaging, production-line speed, environment, available space and applicable quality or compliance requirements. WOMAG can assess the application and recommend the most appropriate inspection technology or combination of technologies.
Can product inspection equipment be integrated into an existing production line?
Yes. Product inspection systems can be integrated into new or existing production lines. Integration may include conveyor modifications, automatic reject systems, product sensors, line control, data capture and communication with other production equipment. The available space, line speed, product handling and existing controls should be considered during system design.
How often should product inspection equipment be serviced?
Service frequency depends on the equipment, operating environment, usage and the manufacturer's recommendations. Regular preventative maintenance helps maintain system reliability and allows mechanical, electrical and inspection components to be checked before faults cause unplanned production downtime.
Does WOMAG provide product inspection systems throughout the UK?
Yes. WOMAG Systems supplies, installs and supports industrial product inspection equipment throughout the United Kingdom. Our engineering team provides application support, installation, commissioning, preventative maintenance, repair and ongoing technical support for standalone and integrated inspection systems.