Technical articles

Modular metal and x-ray detectable Polyketone conveyor belting

Modular conveyor systems

Modular conveyor belts are manufactured from many interlocking elements, connected together using rods.  They are particularly useful in systems requiring bends and curves.
Metal and x-ray detectable plastics gears

Plastic wear components

Plastic wear components are used throughout food production lines, commonly protecting other, more critical components.  By their very nature, they are prone to wear and material removal, which could ultimately find its way into the food products.
Metal and x-ray detectable cable ties

Detectable cable ties

Detectable cable ties are used for applications such as banding electrical cabling on or in the vicinity of food production lines.  Fragments of these ties are capable of being detected by conventional metal detection and X-ray systems used on such lines as part of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system.

SCOPIC Data Sheets

A range of masterbatches and additives which are compatible with a wide range of polymers and offer a simple and effective way of adding levels of metal and/or X-ray detectable properties to products.
Product Code Type Metal X‑ray Colour SDS TDS
SUMBL001 Universal polymer Blue SDS pdf TDS pdf
SUMBL002 Universal polymer Blue TDS pdf
SUMBL003 Universal polymer Blue SDS pdf TDS pdf
SUMNA004 Universal polymer Natural SDS pdf TDS pdf
SUMBK005 Universal polymer Black SDS pdf TDS pdf
SSMNA009 Silicone Natural SDS pdf TDS pdf
SXDNA010 Powder Natural SDS pdf TDS pdf
SXDBK012 Powder Black SDS pdf TDS pdf
SSMBK014 Silicone Black SDS pdf TDS pdf
SUMNA023 Universal polymer Natural SDS pdf TDS pdf

Conventional unfilled polymers will not be detected by metal detection systems. Due to the low density of these materials then, depending upon conditions, it is often extremely difficult for an X-ray system to differentiate them from food products and reliably detect them.

Engineered additives and additive blends are incorporated into the polymer during the compounding stage. Some additives focus on metal detection performance, whereas others are specific for X-ray detectability.

A heated cathode generates electrons, while a high voltage between the cathode and anode accelerates these electrons towards a tungsten disc. Upon impacting the tungsten disc, the electrons are slowed down and subsequently generate X-rays.

The X-ray beam passes through the product(s) and is absorbed at differing rates determined principally by product/foreign body thickness and density. The transmitted beam is detected at the opposite side by an array of sensors and thereafter, via several steps, the signal intensity is converted to a grey value. The more X-rays that are absorbed by a particular material, the darker shade of grey it will appear on the final image and the more chance of the machine detecting it against a food product.

The ability to be detected and rejected by an industrial metal detection system, designed to sense to varying degrees ferromagnetic, non-ferromagnetic and non-magnetic metals.

The ability to absorb sufficient x-rays such that there is a noticeable difference in intensity (grey value) in the final image between a foreign body and food product. When metal/x-ray detection systems are used effectively in the food/pharma processing industries, these properties help to reduce foreign body contamination by sufficiently detectable materials.

Metal detectors are perfect for detecting metal foreign bodies, but are limited to this type of material. X-ray inspection technology has the capability to detect a much wider range of materials/contaminants than metal detectors, including metals but also the like of glass, ceramic and bone.

Any applications where there is a risk of small fragments entering the production flow e.g. tags, straps, pallets, seals, conveyor belts, cable ties etc. These fragments need to be detected to minimise the risk of them entering the consumer chain.

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