PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
When a sweetener producer needed a quick, affordable and reliable solution to a requirement for a new foreign object detection system, they reached out to machine manufacturer Minebea Intec, who had exactly what they were looking for
BEST PRACTICE
When HCP (Health Care Products) needed a foreign object detection solution quickly, it was the fast response of the Minebea Intec sales team, the effectiveness and sensitivity of the company’s well-priced products and the availability of a Dylight X-ray inspection system, which led to the company choosing Minebea Intec as its supplier of choice.
KEY FACTS
HCP produces sweeteners packaged in 90mm diameter, 100mm high tubs, which are sealed with a screw top and metal foil lid. Due to the nature of the packaging, the HCP team knew they could not detect the full range of metals, including stainless steel.
APPLICATION
HCP sought an X-ray solution to overcome this packaging challenge and it was at the PPMA Show in 2017 that they discovered Minebea Intec. HCP asked three potential suppliers three key questions; how well can you detect, how quickly can you supply and at what cost?
Andrew Hallitt, an inspection product specialist at Minebea Intec, visited HCP director Bob Seaborne at the firm’s site in Derby to discuss the application and solution. HCP had already notified the HSE it would soon be using X-ray systems.
Bob was then invited to the Minebea Intec showroom in Birmingham to view the available equipment in a test situation.
The Dylight was set up on a conveyor loop with a product going round continuously. The test allowed over 400 products to pass through the unit without false rejection; test pieces were then introduced and detected. Bob identified they could achieve a sensitivity of 1.2mm for all metals.
He stated, “We needed the X-ray quickly. Fortunately, Minebea Intec had exactly what we needed in stock, so after placing an order we had a unit in place two weeks later.
“When we purchase something like X-ray for the first time there are questions on safety specifically that we need to have answered. Andrew answered these thoroughly, which put our minds at rest.”
CUSTOMER BENEFITS
Rob Barker, factory manager at HCP said, “The most important thing about a machine like this is you can, for the best part, ignore it and just know it’s there doing a job well. Since the machine has been in, it’s not missed a beat. We have been immensely pleased with the reliability and performance.”
PROJECT GOAL AND IMPLEMENTATION
When HCP met Minebea Intec at the PPMA Show last year the team was impressed by the compact, well-priced, very effective and sensitive Minebea Intec X-ray. However, the key factor was lead times and whether it could be commissioned on site within a very short space of time.
“We specified two weeks and that is exactly what was achieved,” added Rob.
Director Bob Seaborne concluded, “The experience has been great. Simply put, everything we have asked for has happened, from early delivery, performance and ongoing reliability.
“We are very pleased and will continue to use Minebea Intec in the future.”
“The Dylight was designed to fit into very small spaces and it’s only a metre long. It also works in combination with a Synus checkweigher and still has a very small footprint, which means it can fit into an area where previously there may have been a metal detector and checkweigher.
“The Dylight X-ray system is so competitively priced it is now very close to that of a metal detector. Historically, there has been a huge gap between the price of a metal detector and an X-ray system, but for approximately 25% more cost you can actually have an X-ray system with all its additional benefits.”
Reflecting on the requirements of HCP and their decision to go for the Dylight model, Peter said, “This is the first time that this particular customer had looked into X-ray detection.”
The firm’s requirement to package its product in a container sealed with a metal film left them with two options, Peter explained. “What you’re faced with is either you metal detect before you finally close the package, which still leaves you open to a risk of contamination, or to look at a different technology and that’s what led them to look at X-ray.
“They can now put the product in the final packaging, complete with the foil seal and still be able to detect the same or better contaminant levels than they previously could with a metal detector.”
Minebea Intec will be exhibiting at this year’s PPMA Show, at stand B70 where the company will be showcasing its latest product developments, including the new developments in all areas of weighing and detection, including high-speed checkweighers, metal detectors and X-ray systems. Also on display will be the company’s newest software packages for data collection and average weight control, as well as examples of the extensive range of weighing components, load cells and process controllers.
Peter added, “We continue to provide one of the most comprehensive ranges of weighing and detection systems to suit all customer and product requirements and are able to back these up with our own dedicated team of service engineers. Anybody who would like to contact us for advice on how to solve their weighing and detection issues can do so using the details below. We will be pleased to assist.”
CONTACT DETAILS:
cs.uk@minebea-intec.com
0121 779 3131
