Ensuring product safety and quality is a top priority for every company in the food industry. X-ray inspection technologies are the most advanced solution for detecting contaminants, defects and anomalies, ensuring compliance with safety standards and consumer protection.
Antares Vision Group, a global leader in inspection, traceability and data management solutions, offers X-ray inspection systems capable of analysing each product in real time, ensuring complete, accurate and automated control over the entire food production line.
Why X-ray inspection is indispensable in the food sector
Food safety as a strategic requirement
In food, quality is not just a competitive factor: it is a responsibility. International standards such as HACCP, BRC, IFS and ISO 22000 require careful controls to prevent contamination risks.
X-ray inspection makes it possible to detect metal, glassy, ceramic, bone or high-density plastic foreign bodies, even when they are inside complex packaging, for which other control systems are ineffective.
A competitive advantage for companies
Implementing an advanced inspection system means improving brand reputation, avoiding costly recalls and winning consumer trust. Antares Vision Group provides solutions for every production need, adaptable to different types of food – packaged, loose or in trays – while maintaining high performance and maximum reliability.
The main inspection challenges in the food sector
Diversity of packaging materials and products
The diversity of packaging, which often contains metallic elements, and the characteristics of the food product itself – solid, granular, but also liquid, frozen, salted and therefore with characteristics that affect conductivity – make it difficult, if not impossible, to detect contaminants with traditional metal detectors.
X-ray inspection overcomes these limitations, thanks to its ability to analyse the density of materials, guaranteeing more reliable and precise control.
Detection of non-metallic foreign bodies
Many common contaminants – such as glass, bones, ceramics or high-density plastics – cannot be detected by metal detectors. X-rays, on the other hand, do not analyse the conductivity of the contaminant but penetrate the product and, on the basis of their density, create a detailed image that allows foreign bodies of any material with a different density to be detected.
Integration with high-speed lines
Food companies need to ensure accurate control without slowing down production. Antares Vision Group solutions offer real-time, high-speed analysis, perfect for multi-line production and complex industrial environments.
Hygienic design and degree of protection
Inspection systems must be constructed for food environments, with stainless steel materials, an IP rating appropriate to the working environment and a hygienic design that facilitates cleaning and sanitisation.
Key Technologies
X-ray inspection – precision, reliability and safety
Antares Vision Group’s X-ray inspection systems offer advanced and consistent detection over time, thanks in particular to dedicated software with a self-learning function, high-precision mechanics and customised electronics designed in-house.
These technologies guarantee:
- Detection of metallic, glassy, ceramic, bone or plastic contaminants
- Accurate analysis also in metal or polybags
- Non-destructive and non-contact inspection
- Maximum reliability even at high speeds
How it works
- A generator creates an X-ray beam passing through the product and getting to the sensor.
- The higher the material’s density (atomic mass), the more it absorbs X-rays.
- A foreign body is detected thanks to the different quantity of X-rays absorbed by the foreign body and by the product.
- The remaining quantity of X-ray will thus be measured by the sensor in different levels, highlighting the presence of a foreign body.
Application
- Meat, pasta, vegetables, fruit, fish, dairy products, canned goods, seasonings
- Legumes, cereals, nuts and seeds, oils and fats, spices and herbs, baked goods
- Savory snacks, frozen foods, sweets, ready meals
Integration with the production line and communication with external systems
Antares Vision machines integrate seamlessly into existing lines, communicating with external systems and enabling remote servicing, in accordance with Industry 4.0.
Thanks to a modular and scalable architecture, each system can be customised to suit the production flow, packaging formats and speeds required.
The intuitive interface allows images, statistics and production reports to be displayed in real time, with automatic data export for audits and quality checks.
The benefits of Antares Vision Group X-ray inspection
It ensures the absence of high-density physical contaminants such as glass, stones, metals, bones, high-density plastic, concrete chips, etc.
- Prevents complaints and recalls from the market, protecting the brand
- Manages interconnections in accordance with Industry 4.0 requirements
- Quick maintenance and sanitisation thanks to hygienic design
Types of inspection solutions
X-ray inspection for vertical products
X-ray inspection systems for products in vertical orientation, with side inspection
X-ray inspection for horizontal products
X-ray inspection systems for horizontal products, top-down mode.
X-ray inspection for gravitationally falling bulk (granular) products
X-ray inspection systems for gravitationally falling bulk (granular) products, ideal for checking incoming raw materials.
Special configurations for X-ray inspection
X-ray inspection on three lanes
- Simultaneous x-ray inspection on three lanes, each with a dedicated ejection system.
- Ideal for high production lines.
X-ray inspection on two parallel lanes
- X-ray inspection on two parallel lanes, each with a dedicated rejection system.
- It allows an increase in production speed while maintaining the same footprint in the line.
X-ray inspection with tangential belts
- Special configuration with top-down inspection and side tangential belts.
- Designed for unstable products or special shapes that require lateral guidance.
X-ray belt inspection for bulk products
- Inspection system applied directly on belt for bulk products.
- Useful for granular food, cereals or other ‘bulk’ products during belt transit
Conclusion
X-ray inspection is today’s most comprehensive technology for ensuring the safety, quality and compliance of food products.
Thanks to Antares Vision Group’s expertise, companies can count on reliable, modular and connected solutions capable of detecting any contaminant and optimising production processes.
Investing in an Antares Vision X-ray inspection system means protecting the consumer, the brand and the value of the product with state-of-the-art technology.
FAQ
It is a non-destructive testing technology that uses X-rays to analyse the inside of food products and detect contaminants, defects or anomalies invisible to traditional systems.
It can detect metals, glass, stone, bone, ceramics and some dense plastics, even inside metallised packages.
Yes. Radiation levels are extremely low and comply with international standards. Machines are shielded to ensure total safety for operators. Antares Vision Group’s X-ray inspection systems have met the requirements to operate in an industrial environment without the need for radiation surveillance.
Unlike metal detectors, X-rays not only detect metal contaminants but also foreign bodies of any kind. In addition, they also work perfectly in the presence of metal or polybags.
Yes, Antares Vision solutions are designed to integrate with checkweighers, vision systems, and communicate with traceability platforms.
Antares Vision systems automatically collect data and images of each rejected product and the location of the contaminant.