Snacks, Confectionery & Chocolate
The snacks and confectionery industry faces significant metal contamination risks from equipment wear and incoming raw materials, particularly in ingredients like salt, sugar, and gluten. To mitigate these risks, magnetic separators should be strategically installed at critical points in the production process, including ingredient intake areas, above bulk discharge points, upstream of powder sprinkles, as well as at post minor ingredient intakes, and at ingredient bag dump areas. Proper placement of magnets ensures effective contamination control before final products are packed, complementing downstream metal detection systems and safeguarding product quality and safety.
Snack Smarter: Safeguard Quality with Advanced Metal Contamination Control
The snacks and confectionery industry is highly susceptible to metal fragment contamination, stemming from equipment wear (such as chocolate conches) and impurities in raw materials. Ingredients like salt, sugar, and gluten are particularly likely to contain small metal particles, underscoring the importance of effective contamination control. Magnetic separators are a critical solution, strategically positioned at processing points such as jacketed chocolate and syrup lines, bulk ingredient discharges, ingredient bag dump areas, and upstream of powder sprinkling systems. To protect product integrity and ensure safety, magnets should be installed at ingredient intake points and key locations throughout production, ideally placed upstream of final metal detection systems for comprehensive contamination control.
Consider the following when considering the appropriate magnets for dairy products:
- When used on sticky products, it is essential to ensure the configuration and cleaning methods or mechanisms won’t bind up or be affected by residual.
- Can the magnet be easily and safely accessed for cleaning?
- Does the working temperature of the magnets suit the application?
- Is the magnet design sanitary and compliant?
- Does the separator assembly comprise of high grade magnetics (such as RE80®) to ensure longevity and maintaining of magnet strength?
- What design criteria is in place to ensure effective magnetic separation is achieved without blockages?
- What means are taken to ensure magnet strength is maintained over time?
- Does the magnet comply with current HACCP and best practice standards (e.g. 0909MAGSEP 2-2021)?
- Is the magnet supplied with adequate certification?
Applications include:
- Sugar
- Salt
- Gluten
- Chocolate
- Potato chips
- Candies/Lollies
- Chewing Gum
- Cocoa powder
USDA Acceptance
Magnattack received a USDA Dairy Acceptance Certification in 2015 for special models of the Mag-Ram® Self Cleaning Separator, Rapidclean® Drawer Magnet, Round Pipe Separator, and the Powder Transfer Magnet. In 2019, the Emulsion & Slurry Pipeline Separator also received the USDA Acceptance Certification for use in dairy and sensitive liquid applications, as well as meat and poultry applications.
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Snacks, Confectionery & Chocolate
Grate and Grid Magnets
Grate & Grid Magnets remove magnetic fragments from hoppers, chutes, ducts, and packing outlets. The grid or grate design enables the product to pass through powerful magnetic bars, while magnetic contamination is pulled underneath and securely held until the magnet is cleaned. Available in a dairy-grade, sanitary design.
Lab Test Magnets
Magnattack® Lab Test Magnets, with magnetic strength of over 11,000 gauss, detect weakly magnetic materials, stainless steel fragments, and magnetic stones in both dry and wet food products. Available in Mini and Standard sizes, they identify contaminants rejected by metal detectors, improve efficiency and reduce contamination risks. These magnets are ideal for sample testing and can withstand temperatures up to 302°F (150°F).
Mag-Ram® Automatic Self-Cleaning Magnet
This self-cleaning sanitary grate magnet is designed for installation at hopper outlets, in hard-to-reach areas needing magnetic separation, or where magnet cleaning is required at predetermined intervals. This product carries a USDA acceptance certification and is available in a USDA Dairy accepted sanitary model.
Mag-Stride® Magnetic Mats
The magnetic mat stops the transfer of ferrous metal fragments in sensitive processing and workshop areas at both entry and exit points. Easy to install and clean, it offers an additional layer of safety for every plant or manufacturing space.
Pressure Pipeline Separator
Engineered to effectively remove metal fragments from liquid food products, this magnet protects pumps, homogenizers, and sensitive equipment from metal fragment damage and increases product purity and quality. Available in a dairy-grade, sanitary design.
Probe Magnets
Our high-intensity magnetic probes are perfect for inspecting incoming ingredients from suppliers and serve as indicator magnets for detecting metal contamination in food products. They can function as standalone units or be integrated into full magnetic separation systems, with installation kits available for easy setup in pipelines.
Rapidclean® Drawer Magnet
Features a sanitary, dust-tight design, with cleaning performed outside of the product flow. Ideal for compact spaces, it efficiently removes weak materials such as work-hardened stainless steel and ferrous tramp metal using large-diameter bars that reach over 10,000 gauss. This product carries a USDA acceptance certification and is available in a USDA Dairy accepted sanitary model.
Separation Shafts
The Separation Shafts are designed to maximize product-to-magnet contact, efficiently removing stainless steel splinters, magnetic stone fragments, and over 98% of tramp iron and ferrous fines from products.
Spherical Inline Pneumatic Transfer Magnet
This advanced magnetic separator features a powerful RE80® magnet exceeding 11,000 gauss, efficiently capturing weak magnetic fragments in high-velocity pneumatic transfer lines. Its large surface area on the back of the sphere keeps metal fragments retained and out of the product zone. Available in a dairy-grade, sanitary design.Talk to an Expert
Got a question or need a quote? Our Magnattack experts are here to offer fast, personalized guidance for all your magnetic separation needs. Simply fill out the form below, and one of our specialists will quickly reach out to assist you.