Contaminant detection is a key part of food production processes and safety, especially in plants using machines with many moving parts for manufacturing. Disruption further down the processing line can occur if contaminants are not removed, which can also lead to costly recalls.

Thermo Fisher Scientific claims its Thermo Scientific Apex 100 metal detector offers basic metal detection capabilities in an easy to use system.

The Apex 100, with duel frequency and gain capability, detects all metals, including stainless steel, which is commonly used in plants and gives processors a second chance pair of eyes prior to the packaging of food.

New EU hygiene regulations now require all food businesses to implement a documented safety management system based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles.

HACCP is a tool to assess hazards and establish control systems that focus on prevention rather than relying mainly on end-product testing. It is an internationally accepted systematic method of identifying specific hazards in plants and measures for their control to ensure the safety of food.

The stainless steel and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic design allows the detector to withstand harsh washdowns now required in plants, the company claims.

Epoxy lined apertures are easy to clean and does not hide dirt or contamination, claims the manufacturer.

The detector can be installed quickly as all the electronics are integrated and there is no external boxes to mount or wire, claims the company.

Operating is simple and requires little training due to the icon-driven interface, while the performance can be validated using the detector's built-in quality assurance test (QAT) the Thermo claims.

Thermo Fisher Scientific manufacturers analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, and other products for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.