At Pack Expo this October, Fortress Technology will unveil how its brand-new pipeline metal detector can assist meat food processors handling high-viscosity meats to reduce the risk of metal fragments entering the production chain, in addition to optimizing hygiene standards and tackling cross contamination.

With compliance demanding the highest levels of sanitation, the Meat Pump Pipeline has been designed to deliver maximum metal detection sensitivity and uptime in round-the-clock meat manufacturing sites.

Especially suitable for sausage and meat patty manufacturers, as well as food factories using pastes and meat sauces in ready meals, the compact Meat Pump Pipeline Metal Detector is fitted to a mobile frame, offering food factories greater flexibility and fast and simple connection to vacuum fillers. Featuring electric powered height adjustment controlled via the HMI, the unit, which is three foot in height and length^[i] is ideal for factory floors with restricted space. In addition to making it quicker and easier to manoeuver around manufacturing environments and connect to other production vacuums, the system is easier for sanitation employees to roll out, dismantle and clean to prevent bacteria accumulations.

Compared to the alternative of trap magnet systems used in high viscosity meat inspection lines, the new Fortress Meat Pump Pipeline doesn’t just identify and reject magnetic ferrous metals, but stainless steel too which is more prevalent in food preparation environments.

Due to its highly conductive nature and high iron content, meat generates signals that can mistakenly be interpreted by a metal detector as a contaminant. Additionally, bubbles and voids in the product flow can trigger false rejects, leading to increased waste and needless production downtime. To overcome this product effect, the Fortress Meat Pump Pipeline addresses these challenges by applying powerful digital signal processing technology to clearly distinguish the signal generated by a metal contaminant from the product being inspected.

To help maintain metal detection sensitivity, the system also integrates Auto-balance. This feature is designed to rebalance the coil heads within the unit, which may over time expand or contract due to changes in product temperatures passing through the pipeline.

As a result of this increased sensitivity, the system can detect and reject product contaminated by metal particles as small as 1.0 ferrous, 1.5 non-ferrous and 2.0 stainless steel.

IP69K rated and USDA compliant, the new Meat Pump Pipeline is built to withstand harsh meat processing environments and high-pressurized washdowns after every product changeover. With no obtrusive support frame and no external boxes to accommodate electronics, and as a result of its reduced surface area and minimal use of fasteners, there are fewer places where meat residue, water ingress and bacteria can build up and potentially get embedded in pipes, nooks and crannies.

This means cleaning is both quick and thorough, helping meat manufacturers to make significant productivity savings without compromising on quality.

Featuring sophisticated data capture and Contact Reporter Software, the pipeline system satisfies Quality Assurance mandates, ensuring traceability compliance with stringent North American meat processing requirements, including GFSI/SQF, BRC and HACCP.    

The intuitive, password protected HMI control panel stores up to 99 product profiles, which production operatives can select from, helping to reduce reset times and human errors. It also caters to multicultural food organizations by providing nine language choices to address language barriers.

In keeping with the Fortress Never Obsolete promise, customers can select from an automatic diverter reject valve or a customized pipeline reject system. Manufacturers can also select from Fortress Phantom, Stealth and Interceptor technology, depending on codes of practice requirements.

For a demonstration of this latest Fortress Meat Pump Pipeline development, visit the team at Pack Expo 2018, South Hall, Booth 2169.

For more information, visit www.fortresstechnology.com.