Watching the metal detectors

Speciality ingredients supplier and powder blend manufacturer Calleva has installed metal detection equipment from S+S Inspection as the final stage of production at its new, purpose-built blending production facility in Bridgwater, Somerset.

Following the signing of a joint venture agreement with Italian tara gum and pectin producer Silvateam in 2008, the new facility is now the centre of production for Aglumix brand blends for northern Europe, including the UK and Ireland.

Md Clive Griffiths says: "Our continued expansion is based on expertise, quality and reliability. We identified final inspection of the packed product for metallic contamination from the mixers as a critical point of our hazard analysis critical control point procedure, even though we always use pharmaceutical grade sieves and mixers.

"The ability of the S+S Genius control units to store up to 99 profiles of our tailor-made products was a significant factor in our choice. We run and record a calibration test of the metal detector at the beginning and end of every batch, in accordance with our BRC procedure, to make sure all is working correctly and this is the only time that metal has ever been detected!

"Even so, we still regard the final inspection for metal contamination as essential protection for both us and our customers."