FDBusiness.com

Further underlining its position at the forefront of high performance inspection equipment for the global food and pharmaceutical markets, LOMA SYSTEMS® (www.loma.com) has launched its revolutionary new IQ4 series of next generation metal detection systems. The cutting-edge technology offers improved sensitivity compared to previous models and a plethora of exciting ‘industry first’ features purpose designed to deliver optimum production efficiencies.

Using its 50 years’ experience in developing advanced metal detection technology, LOMA has developed the new IQ4 series to meet customers’ common inspection challenges and provide major design, performance, usability, quality and flexibility benefits, whilst ensuring low lifetime cost of ownership and meeting ‘Designed to Survive®’ criteria.

With the combination of enhanced Auto Learn functionality, improved product screening and more sophisticated signal processing, the IQ4 provides significant improvements in detection performance. In fact, compared to previous generation LOMA IQ3+ST Metal Detectors, the IQ4 can provide up to a 35% improvement in detection sensitivity with tough to handle metallised film products and achieves this without having to result to complex or expensive simultaneous frequency technologies.

The IQ4 technology has enabled LOMA to introduce true Variable Frequency to its Pipeline, Waferthin and Vertical Fall metal detectors for the first time. Operating between 31-882 kHz, all metal detectors in the IQ4 range are capable of automatically selecting correct operating frequency so changes in products or packaging that necessitate an alteration in frequency no longer require costly and inconvenient operator intervention.

In addition, Variable Frequency allows processors to easily run different pack sizes and shapes whilst benefiting from improved stability and sensitivity.

In an industry first, all models in the IQ4 Metal Detectors boast a newly designed 7” colour touchscreen with a modernised and more intuitive interface that has been developed to simplify operation, deliver instant clarity to inspection status and provide straight forward access to a host of advanced functionality.

The IQ4 Metal Detector horizontal search heads feature a ‘beyond’ IP69K rating as standard for the ultimate in robustness and making them capable of withstanding the often-arduous conditions found within food processing plants.  The rating applies to the entire unit including the distinctive blue liner, brushed stainless steel case and touch screen –  without the need for protective covers.

In line with LOMA’s ‘Designed to Survive’ philosophy, LOMA’s IQ4 Metal Detectors feature a  unique new blue sealing that assists in making the IQ4 resilient to a host of tough factory conditions, ranging from vibration and thermal fluctuations as a result of inspecting frozen products to harsh high pressure, high temperature wash-down with corrosive chemical agents.

A newly expanded Auto Learn functionality significantly reduces set up time and provides a more optimum sensitivity set up. This means the IQ4 Metal Detectors are ready to use, virtually straight out of box, and reduces the need for time consuming product set up by highly trained engineers and ensures more uptime.

The IQ4 is designed to meet IFS, BRC and other strict Retailer Codes of Practice and confirms support for higher compliance as well as providing a platform to ensure compatibility with future enhancements.

Other new key features of the IQ4 are Optimised for Aluminium capability for Performance Validation System (PVS) testing, product speed control, connection to TRACS software for centralised data reporting, support for biometric security and robust support for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.

LOMA’s IQ4 technology has been applied to the company’s horizontal metal detector search heads, metal detector conveyor systems and Pipeline, Vertical Fall and Wafer Thin metal detectors. The company also offers an IQ4 LOCK PH Pharmaceutical Metal Detector and IQ4 combination systems which comprise the superb capability of the IQ4 search head with LOMA’s CW3 Checkweighers to provide unrivalled detect and check functionality.

Constructed using top-quality 304L stainless steel, corrosion risks are reduced, making IQ4 Metal Detectors the safest choice for food and pharmaceutical environments. All systems have the capacity to learn the characteristics and variable frequency settings for up to 100 different products.

Toby Kemp, LOMA’s Global Marketing Manager comments: “The IQ4 series is the culmination of 50 years of working closely with our global customers, major retailers and organisations like the BRC to truly understand current and future inspection challenges. As a result, we truly believe that the IQ4 is the last generation metal detector the industry is likely to need.

“It is probably the most future proof system we have ever built and we are confident that the IQ4 is the best all round metal detector range currently available on the market,” he concludes.