Use of metal detectors represents a competitive advantage.
Huer Foods places the highest quality demands on its food and uses a Sesotec metal detector for foreign body detection
About Huer Foods
Ryan Storey is the CEO of Huer Foods Inc., one of the leading packaging and trading companies for confectionery in Canada. Huer Foods packages and sells products from well-known manufacturers, but also produces its own food products.
When Storey drives to work in the morning, he often asks himself a simple question: How can we ensure that the products we produce today are manufactured and packaged as safely as possible? "Our major customers, the authorities, and of course all the children and adults who buy our products expect the highest safety standards from us," explains Storey, aware of the dangers that contaminated products would pose to consumers and his company. "Therefore, we set the highest quality standards for ourselves."
Huer Foods sees it as its obligation to use the most modern and reliable technologies to produce and deliver its products free from foreign bodies. And that is no easy task. After all, Huer Foods supplies, among others, large discount stores, supermarkets, and specialty shops and must therefore repeatedly face spontaneously conducted audits and meet strict guidelines.
Increase safety and cost-effectiveness through foreign body detection
Storey is certain that it is the right way to increase safety with regard to foreign body detection, and it is also the right decision for the profitability of his company. He has realized that he can differentiate himself from his competitors with it: “We want to gain a competitive advantage with it. I don't think all of our competitors use metal detectors.”
Effectively using product inspection technologies is a strong selling point in a highly competitive market. “The trust of customers in our products is strengthened. This way, we can stand out from other providers.”
The search for the right metal detector
As part of Huer Foods' continuous improvement process, Storey initiated a project team with the goal of finding a suitable product for foreign body detection. Initially, the team attended several major packaging trade shows to get an overview of the various manufacturers. It turned out that there is an abundance of companies that manufacture metal detectors for food. "There was a large number of potential suppliers to choose from," said Storey. However, the larger the selection, the more difficult it is to compare many offers and to check the companies' claims for plausibility.
The Huer Foods team knew what solution they needed, they just weren't sure if they would find it. "We were looking for a metal detector with proven high quality, that is easy to use and represents the latest state of the art," explains Storey. After extensive research, Huer Foods was able to narrow down its choice to a few manufacturers that were in the same price category. Ultimately, Sesotec was able to convince Huer Foods with its metal detectors.
What convinced Huer Foods about Sesotec compared to the competitors?
“On the one hand, the device design was visually very appealing, but at the same time, the German construction also showed a high level of robustness,” said Storey. Another purchasing argument was that the product is manufactured by a company that specializes in product inspection. “Sesotec knows its business exceptionally well,” explains Storey.
Huer Foods has chosen the Sesotec C-SCAN GHF metal detector. This metal detector offers very high detection performance for magnetic and non-magnetic metal contaminants, an intuitive touch control panel, a USB port, and standard HML multi-frequency technology.
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Easy installation of the metal detector and customer-friendly service.
Setting up the Sesotec metal detector was very easy. "We received the device in the morning and had it set up and operational within two hours," said Storey. Since some products – such as licorice and gummy candies – require different sensitivity settings, the production manager of Huer Foods conducted some synchronization tests and passed the products through the metal detector at least eight times to ensure that the product settings were correct.
Every day, a small test body is sent through the device. "And every day, the system detects it," says Storey with full conviction. Additionally, the metal detector is very insensitive to vibrations and is very easy to clean due to the lack of dirt corners and edges. A Sesotec service technician also helped set up the system. As a result, there was little need for subsequent training.
Advantages of using metal detectors immediately apparent
When the C-SCAN GHF detects metal, a signal is sent to the ejection mechanism, an alarm system, or an employee who initiates immediate action to remove the contaminated products. Huer Foods' sales representatives also welcome the use of Sesotec metal detectors. "During our product presentations, we repeatedly point out that we use metal detectors," explains Storey. "We work in an industry where it is not always easy to clearly differentiate ourselves. However, this is an effective way to do just that."
Trust makes the difference.
The collaboration with Sesotec is also one reason why Huer Foods is confident in expanding both its private label business and its own brand. “Our retail customers want partners who invest in foreign body detection and in their certification in the field of food safety. Therefore, we must continue to produce all products safely and efficiently to expand our partnerships,” emphasizes Storey.
“At Huer Foods, safety is not just an option, it is a necessary investment,” Storey clarifies. “No company wants recalls, so caution is better than cure. For us, it’s about a long-term collaboration with our partners. They must always feel they can fully trust Huer Foods.”
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