Mettler-Toledo Safeline has produced a comprehensive guide to metal detection that is aimed at assisting the global food production and pharmaceutical industries.
Entitled ‘Reduction of Metal Contamination — Building an Effective Program’, this guide replaces the original Safeline Guide to Reducing Metal Contamination (known in the industry as ‘The Red Book’). Significantly updated, presenting current thinking and available free of charge, this latest document provides higher levels of information than were contained in its predecessor.
Detailing every aspect that must be considered in the creation, implementation and maintenance of an effective metal detection program, the guide is clearly written, laid out in a logical fashion and supported by useful diagrams, charts and illustrations. Throughout the document, margin notes draw the reader to points of particular importance, whilst clear symbols indicate best practice, practice that could result in incorrect operation and records that should be generated in order to demonstrate the effective operation of the metal detection program. There is also ample space for the user’s own notes.
Providing a reference point for those involved in food safety, the Safeline guide gives insight into all aspects of metal detection in the modern production facility, from basic principles through to implementing a comprehensive metal detection solution.
Chapters one to four provide an overview of how metal detectors work, an explanation of important design features, an insight into those factors that could potentially limit performance of the equipment and the integration of metal detectors with effective rejection systems. The remaining chapters then provide comprehensive details into building an effective program. Issues covered include the reasons for metal detection, the prevention of contamination, selecting control points in the production facility, understanding operating sensitivity, and installation and commissioning.
The guide then concludes with information regarding the essential elements of equipment testing and validation procedures. These topics include: how to conduct tests, the correct handling of suspect and rejected product, the analysis of data and the electronic collection of data in enterprise-wide management information systems.
