Magnetic Separation Solutions for the Feed, Grain, and Milling Industries
In feed, grain, and milling operations, MPI’s magnetic separation and metal detection systems are essential for protecting processing equipment, maintaining ingredient purity, and meeting regulatory safety standards. Ferrous contaminants such as bolts, wire, metal filings, and tramp iron are often introduced through:
- Incoming bulk grain shipments
- Mechanical wear during conveying and grinding
- Processing equipment failures
- Contaminated raw materials
MPI’s solutions are used throughout the production line to capture contaminants before they can damage critical equipment or enter the final product, helping prevent costly recalls and livestock health risks.
When and Where:
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Receiving: To remove bulk metal contaminants during raw grain intake
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Pre-cleaning and scaling: Before grinders, pellet mills, or mixers, to prevent equipment damage
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Pneumatic conveying and dust-tight transitions: During the transfer of fine powders or meals
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Pre-packaging or loadout: Final inspection before the product is bagged or shipped
MPI’s magnetic separation systems are essential safety and quality assurance tools for feed and grain processors. By providing robust tramp metal removal and metal detection at every critical stage of the process, MPI helps customers:
- Protect critical equipment.
- Maintain feed and ingredient purity.
- Comply with regulatory inspections.
- Avoid contamination incidents.
- Ensure operational uptime and profitability.
These solutions are engineered to withstand the dusty, abrasive, high-volume environments found in feed mills every day while delivering continuous, low-maintenance performance.
Turnkey Solutions for Feed, Grain, and Milling From Magnetic Products, Inc
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Protects Critical Processing Equipment
Magnetic separators capture ferrous debris before it reaches hammermills, pellet mills, mixers, and sifters—extending equipment life and avoiding catastrophic breakdowns.
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Ensures Product Purity and Compliance
By removing metal from the product stream, MPI solutions help facilities meet FDA, FSMA, and HACCP requirements for animal and human feed safety.
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Prevents Costly Product Recalls and Contamination Events
Contaminants removed early reduce the risk of cross-contamination, customer complaints, or withdrawal of feed products due to foreign objects.
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Designed for Dust-Tight, High-Volume Operation
Rugged stainless-steel construction and gasketed, sealed housings withstand the abrasive, dusty conditions common in grain processing environments.
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Flexible Installation for Gravity and Pneumatic Systems
MPI magnets are configurable for vertical chutes, screw conveyors, air-powered lines, and more—without requiring central system redesigns.
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Quick-Clean and Self-Clean Options Reduce Downtime
Tool-free access and fast-clean magnetic designs reduce maintenance labor and allow cleaning without complete system shutdown.
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Food-Grade and Sanitary Designs Available
MPI offers polished housings and USDA/FDA-compliant seals and finishes for feed mills producing certified organic or export-grade products.
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Magnetic Detection & Metal Detection Layered Protection
Magnets and metal detectors, including stainless steel and non-ferrous metals, ensure full-spectrum contaminant removal.
How Does the Feed, Grain, and Milling Industry Use Magnets?
| MPI PRODUCT TYPE | WHERE | WHY | WHEN | HOW |
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| Drawer-In-Housing Magnets (Manual-Clean, Quick-Clean, Self-Clean) | Gravity-fed chutes from bins, silos, or mixers | Capture tramp iron and fine ferrous particles in granular and powdered feed materials | Prior to grinders, pellet mills, weigh scales, or baggers | Multiple rows of powerful, rare-earth magnetic tubes filter material as it flows through; cleanout varies by model |
| Pneumatic Line Drawer Magnets (Quick-Clean and Self-Clean) | Inline with dilute-phase conveying systems | Ensure clean material during transfer of powdered ingredients or micronized feed components | Between the batching, grinding, and mixing processes | Magnetic cartridges attract fine metal as air-blown material passes through; self-clean models purge metal automatically |
| Plate Magnets and Magnetic Humps | Belt transfers, chutes, bucket elevator discharge points | Capture ferrous debris from free-falling grain or pellets | Pre-cleaning or at high-volume transfer points | Stationary magnetic plate embedded in the flow path; magnetic humps combine two plates in a “S” chute for better exposure |
| Magnetic Drum Separators | Receiving pits, bag dump stations, or pre-sifting | Separate large and medium-sized ferrous contaminants from dry bulk grain or meal | Early in processing or before storage | Material flows across the rotating drum; ferrous debris clings to the drum and is carried to a discharge zone |
| Magnetic Head Pulleys | On belt conveyors moving cracked grain, pellets, or flour | Automatic removal of tramp iron from conveyed product | Before sifting, packaging, or bulk transfer | Replaces standard belt pulley; magnetized zone attracts ferrous debris for off-belt discharge |
| Metal Detectors | Inline with belt conveyors or spouts | Detect ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless-steel contaminants not removed magnetically | As a secondary layer of defense, especially before final packaging or loadout | Triggers alarm or divert system when metal is detected in the product flow |
