10 X-Ray Inspection System FAQs For Food Applications
By Melissa Lind, contributing writer
X-Ray inspection systems provide some of the most cost-effective and flexible solutions for monitoring products and preventing contamination or defects. If you haven’t yet investigated X-Ray inspection as a technology for improvement in your food-processing or packaging line, here are answers to the FAQs on the inspection equipment.
How Do I Know If An X-Ray System Is Up-To-Code?
In order to be offered for use in the food industry, X-Ray systems must be manufactured in compliance with federal and state regulations. The purchase of any new or nearly new equipment will already be in compliance. If a system is older, your company may need to ask about specifics. However, the system is most-likely acceptable.
Do I Have To Register An X-Ray System?
In most jurisdictions, an X-Ray registration form will need to be submitted to the state in which your company is located. A Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) will also need to be named, as determined from the staff of your company. Many manufacturers or distributors of X-Ray systems will help your company with the application and assist your RSO with applicable training. Each year your company will likely be required to conduct a simple radiation survey of the machine and record the results.
Is Processing-/Packaging-Line Speed An Issue?
X-Ray systems are highly adaptable and can be modified to match any line speed. In most cases, the internal speed of an X-Ray system is faster and input/output speeds can be adjusted to line standards.
What Type Of Contaminants Can Be Detected?
X-Ray technology can detect a wide variety of contaminants such as: bone, glass, metal, and hard plastics. They can also detect food conglomerations, such as pieces of pasta stuck together, but usually cannot identify low-density plastics, paper, or fine objects such as hair and string.
Do My Operators Need Specialty Training?
X-Ray systems have an easy user-interface and the operation is as simple as most other technologies. Once the system is installed, validated, and employees are given basic instruction, operation should run as smoothly as before the system was implemented.
Can I Tell Why A Product Was Rejected?
X-Ray inspection systems can not only check for foreign-body contamination, but also can reject for other defects such as: shape, missing components, size, or count. The system clearly identifies why a product was rejected and an image shown for verification.
Can The System Accommodate Different Spacing Or Different Product Sizes?
Some X-ray technology will accommodate a variety of products and spacing. The imaging system views the package from the front-of-the-line section where the system is installed so product spacing is not an issue. For each type of product or size, the X-Ray system will have a comparative image so that multiple product types or sizes can be run at the same time.
Do I Need To Be Concerned About Product Or Worker Safety?
X-Ray systems use a much-lower intensity in foreign body detection than other industries, such as medicine or baggage handling. Federal regulations mandate safety criteria for manufacturing and exposure to personnel is virtually undetectable. In addition, there is no effect on food products as the dose of radiation is miniscule compared to that needed for an object to be considered irradiated — as in other applications, such as sterilization.
What’s The Difference In Cost Between X-Ray Technology & Metal Detection?
X-Ray systems do cost more than simple, metal-detection systems, but the flexibility of the technology generally offsets any moderate difference in cost. With not only the ability to detect metals, but other foreign objects and quality issues assurance issues — improper fill, seal, count, or weight — any cost difference will offer advantages that cannot be obtained with metal detection only.
Is Metal Packaging Compatible With X-Ray?
In some cases, metal packaging will be easily accommodated in an X-Ray system. The technology uses density identification to detect product irregularities. The packaging will appear as one density — oftentimes grey on the system’s display — and another object will show as a different density — a different shade of grey, black, or white. However, some metal packaging cannot be used in X-Ray detection. Because of this, manufacture specifications should be checked before purchase.
In many cases, X-Ray technology offers the best fit for any packaging or processing line due to its flexibility. Cost differences will usually be offset in terms of accuracy and flexibility. This leads to reductions in defective products leaving the facility, which, ultimately, leads to fewer regulatory issues and boosted customer confidence.