SNB’s Blog

Ensuring regular tests on your metal detector are carried out is critical to using a metal detector. Regular tests verify that your inspection equipment is still finding metal contaminants as intended. This guide will look at the importance of testing on your metal detector.

Why test metal detectors?

All equipment needs to be tested in intervals to ensure that the unit is working correctly. This helps to meet compliance, maximise production efficiencies and stops any products needing to be recalled. For both a metal detector and x-ray system, regular tests guarantee your units are detecting as planned.

Testing metal detector

• – Regular Testing. If there isn’t one already, create a plan and schedule for regular testing. Include how this is going to be clearly documented for auditing purposes. We recommend testing at the start of a new shift/product change over and for this to be tested again every hour or less. However, depending on the products and current procedures, this may need to be more frequent.
• – Intervals. Conducting tests hourly or in shorter intervals is crucial to making sure your unit is continuing to work at the optimum. If the intervals are longer it could cause a large product recall to be tested for contaminants.
• – Re-testing. If intervals are too long or the unit has been found to not work properly, all products between certain intervals will need to be recalled and rested before they are able to be verified and leave the factory.
• – Private Label. For those who are private label manufacturers, you will need to verify in writing with your customer on an agreed variation in testing procedures.

 

How Can SNB Electronic Services Help Me Test?

New SNB systems can be fitted with beacon stacks and alarms allowing for visual and audible notification. These can be set for notification of a product being rejected, faults, QA Testing and lots more.

Other tests that should be conducted on inspection equipment is making sure fail-safes continue to work such as reject systems and bin full alerts.

 

How to test metal detector

To make sure a metal detector is working properly, the unit must be tested with the set test stick sizes, for example 1.2mm Ferrous, 1.5mm Non Ferrous and 2.5mm Stainless Steel.

The test stick should be tested at the front of the packet, middle of the packet and back of the packet. You must make sure your metal detector cleanly rejects the product.

Best care for inspection equipment

Regular maintenance and service on your inspection equipment is always important. Identifying the wear and tear of a unit and making sure these are rectified before severe defects and damage occurs is crucial. SNB engineers can inspect equipment and give advice on what new parts may need to be fitted to help with the longevity of the unit.

At any point, SNB can supply parts and spares for all the leading manufacturer brands such as Ishida, Loma, Fortress, Yamato, Thermo, CEIA, Safeline and much more. We can also supply parts for obsolete units.