Food Safety - Magnetic Separators

FACT SHEET #23
Magnetic Separators in Food Processing

Metal pieces in food products pose a safety risk to consumers and can damage processing equipment. Detection
and removal of metal contaminants is becoming common practice in the food processing industry. One approach
to reduce or eliminate metallic contamination is the use of magnetic separators.
Sources of Metal Contamination

Metal contamination may come from a variety of sources including:
• incoming ingredients and raw materials
• processing equipment (grinders, crushers, etc.) general abrasion or vibration causing the loss of nuts and bolts
• inadequate personnel practices and environmental causes
Designs of Magnetic Separators

Magnetic separators are available in a wide range of designs and have different uses. The following table
summarizes some of the most common magnetic separators used in the food industry.
Magnetic Separator
Description Use
Design
Bar Magnets Permanent non-electric magnetic units, can be Remove metal contamination present
used in a wide range of applications. in small, shallow quantities of flowing
powder, granules, fibers and liquids.
Plate Magnets Simple and economical to install. Used in Remove large pieces of metal such as
the bottom of an inclined chute or suspended nuts, bolts, staples from dry products.
above conveyor belts.
Grate Magnets Magnetic tubes designed in a grid Remove fine or relatively large pieces
configuration that allows the flow of material of metal contaminants.
to cascade though the grate. They spread
magnetic protection through cross-sectioned
areas of equipment, such as pipes or hopers.
Liquid Line Trap Traps with tube magnets inside them, designed Remove metal pieces like baling wire
Magnets with an inlet port to match existing pipelines. or staples.
Suspended Magnets Designed to hang above conveyor belts and Remove large pieces of metal, can
remove metal fragments from the material protect equipment, such as crushers,
being transported on a conveyor as it passes from damage.
under the magnet.
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Magnet Materials
There are several types of materials used for magnetic separators:
• Alnico magnets are made from aluminum, nickel cobalt and iron. They are economical magnet sources used in
applications that have high temperatures (>204 C). Alnico is comparable in strength to ceramics and it is used
to remove relatively large pieces, such as bolts or nuts.
• Ceramic magnets are low cost magnets made from a composite of iron oxide and barium/strontium
carbonate. They are used to remove relatively large pieces of ferrous metal such as nuts, bolts, nails and other
metallic objects in that size.
• Rare Earth magnets generate an extremely strong magnetic field, allowing them to remove fine or weakly
magnetic contamination such as rust or work-hardened stainless steel from a product flow. Extensively used by
the food industry.
Factors Affecting Magnets Performance

There are several factors that can affect the effectiveness of a magnet’s performance including:
Temperature: magnetic materials lose strength when Flow Characteristics: many food products exhibit
exposed to elevated temperatures and it cannot be different flow characteristics when damp or moist
recovered by cooling. affecting the flow between the magnetic separator
and the product.
Equipment Design: spacing and number of tubes
in magnetic equipment affect the strength of the Product Characteristics: assessing the characteristics
magnetic field it generates. Closer spacing and more of the material that is processed is a key point
tubes means a stronger magnetic field and higher in selecting the right magnetic separator. For
efficiency. more information visit: manitoba.ca/agriculture/
foodsafety/processor/cfs02s55.html
Evaluation of Magnet Performance

Magnets can lose strength over time and should be tested at least once a year. There are two types of
measurements that evaluate magnets:
• Pull Test: easy and repeatable test to evaluate • Gaussmeter: provides standard measurement for
the performance of a magnet. Commercially test evaluating a magnet design. It is not practical for
equipment can be found on the market. It helps to assessing the relative effectiveness of a magnetic
monitor the efficiency of a separator by measuring separator. The effectiveness (strength) depends on
the holding force of a magnet. the magnet material but also the size and weight.
For information on the Food Safety Program contact the CVO/Food Safety Knowledge Centre.
For technical information, call 204-795-7968 or 204-795-8418 in Winnipeg; or e-mail foodsafety@gov.mb.ca.
For general information, contact your local GO Centre.
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FACT SHEET #23

Magnetic Separators in Food Processing

Sources of Metal Contamination

Designs of Magnetic Separators

Aussi disponible en français.

Factors Affecting Magnets Performance

Evaluation of Magnet Performance

Aussi disponible en français.

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