Five Ways To Guarantee Dependable Results From X-Ray Detection Equipment

By Sam Lewis

Many food makers consider X-Ray detection systems vital to protecting consumers as well as their company’s bottom line. Nevertheless, various issues can affect how the system performs. These five notions can help your company maximize your X-Ray detection system’s performance

Testing Performance

• Utilize small sample size — between five and ten packages — to establish the  sensitivity of the machine
• Shift different contaminants — glass, metal, stone — throughout the product and its packaging to confirm that detection is accurate and dependable
• When purchasing X-Ray detecting equipment for your operation, be sure to ask for a promised detection level. Additionally, ask what the likelihood of finding small, foreign-body contaminants is
• During testing, be sure to utilize test spheres along with contaminants that would be likely to occur in your operations

Protecting The Consumer And Your Brand

• Make sure that security systems are enabled. This will help ensure no contaminants are missed by operators during the routine of daily operations
• Use the reject confirmations and sensors indicating that the rejection bin is full. This helps verify that rejected products are in fact removed from the line
• Secure the rejected product bag. Installing covers above conveyors will ensure that only approved, not rejected, products pass completely through the line
• Engage override switches. Ensure that production lines cannot be active unless the X-Ray detection system is running

Reviewing Operations

• Evaluate the set-up regularly. This helps ensure operations are optimized and procedures to improve them can be implemented
• Study your false rejects. Find ways to change operations to help eliminate them
• If changes are made to the line, be sure to retest them with random audit samples afterward
• Check up on new contaminant types if they are introduced. If they are introduced to your operations, make sure your equipment can detect them

Educating The Workforce

• Place realistic expectations regarding what your equipment can and cannot detect. Make sure all working with production lines and inspection equipment are familiar with this expectation
• Once the system is tested, running, and contaminants have been found, be sure to share the production line reports of those contaminants.
• Teach system operators how to use the equipment and its auditing functions properly
• If a contaminant is continually being found, find ways to remove it from your operations. If that is not possible, find ways to reduce its occurrences of contamination

Maintaining The Equipment

• Perform regular inspections of detectors for signs of deterioration. Replace and recalibrate pieces as needed
• Plan ahead. The X-Ray source should be replaced based on the number of hours it is used. Be sure to schedule downtime to replace the source when that time approaches
• Make sure dirty filters are cleaned and/or replaced. Doing this will help keep the system from overheating
• In wash-down environments, examine all gaskets, glands, and covers for water leaks