What is X-ray Inspection System

Product inspection is now a critical component of HACCP, a necessary step in obtaining IFS certification, and an essential component of responsible food production. The product liability legislation holds food producers accountable for any contaminations of their goods in the event that a consumer is hurt. This means that any contamination of food with contaminants of any type might have disastrous effects on a business. To stop these issues, pollutant inspection systems are employed. The best applications for metal detectors are the identification of both magnetic and non-magnetic metals; nevertheless, their usefulness is limited, for instance, when examining packaging materials coated with aluminum. Glass, ceramic, stone, and similar material contaminations are also a major issue.

How does an X-ray system work?

For "radiographing," an electric X-ray tube produces the X-rays. Above the conveyor belt is a line-shaped detector that monitors the incoming radiation. Because of their great energy, X-rays may pass through solid objects.

The X-rays are attenuated to a higher (high density) or lower (low density) degree as they travel through the product, depending on the density of the item being examined. The detector distinguishes between the density of the examined item in an image by converting the residual radiation into an electrical signal. An X-ray picture of a substance will show a darker depiction the higher its density, and vice versa. The image processing program produces a comparable signal after identifying contrast differences in the picture and highlighting any contaminants or missing products.

What types of contaminants can be detected in food by X-ray systems?

In general, X-ray systems are capable of identifying any impurities whose density fundamentally deviates from that of the product that is being examined. This usually holds true for metals like steel and stainless steel, but it also holds true for many other materials including glass, quartz, sandstone, and shale. Our systems are also capable to identifying pollutants including PVC, PTFE, raw bones, and lumps of salt that include higher-value components. In addition to detecting contaminations, another unique characteristic of X-ray systems is their ability to identify various types of product faults. To some extent, it is possible to identify things like missing items in packaging, undesired air bubbles, overweight or underweight products, damaged products, form aberrations, and even erroneous component placements. This raises the final product's quality even further while ensuring product integrity.

Application examples for Our systems:

• Confectionery and cereals industry

• Meat and sausage products

• Dairy products

• Canning industry

• Bakery products

• Baby food

All pollutants cannot, however, be detected by X-ray technique. For instance, thin foils, mollusks or insects, hair, wood, fibers, textiles, and polymers made entirely of hydrocarbons (PP, PA, PC, etc.) cannot be detected.

Are X-rays dangerous for food products or for operators?

X-rays fall under the category of ionizing radiation, which may be harmful to people and their environment if used improperly. On the other hand, the radiation dosage and energy determine the possible risk. Given the delicate nature of food production and processing, the European Union has enacted a regulation (1999/2+3EG) that addresses the use of X-ray inspection equipment to ensure the complete safety of the items under inspection.

With additional safety aspects we furthermore guarantee the absolutely safe use of our X-ray systems in the inspection of products in the food sector:

• We only use low-energy, soft X-rays

• X-ray voltage and current are individually adapted for every product

• The X-ray tube is hermetically shielded

• All the radiation protection covers are monitored by safety switches

• X-rays can only be turned on if the system functions perfectly