Food safety in chocolate production

Christmas is a time associated with chocolate in all forms, from wrapped pralines to chocolate Santas and Advent calendars. However, during the peak season, when production lines run around the clock, manufacturers face challenges. 

Ensuring food safety in chocolate production is a must – not only to protect the brand but also to safeguard consumers and maintain customer trust in these coveted holiday products. To meet these demands and enhance efficiency simultaneously, companies rely on effective weighing and inspection technologies from Minebea Intec.

High-level chocolate production safety – A practical example
An impressive example of advanced foreign object detection in the confectionery industry is the case of Ludwig Weinrich, a chocolate manufacturer that chose Minebea Intec’s metal detector Vistus. With the metal detector, the company protects its products from metallic contaminants, ensuring food safety standards.

“Our metal detector Vistus stands out due to its high sensitivity and flexibility to adapt to various production conditions,” explains Linus Dellweg, Product Manager at Minebea Intec. “Especially during the Christmas season, when production is at full capacity, a robust yet precise solution like Vistus is indispensable.” This efficiency in detecting foreign bodies, combined with its adaptability to different product variants, ensures safe and uninterrupted production, even at high throughput.

The benefits for Ludwig Weinrich are clear: by using the metal detector Vistus, the company has enhanced product safety while optimising its production processes. With the capability to detect even the smallest metallic foreign objects, thus preventing production stoppages, Vistus provides added value, especially critical during intensive Christmas production. Additionally, the system's adaptability allows for integration into existing production lines without requiring modifications.

Even more precision: The metal detector Mitus with MiWave Technology
The technological advancement at Minebea Intec continues. For even more demanding applications, the company introduced the metal detector Mitus with MiWave technology in 2023. This advanced technology operates with multiple simultaneous high-frequency waves, enabling even more detection across a wide range of product types. “With MiWave, we can reliably monitor even challenging products with significant product effects,” emphasises Dellweg. This technology shines particularly with chocolate products, whose composition and consistency vary greatly.

For manufacturers like Ludwig Weinrich, implementing the metal detector means increased product safety and a significant boost in production efficiency.