Detectable clocks are one of the products that will be produced soon with the machine, from laser cut material that the firm use for its clipboards, in six sizes for food factories.
The machine can add sequential numbering to products and company and department identity to reduce cross contamination around the factory.
The firm said it will enable them to make items including key fobs and ear-plug boxes metal detectable.
Market need
Sean Smith, co-founder and CEO of Detectamet, said the investment was in response to market requests for product traceability in the food industry.
“It was a popular request because objects are found in multiples in the food processing environment, sometimes we give companies 500 or 1,000 pens or cable ties so sequential numbering makes it easier from a traceability point of view.
“Safety knives are a popular request, knives are often left around and with this machine we can mark the plastic or the stainless steel blade.
“For example some customers want their name putting on it, or their own brand etching on a stainless steel clipboard, or a logo on a clip.”
Metal detectable polymers
Detectamet said its success lies in detectable polymers as most food processing companies check finished products using a metal detector, so detectable tools or their parts could be found and the contaminated product rejected.
Smith said laser marking is permanent and cost effective to help with traceability systems and branding.
“If it is engraved by hand it is not consistent or may not be uniform, it is time consuming and with stickers there is a possible risk of contamination.
“It is precise on where it is marked and the size of the text and we can make a large number.”
‘Endless possibilities’
The speed of the machine depends on what you are printing but sets of numbers take seconds, he said.
“The possibilities are endless from a traceability point of view with the sequential numbering and with the HACCP, BRC emphasis on traceability you know where any hazard has taken place.”
Smith said before the machine customers had to try and mark objects, such as scrapers, themselves to keep traceability records.
Detectamet are also in the finals in the “Company of the year” category at the Society of Food Hygiene Technology awards in London this Thursday (28th).
Angela Musson, the firm’s co-founder, said: “It has been an exciting first decade for Detectamet and we are continuing to look ahead to further growth by investing in such equipment as the laser marking machine, growing our product range and our worldwide distributor network.“