Loma set industry metal detector standards with groundbreaking Variable Frequency

Nov. 10, 2009 - PRLog -- Food inspection systems play a fundamental role in assisting food manufacturers with the issues of safety, time and cost. However, with consumer demand for an increasingly varied diet and constant changing eating habits, food manufacturers have been forced to increase their range of food products to both maximise profits and increase consumer satisfaction. This has led to the need for food inspection systems that are capable of adapting to different products, packages and sizes.

This change in production trend has presented a complicated challenge for food manufacturers; how to decide what operating frequency to set their metal detectors at, in order to achieve the optimum levels of sensitivity for every product they handle. This is made particularly complicated by the phenomena known as ‘Product Effect’, a signal that electrically conductive products give to the metal detector, which are interpreted by the system as non-magnetic metal. If the product signal is large it can overwhelm the metal detector electronics and make compensating for the effect difficult, thus potentially degrading metal detector performance. The higher the frequency, the higher the product effect and to complicate matters further, the signal from non-magnetic metals improves as frequency increases.

To achieve optimum non-magnetic metal sensitivity, producers set their machines at a higher operating frequency, however, this higher frequency increases product effect and determining a common ground is not always easy. The level of signal will be influenced by material type, electronic conductivity size, and how these items interact within the detectors field.

Until now the most technically advanced solution has been ‘Multi Frequency’ models of metal detection, which allow the operator to choose two or three pre-set frequencies for a small number of different products. However, the current systems force the producer to estimate a suitable, compromised frequency for a multitude of products that is not always satisfactory, meaning the sensitivity levels of metal detection for any one product can never be optimum. This can lead to a compromise on sensitivity or false rejects both of which have serious repercussions for the producer. Furthermore, if the operator needs to make a change to the frequency, this would currently mean downtime for the machine as the process is complicated, time consuming and costly.

Loma Systems, the leading supplier of metal detectors, checkweighers and X-ray inspection systems have once again pushed the boundaries with their most advanced, unique inspection technology to date, their innovative Variable Frequency IQ3+ Metal Detectors.  

Loma have set a benchmark for the industry, by offering true Variable Frequency which allows for virtually any frequency across an extensive range, (from 31KHZ right through to 882 KHZ). Furthermore, the system can be configured so the metal detector automatically picks the frequency for each product during the product ‘learn’ or ‘calibration’ and has significant data space to store the frequency details of up to 200 different products. This greatly simplifies the operation of the detector from the users perspective, with the obvious benefit of low product wastage or recall costs.

Variable Frequency also allows for greater flexibility in aperture sizing and enables Loma to stock metal detectors for quick delivery. This new technology has many benefits for food manufacturers. Prior to Variable Frequency, various parts used in the manufacture and maintenance of metal detectors required a large spare parts inventory, which can be expensive for both parties, as well as often impractical for customers. Loma can now provide a solution to this problem with ease. All Loma IQ3+ Metal Detectors, regardless of size, style or frequency, now use a common set of parts, making the process efficient and convenient for all customers.

Furthermore, Variable Frequency allows for a greatly increased flexibility in the use and location of the metal detector. Loma are leaders in the industry, having successfully delivered the easiest to operate, most flexible and sensitive metal detection system to date.

A metal detector that has the frequency set inline with actual product will provide greater benefits. Not only in terms of the efficiencies in the ordering and manufacturing process, but also in terms of allowing an optimum frequency to be selected. Furthermore, when multiple products are considered, the ability to define an optimum frequency for each product instead of a single frequency, offers greater flexibility and security. Investing in a Loma IQ3+ variable frequency metal detector allows food manufacturers to futureproof their inspection systems. Whilst there are still a number of process lines running with a single product, this is becoming rare and the demand for the ability to run multiple products at their optimum sensitivity levels on the same line is becoming greater, thus the need for variable frequency systems is increasing.

Simon Spencer Managing Director of Loma comments, “This is the single most influential development in metal detection in years and is true testament to our on-going research and development into making the best metal detection in the world”.

This innovative technology, combined with Loma’s underlying engineering philosophy, ‘Design to Survive’, makes Loma metal detectors the clear choice for up to date, reliable and the only truly advanced metal detection technology on the market today.

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About Loma Systems: World leaders in designing, supplying and installing metal detection systems, Checkweighers and X-ray Inspection equipment to the Food and Pharmaceutical industries.