From the office canteen to the hotel dining area, food safety is of vital importance across various settings and sectors. While realising this fact, manufacturers face a unique set of challenges in ensuring the safety of their products. Issues range from the difficulty of keeping up with regularly updated regulations to the identification of contaminants and bone fragments.
With a heritage that stretches back to 1893, Ishida aims to solve such problems through the development of innovative production line solutions. We’ll focus on the benefits of their quality control and X-ray solutions here.
Powerful X-ray Inspection Systems
Integrated with patented GA (genetic algorithm) technology, Ishida’s X-ray systems offer unparalleled capacity for the detection of foreign bodies and other quality defects. Able to X-ray products of various shapes, sizes, and complexities, manufacturers can have confidence in enhanced food safety and brand protection. From fresh meat to confectionary, a full range of products can be scanned with unmatched efficiency and precision.
As an example, Maple Leaf Foods has installed four of Ishida’s IX-G2 X-ray inspection systems at their Poultry processing plant in Ontario, Canada. This allows each fillet to be efficiently scanned, with low-density foreign bodies identified and contaminated products reworked accordingly. Designed for hygienic operation, the IX-G2 effectively minimises the risks of customer complaints, recalls, and reputational damage.
Innovative Seal Inspection Solutions
Quality control can also be enhanced through the integration of Ishida’s leak detection and seal inspection systems. Excelling in the identification of micro-leaks and faulty seals across different types of packaging, these systems also minimise the risks of complaints, returns, and wastage. Such efficient inspection allows for the early identification of packaging issues and the improvement of production line performance.
Ishida stands out once again, with the market-leading AirScan leak detection system integrated with advanced laser technology for the detection of any change in Co2 levels. The benefits of this system have been realised by Germany’s M-Back GmbH. Acknowledging that visual inspections were no longer sufficient, they identified Ishida’s AirScan as the automatic quality control solution of choice. This has had a transformational impact on quality assurance, with 3% of packs being identified as having a leak and eliminated with the air reject mechanism. As M-Back’s Marcel Schwebler says, “There’s no alternative to the AirScan system when it comes to speed.”
Quality Control Systems
Besides their specialist x-ray and seal inspection systems, Ishida also offers integrated quality control technologies to help manufacturers reduce the risk of human error, ensure consistent product quality and enhance operational efficiency. These integrated solutions are designed to support compliance with major food safety regulations such as HACCP, FSMA, and BRCGS.
For instance, food manufacturers across various sectors have successfully implemented Ishida’s quality control systems to enhance product safety, consistency, and efficiency. Smithfield Murray (UK), a leading poultry supplier, has integrated Ishida’s IX-G2-F X-Ray inspection systems to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety for fresh chicken products. This advanced detection technology effectively identifies bone fragments and other contaminants, helping to maintain compliance with stringent industry regulations.
Similarly, Soto Organic Veggie (GER) has benefited from a comprehensive X-ray, DACS, and Airscan system for its plant-based ready meals, ensuring product integrity and accurate weight control. By incorporating Ishida’s advanced inspection technology, Soto has been able to enhance its quality assurance processes, reducing waste and ensuring a consistent product experience for consumers.
Manufacturers of dry and powdered goods, such as Thymos (SLV), have also leveraged X-ray and DACS technology for spice production, guaranteeing the detection of foreign objects while maintaining precise portion control. This integration has significantly improved efficiency while safeguarding product quality in line with HACCP and BRCGS standards.
These real-world applications demonstrate how Ishida’s integrated quality control solutions provide measurable value across different food manufacturing sectors, ensuring compliance, minimising waste, and optimising production efficiency.
Meeting Present and Future Demand
There are numerous examples of manufacturers who have realised the benefits of investment in Ishida’s production line solutions. For instance, the Saudi-Arabia-based Almarai looked to Ishida for support in meeting customer demand for fixed-weight poultry packs with optimum hygiene and presentation. Having integrated a variety of equipment including deboning machinery, multi-head weighers, tray sealers, and x-ray inspection systems, Almarai has been able to accommodate an increase from 21,000 bph (birds per hour) to 37,000 bph at its Ha’il Province factory.
“We see the new Ha’il plant as equipping us to meet demand far into the future and also of enabling us to serve the market’s movement towards poultry pieces sold in fixed-weight packs. The Ishida lines have now been operating for two years, and I find them robust and reliable: we have had minimal downtime”, Almarai’s Lárus Ásgeirsson commented.
Unique Ishida Offerings
With the innovative development of direct conversion X-ray coupled with the unique Ishida GA technology and capacity for the detection of foreign bodies down to 0.2mm, Ishida stands out from the competition. Ensuring unparalleled reliability and efficiency, their production line solutions effectively solve some of the toughest food manufacturing problems across a range of sectors. Given the commitment to quality, innovation and customer support, there's a good reason to make Ishida your food safety partner of choice.
The complete range of tailored food production solutions can be viewed on the Ishida website. Explore and get in touch to find out how Ishida can help you overcome specific food safety challenges.