X-Ray Rentals For Food
ABM provides x-ray rentals to food producers who find themselves in sudden need without the capacity in their existing machines. We deliver high-performing, reliable machines quickly with the option to have one or more accompanying technicians train your staff, assist them, or do the entire inspection themselves.
With ~20 rotating machines in stock and hundreds of "product reclaims" under our belt, we are the largest x-ray rental provider in the Western United States. We can supply most companies with the right machine for their application right away.
To rent or purchase an x-ray machine, give us a call or fill out a form!
Thorough
We can find most physical contaminant types in virtually an packaging type and perform a number of quality checks.
Prompt
With ~20 units in rotating stock, machines are usually available immediately.
Fast
With more techs than many OEMs and 24/7 support, we can resolve the issue quickly whether at your facility or ours.
Documented
Our proprietary software, DSO, logs all inspection data so you can review and provide proof of inspection.
Why X-Ray?
X-ray technology is a non-destructive method of inspecting food products and can detect a wide range of contaminants, including metal, glass, plastic, and other foreign objects that may be present in the food. This technology can also checkweigh, count items, and detect defects in packaging (such as missing lids). For a more detailed look into the benefits and drawbacks of metal detectors vs. x-ray, see this guide.
Why Rent From ABM?
- Cost-effective: Renting an x-ray machine is less expensive than sending large quantities of product. If you have smaller quantities of product and it's cheaper to ship than a machine, we can inspect your product at our facility. And unlike other offerings that require operators to manually look at every image and decide whether there is a contaminant, our systems do the heavy lifting. This reduces human error and costs.
- Latest Technology: Using the leading photon-counting units on the market from the leading company in the industry, we can hit the best specs in the food industry for most applications (as low as 0.3 mm stainless in some). Think everyone says that? Send samples to us and anyone else!
- Minimized Human Error: Unlike companies who rely on humans to look at every x-ray image of your product (this is why they don't actually rent machines) our machines are intended for automated food lines and can be shipped.
- Flexibility: Renting an x-ray machine allows food companies to use the technology on an as-needed basis. This is particularly useful for companies that may only need to use the technology occasionally or for a specific project.
- Expertise: As Eagle's distributor and integrator, we're comfortable with difficult projects. While developing custom applications, we've introduced several solutions now standard for their various industries.
- Service: We have trained and experienced operators who can operate the equipment, train your staff to do so, or a combination of the two. They will also provide maintenance and repair services for the x-ray machine during the rental period.
- Documentation: Our software package, was developed to improve x-ray analytics for all makes in the industry. It automatically logs all events and retains x-ray images of products.
- No Minimums or Maximums: Rent machines as short or long as you need.
- No Deposit: Only pay the cost of the rental.
- Multiple Options: From small machines with 10" wide belts to large units with 3' wide belts, we have a machine for most applications. Washdown units also available.
- Smooth Process: With over 20 years' experience installing x-ray machines, we reduce logistical burden on your staff. We provide our streamlined training course for free to rental customers, certifying your staff in food x-ray, as rental customers are audited as much as purchasing customers. The course takes 30 min. total.
What's Involved?
Once we determine that shipping a machine will be cheaper than shipping your product, we will arrange it and ask your staff to take a brief radiation safety course. (There is no danger from the radiation like in medical offices; it's just a state requirement.) If no one is familiar with the equipment at your site, we will send a technician. They will arrive just before the machine to uncrate it, train it on your product, and show your staff how to use it. Then the technician can either stay on-site during the inspection or return home, depending on your preference and how large the job is.
Once inspection is complete, you will be provided with an inspection report and any images you'd like saved, whether it's just the rejects or every product scanned.
Testimonial
William Ruby
Plant Manager, January Foods
Years In Business
Machines Available
Happy Customers
Top Producers Use ABM
% of Inspected Product is Cleared
% of Inspected Goods Recalled
F.A.Q.
What contaminants can you find?
X-ray inspection systems can find physical contaminants which have densities that vary enough from the product, regardless of packaging. This includes but is not limited to: metal (ferrous & nonferrous), glass, stone/rock, bone, and sometimes plastics and rubbers.
What kind of products can you inspect with x-ray?
Virtually any product in any type of packaging is inspectable with x-ray to very tight specifications, including glass and metal.
Why X-ray?
X-ray inspection finds more than just metal. It’s incredibly safe and can find multiple contaminants as well as perform other quality checks such as package integrity, weight, and item count if needed. X-ray also performs better than metal detector in most applications and is not thrown off by frozen or thawing foods.
How can you say you have the best machines on the market?
Not only did Eagle bring x-ray to food, but they pioneered virtually every other use for x-ray in the industry: item count, item weight, fat analysis, dud detection, pipeline, you name it. In standard fashion, they brought photon-counting technology to the industry, and are unsurprisingly the leader in that technology as well. ABM is Eagle's largest distributor. ABM uses Eagle machines, which are the best on the market.
What's the turnaround time?
As soon as the product parameters are set-up on the x-ray machine, inspection can begin. We have enough staff on-hand to handle large jobs quickly, and they can be supplemented with your own on-site to speed things up even more!
How do we know you actually found the contaminant(s)?
Not only do we have some of the current-best equipment on the market, we also have the best software. A detailed report of the inspection including all data and analytics, as well as x-ray inspection images if desired.
Which X-Ray Systems Do You Use?
We use Eagle PI's systems, and we are their principal distributor. And this is not by chance. Originally called Smiths Detection, Eagle was the first well-known company to develop x-ray for food, they were the first to use x-ray for metrics like product weight, fat analysis, and item count, and the first to use multi-layer imaging to distinguish contaminants in "messy" images (called MDX). And once again, Eagle was the first to develop the PXT solution, which is currently the highest-performing on the market. Other manufacturers have begun to follow suit but have not yet solidified the methodology.
Will you receive product instead?
Of course! contract inspection, also known as reclaims or outsourced inspection, are also offered with cold storage available.
When are rentals needed?
Short-term needs arise for x-ray for many reasons. Most commonly:
- No x-ray equipment is owned and there is a batch (that is either known to be contaminated or suspected to be so) and it is too large to be shipped economically.
- Lead times for x-ray equipment that's already been purchased is delayed or longer than anticipated, and an x-ray machine is needed to fill the gap.
- A plant is experimenting with a new line or product, and a machine is only needed temporarily.
- Existing equipment is down or out for repair, and contaminants are still a concern.
- There is a surprise buyer audit or new contract, and there isn't enough time to buy a machine.