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Gravity Metal Detectors
Magnetic Products Inc. (MPI) Gravity Feed Metal Detectors are state-of-the-art systems specifically engineered to identify and eliminate ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless-steel contaminants from freely flowing bulk materials. These detectors are perfectly suited for high-volume environments, delivering outstanding sensitivity and dependable performance. They play a crucial role in maintaining product quality and safeguarding downstream equipment across a range of industries, such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and plastics.
Our gravity feed metal detectors, often referred to as drop-through or free-fall metal detectors, are expertly crafted to detect metal contamination in continuously flowing granules or powders. They are optimal for assessing dry, bulk materials, including sugar, flour, plastic granules, gravel, tablets, and capsules, among others.
Equipped with sensitive sensors, the CASSEL Inspection gravity feed metal detectors are capable of identifying even the tiniest metal contaminants. Fast-switching separation flaps promptly remove these contaminants from the product stream during the production process.
All gravity feed metal detectors are custom-designed and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each production environment.
Gravity Fed Metal Detector
Gravity feed type metal detectors are used in gravity feed pipes and provide the highest performance in detecting magnetic and non-magnetic metals. Ideal for powdered, granular, or free-flowing bulk materials, these detectors ensure contaminant removal without interrupting product flow. They are commonly used in food, pharmaceutical, chemical, and plastics industries where precision and product purity are critical.
Compact Gravity Fed Metal Detector
The Compact Gravity Feed Metal Detector has a low assembly height and is specially designed for limited space applications in free-flowing product lines. Despite its small footprint, it delivers high-sensitivity detection of ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless-steel contaminants. Its streamlined design makes it ideal for integration into tight processing areas without sacrificing performance or throughput.
Pro-Tector
Pro-Tector systems combine the excellent ferrous separation performance of a magnet with the non-ferrous and stainless detection of a metal detector, all in one compact unit. This integrated solution offers a powerful first line of defense against metal contamination in bulk material handling. Its space-saving design simplifies installation and maintenance, making it ideal for high-efficiency processing environments where both detection and separation are critical.
Throat Metal Detector
The Gravity Packaging Throat Metal Detector is designed for vertical installation in packaging systems, specifically for free-falling products. Positioned between the product hopper and forming tube, it detects ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless-steel contaminants before sealing. Its compact and hygienic design enables easy integration into existing vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) lines, ensuring product integrity and maintaining packaging speeds.
Ring Sensor Metal Detector (R)
The R Sensor type detects magnetic and non-magnetic metals, making it ideal for use in the medical-pharmaceutical sector, sanitary products, food, and chemical powders. Its design ensures that products fall through the sensor head for optimal performance. The system’s compact footprint and high detection sensitivity make it a reliable choice for integrating gravity-fed processing lines with strict quality requirements.
Pharma Metal Detector (PH)
METAL SHARK® PH types are used at the outlet of a tablet press and provide the highest performance in detecting magnetic and non-magnetic metals. Designed specifically for pharmaceutical applications, they offer ultra-high sensitivity and fast reject response to ensure product safety and regulatory compliance. Their compact, GMP-compliant design integrates seamlessly into tablet production lines without disrupting throughput.
Compatibility Check - Gravity Feed Metal Detector Comparison
Unique Benefits and Considerations
Industries, Applications and Regulations
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Industry Type
Industries That Use MPI Gravity Feed Metal Detectors
MPI's gravity feed metal detectors are trusted in industries where contamination control, product purity, and process safety are paramount:
Food Processing – Grains, spices, sugar, salt, rice, coffee, nuts, powdered ingredients, and granular additives.
Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical – Tablets, capsules, and bulk powders.
Chemical – Powders, resins, and granular materials used in production or packaging.
Plastics – Pelletized materials or regrind entering extrusion, molding, or blending lines.
Medical/Sanitary Products – Powdered ingredients for personal care and hygiene products.
Agricultural Feed and Seed – Dry bulk animal feed, seed coatings, or supplement powders.
Processing Application
Typical Applications
MPI’s gravity-fed detectors are used in vertical processing systems and free-flowing product lines for:
Contaminant Detection – Identifying and rejecting ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless-steel particles.
Raw Material Screening – Verifying the cleanliness of bulk ingredients before processing.
Final Product Inspection – Ensuring outgoing product is free of metallic contaminants before packaging or blending.
Tablet and Capsule Integrity – In pharmaceutical applications, ensuring post-compression tablets are metal-free.
Protecting Downstream Equipment – Preventing grinders, mixers, extruders, or packaging machinery damage.
Materials Processed
MPI’s gravity feed metal detectors are designed for free-falling, dry, or granular materials, including:
Powders – Flour, milk powder, cocoa, whey, starches, spices, cement, chemical powders.
Granules – Coffee, sugar, salt, plastic pellets, fertilizer granules.
Tablets & Capsules – Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical forms.
Regrind or Flake – From plastics recycling or manufacturing lines.
Dry Blends – Custom mixes for food, chemical, or supplement industries.
Regulations and Requirements
Regulations and Quality Control Requirements
Regulatory Standards
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) – Mandates contamination prevention in food, pharma, and supplement manufacturing.
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) – Required for pharmaceutical and food manufacturing environments.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) – Gravity metal detectors are often designated as CCPs (Critical Control Points).
GFSI Certifications – Including BRC, SQF, and FSSC 22000, which often require validated metal detection.
21 CFR Part 11 – For pharma systems like the PH unit, electronic data and audit trails must comply.
USDA / FSIS Compliance – For meat, poultry, and food-grade applications.
CE / UL Certifications – Ensuring electrical safety and performance for equipment integration.
Quality Control Best Practices
Sensitivity Calibration – With certified test pieces for ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel.
Performance Validation – Routine checks to ensure consistent detection accuracy.
Reject Mechanism Testing – Ensuring metal contamination triggers removal and system logging.
Data Logging & Traceability – Especially in pharmaceutical or regulated food environments.
Easy-to-Clean, Hygienic Design – For compliance with sanitary standards in food and pharma lines.