Thermo Fisher Scientific will be demonstrating its upgraded Thermo Scientific NextGuard X-ray system, VersaWeigh combo metal detector/checkweigher and Apex 500 metal detector at Propak Africa 2016.
Launched in 2013 as an affordable foreign object detection system for a wide variety of food applications, the NextGuard system is now designed to also inspect packaged products for flaws such as missing pieces or components. It achieves this by using new, easily customisable vision software.
The system’s product verification software allows customers to use a pull-down menu to quickly select and sequence a range of image processing and analysis algorithms. This enables a wide range of size, shape, angle, count and position-based inspections in minutes.
NextGuard’s performance-oriented features answer to the demands of a changing industry. These changes include evolving quality control standards and increased use of metallised film packaging, which is problematic for metal detectors. Other industry developments include the launch of various wet or semi-frozen foods, such as cheese, ice cream and bakery products, which do not lend themselves to metal detection due to product effect issues.
‘The new product verification option allows users to execute a wide range of size, position and count inspections without relying on the X-ray vendor to create new software for each application,’ explains Bob Ries, lead product manager of metal detection and X-ray inspection at Thermo Fisher Scientific. ‘We anticipate that this feature will reduce time and cost for customers, enabling them to quickly and easily experiment with different inspection algorithms.’
All-in-one problem solver
Also on display at the show is the VersaWeigh combo metal detector/checkweigher. The system combines the superior performance of Thermo Scientific’s VersaWeigh checkweigher with the high sensitivity of its Apex metal detector.
The combination system offers both accurate weight control and assurance that products are free of metal contaminants, all in a single space-saving instrument.
The combination metal detector/checkweigher features:
- Separation of metal-contaminated products from potentially reusable off-weight products
- Independent reject operation from the metal detector and checkweigher output signals
- Basic or advanced level checkweigher to fit application
- High level of sensitivity and stability with low false rejects
The Apex 500 conveyor-model metal detector offers high performance, including superior sensitivity, new shielding techniques and a unique multi-coil design for magnetic flux consistency. The solid-state, touch-operation control panel offers an icon-driven interface and multilingual ‘help’ and ‘auto-calibrate’ functions. A dent and shock-resistant ABS plastic control panel with straight-lined, stainless-steel 304 case comes standard with this model.
The Apex 500 metal detector features unmatched sensitivity, claiming up to 20 per cent greater sensitivity than current industry standards. It also offers its users the benefit of reduced production downtime and remote monitoring. Dozens of aperture sizes are available to custom fit production lines.
Propak Africa 2016 is being held from 15 to 18 March 2016 at the Expo Centre, Nasrec in Johannesburg. Find out more about the exhibition at www.propakafrica.co.za or register to attend here.
