Protect Your Product From Contaminants: Metal Detection and X-ray Inspection Cut Product Loss

While X-ray technology has been around for many years, it has improved radically. “Today’s X-ray machines are extremely user friendly,” says Wyeth Thomas of Mettler-Toledo Safeline (Columbus, Ohio). “In the past, a lot of training was required to set up and operate X-ray units, but now just about anyone can do it.” And despite popular perception, X-ray machines are very safe to use. “X-ray machines use an electrically generated X-ray source—not radiation,” says Oscar Jeter, national sales manager for Mettler-Toledo Safeline.

Return on Investment

Regardless of the technology chosen for a contaminant control program, a primary consideration is determining return on investment. Both tangible and intangible factors should be considered. Tangible costs include acquisition, operation, and maintenance, while a less tangible but very important aspect is brand protection.

Clearly, protecting consumers from harm is of utmost importance. Consumers expect their products to be safe and will accept nothing less. A consumer who finds a contaminant is likely to simply stop using the product, knowing that competitive products are available. In fact, consumer complaints received most likely represent only 5 to 10% of actual consumer issues.

A foreign object detection program is necessary in today’s market. The detection of foreign objects requires more than one detection device and occurs, ideally, at multiple locations along the processing line. A program that includes various technologies, including metal detection and X-ray inspection for detecting contaminants at each stage, can cut costs by reducing unnecessary product loss, thus providing a clear return on investment.

Crowley is a market communications specialist at Mettler-Toledo Safeline, Inc. Reach her at [email protected] or (813) 342-9166.