Heemskerk opts for Sapphire's x-ray system

By Staff Reporter

- Last updated on GMT

Picture: iStock/Waldemarus
Picture: iStock/Waldemarus

Related tags 2016 Netherlands X-ray

A Dutch fruit and vegetable producer has installed two x-ray inspection systems from Sapphire.

Sapphire Inspection Systems (represented in Benelux by Ultrapak) installed the first Sapphire G20 system in December 2016 and the second in April this year.

Heemskerk had been using metal detectors and a competitor’s x-ray machine. The firm processes 2.5 million packaged products a week from a range of 275 products.

Sapphire specialises in low energy inspection.

“Essentially this means that especially hard to read images are more visible as low energy generators allow for higher sensitivity imaging. To illustrate, Heemskerk placed this inspection purchase out to tender,” ​said the company.

sapphire heemkerk

“A competitor made strong claims about their machine sensitivity, however they discontinued their place within the pitch when Heemskerk challenged them to run side by side testing with our systems.”

Sapphire said X-ray inspection has increased in demand in the past decade as companies seek to ensure product quality and reduce wastage and avoid recalls which can affect immediate production and reputation.

The system has an inspection rate of up to 400 packs/minute and can detect glass, metal and plastic contamination in trays, tins and glass and verify product integrity such as completeness and breakage.

The firm has a partnership with the University of Cambridge with all of its R&D team being ex-Cambridge graduates and doctorates from the STEM subjects.

“Each summer we host interns, run entrepreneurial schemes and host employment engagement seminars with current students. This enables us to attract the best academic talent into our workforce. We are also able to network and partner with companies of equal innovative dynamic and academic stature through our partnership and long standing relationship with the University.”

Related topics Food Safety & Quality

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