On show at the exhibition, held between 7-29 April at Wiesbaden, Germany, will be the MET 30+ 3f, Waferthin and Vertical Fall metal detectors. Up and running at companies such as Cadbury, Barry Callebaut and US-based Spangler Candy and Hershey's, these detectors deal with inspection challenges faced by confectionery manufacturers, from metallised packaging to line space constraints, says Lock.
Lock claims that the equipment is the first metal detector on the market to automatically operate at three frequencies - high, medium and low. The detector will automatically shift between frequencies as it recognises the profile of each product, allowing polywrapped and metallised film packaged product to be inspected on the same line using one detector.
Lock says that performance is maintained for all types of product, increasing the equipment's sensitivity. Detectors with small apertures can be deployed before the product is packaged to achieve greatest sensitivity and prevent packaging wastage. The company also advises that the product should undergo a second inspection after the final pack to ensure that there is no contamination before it is distributed to customers.
Sitting above the vertical form-fill and seal bagging machine, the MET 30+ Waferthin detector provides in-line inspection, policing the point at which the confection drops into the packaging. A multi-head weigher is used to weigh the product, which is then dropped into the bags by the bagging machine and sealed. In the event of contamination, sealing can be stopped and a double-length pack produced. A compact Waferthin, 25 per cent smaller than the standard model and measuring just 5 inches (12.5cm) top to bottom, is also available for installations where line space is tight.
The MET 30+ Vertical Fall detector is used to screen incoming ingredients - such as raw or processed carob and cocoa, sugar, peanuts and flour - at the start of the production line. Inspection at this stage affords significant cost savings as lower value ingredients rather than finished product and packaging are rejected.
Lock Inspection Systems is the leading supplier of metal detection equipment to the snack and confectionery industries. Headquartered in Oldham, UK, it has offices in France, the Netherlands and the US, together with a global network of distributors and maintenance and research teams.