Metal In Food Alerts 2022

Metal in Digestive Biscuits

In 2022, the UK Food Standards Agency issued ten (10) alerts regarding metal-contaminated food products that had reached the public.  This was up from five (5) in 2021.  The metal-contaminated food products were supplied by companies at various stages in the food supply chain, including leading UK supermarkets such as Tesco and Co-Op, as well…

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Temperature Effect on Magnetic Separators

Heat and Thermometer image

If a Neodymium Rare Earth Tube Magnet is put into a red-hot fire, then it would not be surprising if the magnetic properties are destroyed.  However, what if the same Tube Magnet is just exposed to steam being flushed through a pipeline system to clean the pipes? Tube Magnets manufactured with high quality Neodymium Magnets are able to…

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High-Intensity Magnetic Separators at Ceramitec

Iron-Specked_Ceramic_Tableware

High-intensity magnetic separators play a key role in the manufacture of ceramics and the processing of ceramic raw materials, as highlighted at Ceramitec 2022 on Bunting’s stand (on stand C1:511). Keeping Ceramics Iron-Free Fine iron and magnetic minerals cause defects in any ceramic product, whether that is tableware, sanitaryware, tiles or technical ceramics.  The iron…

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Getting Metal Out of Beer

Getting Metal out of beer

Thankfully, it is very unlikely that you will ever find a piece of metal in your glass of beer.  However, when tramp metal (in the form of screws, nails, broken process plant, etc.) is accidentally introduced during the brewing process, it damages processing equipment and can even affect the taste of the beer.  In this…

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Measuring Magnetic Separator Power

Bunting Magnetics Pull Test Kit

A Magnetic Separator attracts, captures and holds magnetic particles.  The magnetic strength needed to successfully separate such problematic ferrous metal contamination is commonly stated in a magnetic separator supplier’s quotation or specified in the tender.  This ‘Magnetic Strength’ is usually referenced in terms of ‘Gauss’, a unit of measurement.  However, as it is difficult to accurately measure…

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Keeping Ceramic Tableware Iron Blemish Free

Keeping ceramic tableware iron blemish free

Fine iron and iron-bearing minerals cause visual and structural defects in ceramic tableware.  Such contamination appears as small dark spots on the surface or is hidden within the body and causes premature cracking of the ceramic.  The cup, saucer or plate is then either rejected or reworked. Iron contamination The problem of iron contamination is…

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Keeping Ceramic Sanitaryware Iron Free

keeping sanitaryware Iron free

Sanitaryware is a commonly used term in the ceramics industry referring to sanitary appliances found in toilets and bathrooms.  Traditionally, bathroom bowls, cisterns, bidets, urinals and washbasins are made from porcelain (a ceramic material made from clay that might be described as ‘vitreous china’ when coated with enamel).  This might be referred to as ceramic,…

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