From the satisfaction of customer expectations to compliance with industry standards, quality control is crucial for success in the food sector. The failure to maintain desirable quality levels is bound to increase the risk of product rejects and recalls, with potential damage to brand reputation. It makes a difference in terms of waste minimisation, cost reduction, and environmental impact too. Read on as we explore Ishida’s role in the delivery of solutions that help food manufacturers maintain high quality and compliance.
End-to-End Inspection: Comprehensive Solutions for Every Stage
Believing that what’s good for our customers is also good for society and our company, Ishida has developed a range of quality control technologies. Integrated with patented Ishida technology, our X-ray inspection systems are a prime example. From the entry-level Excellence IX-EN to the photon-counting dual-energy IX-PD, these X-ray machines enable the highly accurate and reliable detection of foreign bodies. You can use Ishida X-ray systems at any stage in your food production line for improved food safety, efficiency, and brand protection.
Quality can be further enhanced through the integration of Ishida checkweighers. You can better align with food sector regulations, optimise quality, and minimise costly product giveaway with systems such as the Advance Line DACS-GN-F and Performance Line DACS-GN-SE. Such systems are designed to improve weighing accuracy with no compromise of speed. Integrated with foreign body detection and anti-floor vibration technology, they are suitable for use across a range of challenging environments.
There’s also the potential to enhance product quality with Ishida’s seal testers and advanced leak detection systems. Designed for the scanning of various pack types and materials, these systems can make a great difference in the detection of compromised products. With seal integrity assured, there’ll be a reduced risk of customer complaints, product waste, and costly returns. Systems such as the TSC-AS Series and Ishida Airscan can support you in delivering the highest quality products to retailers and their consumers.
Minimising Recalls and Protecting Brand Reputation
As mentioned, product recalls can have a damaging impact, both in terms of company profits and reputation. This is a significant risk, with an 18% rise in UK food product recalls from 2023 to 2024. It’s been a continuing trend, with over 40 food products recalled across a range of categories in 2025. However, the risk can be contained, with Ishida’s integrated systems helping in the detection of contaminants, instances of mislabelling, and weight inaccuracies before products leave the factory.
As an example, Notura realised the potential to enhance safety and quality through the integration of Ishida X-ray inspection systems at its protein processing plant in Norway. The Dual Energy X-ray systems have enabled a significant improvement in accuracy, with a belt speed of 25m per minute on the fillet lines. A full truck load of birds now undergoes processing and packaging in just 20 minutes. And Notura can consistently pick up, down to a size (for fully calcified bone) of 3 mm or 4 mm.
50% of Notura’s chicken fillets previously had to be rejected to achieve an acceptable bone-free product. However, the rejection rate has been significantly reduced with Ishida’s X-ray machines. As Notura’s Process Engineer, Nils Olaf Vikmark, said, “Nowadays very few will have significant bone fragments, which makes it all the more important to be able to decisively remove these from the product stream”.
Supporting Traceability and Regulatory Compliance
Along with specifically-purposed equipment, Ishida also offers a range of graders and batchers for the integration of various stages along the production line. As a unified solution, the graders and batchers can ensure the correct weighing, division, and packaging of manufactured products. For instance, the Rotobatcher integrates conveying and packing into a single system for minimal product giveaway. And the Robotgrader is fitted with robotic arms to accurately weigh, measure, and sort product pieces.
The integration of Ishida’s Data Capture System also supports the checking and maintenance of quality. This allows for the collection and recording of production data, including checkweigher and results, for every pack. The stored data can be referred to at any time for the assurance of compliance with food safety standards and regulations.
The capabilities are enhanced with Ishida’s Sentinel 5.0, enabling the tracking of performance and identification of issues at every stage of production. Such advanced systems can make a difference in ensuring that every pack is traceable to a stored digital record. This allows for the maintenance of a robust audit trail, supporting rapid response in the event of recalls or food safety incidents.
Realise the Difference with Ishida
Enabling the collection and analysis of real-time insights, Ishida technologies can be used to identify the potential for quality improvements. Through the optimisation of production processes, you could better satisfy customer expectations and boost profitability. Compliance can be checked and adjustments made to minimise the risk of penalties and reputational damage.
Ishida can further support the optimisation of quality through:
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Complete project management specific to the design and implementation of new packing lines, halls, and plants
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Flexible technological training to suit your specific requirements
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Spare parts support, with the assurance of rapid response rates
Get in touch and realise the potential for quality improvement with Ishida.