Mettler-Toledo highlights low-energy inspection

The X3301 x-ray system is designed for low-energy inspection of packaged foods.

Dick Wyman, regional x-ray sales manager for Mettler Toledo, told FoodProductionDaily.com that the X3301 fulfills a need for entry-level machines that offer full-featured contamination detection.

"What we’ve found over time is that many customers have a need to just do a single-lane, simple machine, that does a great job of contamination detection and possibly also weighs, but they really don’t have a lot of money to spend on their machines," he said.

According to Wyman, the X3301 offers a relatively small footprint and low price point, adding that "There is nothing being sacrificed on inspection."

Another attribute of the machine is low energy consumption. "The detector that we’re using collects energy much more efficiently than detectors of the past," Wyman said.

The machine reportedly operates at 20W, compared to the 100W to 300W of conventional systems. The lower energy consumption is said to provide the X3301 with longer operating life and leads to reduced maintenance requirements.

Wyman said the machine has been put to the test by a handful of clients in the field over the past several months, with favorable results.