Loma’s X-ray goes XL

Loma has launched the X⁴ 800XL X-ray inspection system, utilising proven Loma X-ray technology, whilst incorporating a large aperture infeed system that can handle large products, such as bulk meat in film or Euro crates and meat boxes.

The food and general packaging industry are currently seeking to reduce interim primary packaging, by upsizing raw materials to the legal limits of product handling. This presents a series of new challenges particularly to food processors who handle meat, large sacks of food ingredients or any other solid or semi solid foodstuff such as large unprocessed blocks of cheese.

It is in the first stage of product handling when a product reaches the processing halls that traditional inspection is carried out. The challenge incurred by all producers from larger sizes is ensuring the same quality of accuracy as before.

The end user for the X⁴ 800XL is likely to be in 24/7 operation, so the system has been ‘designed to survive’, meeting IP66 environment specifications, making it ideal for the tough industrial locations it will be exposed to. Built with heavy-duty conveyor components and high quality electronics, the system offers the utmost level of reliability and performance.

Responding to customer demand, Loma have installed the most up-to-date sanitising system incorporating an easy wash conveyor with a full draining capability and Loma’s intuitive colour touch interface.

It is essential for food processors that the line speed is consistent with the performance of the rest of the process line; the X⁴ 800XL has a normal belt speed up to 50m/min maintaining an accurate and efficient performance.

Manufacturers must continue to build compliance and traceability through every stage of a products life cycle. For full compliance it is essential that food manufacturers are able to access this information simply and quickly. Technically advanced, the X⁴ 800XL incorporates an industrial grade PC, and front access USB port. The computer vision system utilises Loma’s image processing and 3D modelling system, together with full diagnostic and system health monitoring, with date and time, image and event stamp archiving, together with the Loma remote support tools. Loma’s OPC Data Capture system and Loma Enet are designed to help quality managers use their inspection equipment as a management tool as well as a process control by compiling fully featured production reports

Simon Spencer, Managing Director of Loma Systems, comments: “The X⁴ 800XL system is another great example of where we have implemented a solution to deliver to our customer’s requirements.

We are offering the same peace of mind solutions as our smaller X-ray systems. As the worldwide economy forces the base products suppliers of meat or ingredients to reduce interim packaging, saving on environmental issues, the X⁴ 800XL offers our customers the quality standards that they expect from the leading supplier of inspection systems. Furthermore, we have set up a dedicated manufacturing and assembly line at our Farnborough headquarters to handle the X⁴ 800XL, which will allow Loma to offer greatly reduced build times and to keep abreast of any sudden changes in the way our customers’ start to receive their raw materials.”

The X⁴ 800XL extends Loma’s cutting edge X⁴ range of X-ray machines, which includes the X⁴ SideShoot which inspects cans and bottles, the X⁴ Pipeline for diced meat, pastes and slurries, the X⁴ BulkFlow which examines loose and unpacked product and the X⁴ FinePitch which can find the smallest of contaminants, such as splinter chicken bones.