Thermal fluctuations, changing humidity and a reduced space made metal detection for the Pacific Nut Company difficult. Then came the perfect solution with Vistus from Minebea Intec.
Customer
Pacific Nut Company Chile S.A. connects nut and dried fruit growers with consumers from all over the world. Located in Chile the company runs four processing facilities and has more than 400 employees. Pacific Nut Company is part of Empresas Sutil, which is one of the most important agro-industrial groups in Chile.
Project Goal and Implementation
Due to an increased production volume, the Pacific Nut Company Chile S.A. expanded its production and packaging lines in terms of weighing, sealing, and box packaging. In the process, also the critical point of metal detection needed improvement. The former metal detector, checking packed boxes of up to 10 kg dried raisins, had shown a lack of detection sensitivity. In addition, thermal fluctuations and changing humidity conditions had led to false rejections. Facing limited space due to the newly expanded production line the customer contacted the certified Minebea Intec Partner Antalis Abitek.
“As a Partner of Minebea Intec, I benefit from innovative technologies that I can rely on 100 percent. They help me ensure the perfect solution for my customers”
Antalis Abitek has developed a conveyor-based metal detection solution. A custom metal detection system Vistus from Minebea Intec was designed and manufactured, and installed at the exit of two bulk product selection lines, prior to weighing and filling inboxes. Mounted on an inclined motorization system with variable speed, a pneumatic two-way diverter flap rejection system, and a thermoplastic conveyor belt, the metal detector offers fast and easy cleaning processes (IP65). Through the implementation of a low height multi-frequency detector head, which allows adjusting the rejection times and product passage speeds depending on the production flow, greater detection sensitivity and efficient contaminant discard now are achieved. The two-way diverter flap rejection system device is pneumatically operated on the detection of contaminated particles inside the product, the compressed air supply activates a flap made of UHWM-PE located at the outfeed of the conveyor. This diverts the contaminated products to a stainless-steel bin. The use of a thermoplastic conveyor belt avoids incrustations of products and liquid sugars, allows easy and quick cleaning, requires small amounts of water for the cleaning and disinfection process, and dries quickly.
Mounted on the inclined motorization system, the metal detector is a space saving solution
All in all the unique system based on Vistus metal detection technology increases by 40% the detection sensitivity for metallic contaminants, ensuring high-quality assurance raisins for export. “We are highly satisfied with both the performance of Minebea Intec technologies and Partner company,” summarizes Lucio Cordon, Raisins Factory Manager at Pacific Nut about the project.
All ejected products are removed from the product stream by means of the two-way diverter flap
