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Latif Engineering
Manufactured in Pakistan

Metal Separator (Metal Detector)

Detects and rejects both ferrous and non-ferrous metal contamination

The Metal Separator, commonly known as an in-line metal detector, protects food, plastics, and processing lines from all types of metal contamination — ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel — that magnetic separators alone cannot fully address, particularly non-magnetic stainless steel fragments. Product passes through a detection aperture surrounded by a search coil; any metal contamination disturbs the coil's balanced electromagnetic field, triggering an automatic reject mechanism such as a pusher, air blast, or diverter gate that removes the contaminated portion from the line without stopping production. This is a standard final safeguard in food processing, plastics, and pharmaceutical packaging lines, often installed after magnetic separation stages to catch what magnets cannot. Latif Engineering configures aperture size, sensitivity, and reject mechanism to match product type and line speed.

  • • Detects ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel contamination
  • • Automatic reject mechanism, no line stoppage
  • • Configurable aperture size for pipe or belt-fed product
  • • Adjustable sensitivity per product type
  • • Standard final safeguard after magnetic separation
  • • Suitable for food, plastics, and pharmaceutical lines
  • • Low false-reject rate with proper calibration
  • • Compact, easy-integration design

How it works

: Product passes through a rectangular or circular aperture surrounded by a balanced search coil system generating a stable electromagnetic field. Any metallic contamination in the product — ferrous, non-ferrous, or stainless steel — disrupts this balanced field as it passes through. The detector's control electronics identify this disruption instantly and send a signal to an automatic reject mechanism, typically a pneumatic pusher, air blast nozzle, or diverter gate positioned just downstream of the aperture. The contaminated product is removed from the main flow into a reject bin while the rest of the line continues running without interruption. Sensitivity is calibrated to reliably detect contamination down to a specified minimum metal size while avoiding false rejects from the product's own natural properties.

Specifications

Aperture Size100–600 mm(Rectangular or circular)
Detection SensitivityFerrous / Non-ferrous / Stainless(Metal-type and size dependent)
Reject MechanismPusher, air blast, or diverter(Configuration dependent)
Line Speed CompatibilityUp to 60 m/min(Product and aperture dependent)
Power SupplySingle or 3-phase(Site voltage confirmed at order)

Final datasheet issued per confirmed application.

Applications

Food and beverage processing and packaging, plastics and pellet production, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and any packaged or bulk product line requiring a final metal contamination safeguard.

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from a magnetic separator

Magnetic separators only capture ferrous metal; this unit also detects non-ferrous and stainless steel contamination.

Can it be used together with magnetic separation?

Yes, it is commonly installed as a final check after upstream magnetic separators have already removed the bulk of ferrous contamination.

Will it false-reject on naturally occurring product properties?

Sensitivity is calibrated during commissioning to minimise false rejects while maintaining reliable detection.

What reject method is best for my line?

This depends on product type and line speed; pushers and air blasts suit different packaging and bulk formats, confirmed at quotation.

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Quotation for the Metal Separator (Metal Detector)

Five fields. You will have an indicative specification and price within two working days.

The three things our engineers need to size the equipment.

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