This section provides an overview for metal detectors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 33 metal detector manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked metal detector companies as of June, 2023: 1.Autoclear LLC.
Table of Contents
A metal detector is a device that detects metals by using electromagnetic induction to detect the electromotive force generated in the metal. They are used in various applications and fields because they can detect metals in invisible areas such as underground, in food, and under people's clothes.
Other metal-detecting devices also exist, such as meter readers. However, a meter can only detect magnetic materials such as iron and nickel. Metal detectors, on the other hand, can detect all metals, including non-magnetic materials such as stainless steel and aluminum.
The most obvious application for a metal detector is the detection of land mines. Metal detectors shaped like vacuum cleaners are used to detect land mines. However, they are a little cumbersome in that they react to metals in the ground other than land mines, and they do not react to land mines made of non-metals (e.g., those made of plastic).
Metal detectors are also used for security purposes, such as pre-boarding checks and shoplifting prevention. For example, some CD stores and clothing stores have metal tags attached to their merchandise in advance, so that if a customer tries to take an item out of the store without going through the cash register, the metal detector will react.
In addition, the principle of metal detector is also used for nondestructive testing of industrial products and diagnosis of diseases.
Metal detectors are used in a variety of fields, and their shapes differ depending on the field and application. However, the basic principle is the same for all of them.
Metal detectors are devices that use electromagnetic induction, which generates an electromotive force on a conductor in a changing magnetic field.
A coil is installed inside the metal detector, and when the detector is turned on and an electric current is applied to this coil, a magnetic field is generated inside the coil. When this magnetic field passes through another metal, the electromotive force is generated in that metal due to electromagnetic induction. As a result, an electric current flows inside the metal and another magnetic field is generated, resulting in a change in the magnetic field as a whole. The presence or absence of metal can be determined by this change in the magnetic field.
The magnetic field generated by the metal changes depending on the presence or absence of scratches on the metal surface. In nondestructive testing, the quality of a product is assured by detecting minute changes in the magnetic field due to the presence or absence of flaws. For this reason, nondestructive testing requires extremely advanced signal detection technology compared with other fields.
When selecting a metal detector, it is important to refer to the manufacturer's specifications and select one that can achieve the intended purpose, as each detector has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Metal detectors respond well to ferrous metals, but are less sensitive to alloys, such as stainless steel. Other metal detectors are less sensitive to long, thin objects and objects that contain large amounts of water. If the metal detector is to be used in such a situation where it is difficult to detect, it should be selected more carefully.
There are a variety of shapes available, including those for large items, those for small items, and those that can be connected to conveyor belts. Depending on the application, more than one may be needed.
If you want to detect stones or glass in addition to metal, or if you want to perform more accurate detection, a foreign object detector using X-rays is used in conjunction with the metal detector.
Metal detectors are used for nondestructive testing in manufacturing plants and for detecting foreign objects in food factories. Non-destructive testing includes magnetic deep flaw inspection using metal detectors and similar devices. Here we will introduce some examples of metal detectors used in food factories to prevent contamination by foreign objects.
Metal detectors are used in almost all food factories because metal contamination is a major problem. Generally, inspections are carried out on conveyor belts on the production line, but the accuracy of inspections varies depending on the position, orientation, and shape of the product. At the time of introduction, the best method is selected based on the performance of the equipment, the shape of the equipment, and metals that may be mixed in. If the system is not operated correctly, it may not be able to detect metals even if they are contained, so care must be taken.
As a precaution in use, since metal detectors are an inspection method using magnetism, they may not operate properly depending on the environment surrounding the equipment. In particular, the power supply and cables must be properly managed according to the specifications of the equipment.
In addition, periodic inspections with a test piece are necessary to guarantee the stable performance of the metal detector. In the case of food factories, equipment should be inspected at a frequency in accordance with the CCP (Critical Control Point) standards.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Millholland Conrad, Inc. was established in 1960 in Westfield, Indiana as a full-service industrial sales agency. Today, Millholland Conrad is a distributor for manufacturers in the automotive, appliance, medical, packaging, and construction industries across the heartland of the United States. Milholland has 3 general product lines including extrusion & recycling, blow molding, and injection molding. Extrusion & recycling includes recycling lines, modular systems, palletizing systems, and inspection systems for sheet, film, and pellets. Blow molding includes blow molding machines and auxiliary equipment, leak detection systems, and automated takeout for containers. Injection molding includes all-electric machines, robots & sprue pickers, and more.
Badger Meter, Inc. was founded in 1905 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Badger Meter is a manufacturer and marketer of flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions in the United States and globally. Badger Meter serves several industries including water treatment, water distribution, aviation, concrete production. Badger Meter offers utility water solutions and commercial & industrial solutions product segments. Together they include products such as meters, software, diagnostics, and quality monitoring.
Synertek Process Equipment, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Dunlap, Tennessee. The company is a distributor of process equipment applications for weighing, blending, dying, milling, detecting contaminants, and measuring dry solid materials at customers’ manufacturing facilities. The company facilitates factory expansion designs and engineering. The company’s product list includes Volkmann and Hayes and Stolz material conveying equipment, Fortress, and Sweco separation machines, National Bulk Equipment bag fillers, Bay Plastic Machinery strand palletize, and Acrison and Eastern Instruments feeders and flow measurement machines.
Based in Bayville, NY, SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp. is an ISO-certified supplier and manufacturer of industrial equipment, chemicals, components, ordinance, electronics, and systems for industries ranging from aerospace to high tech to law enforcement. Examples of product offerings include raw materials, chemicals, and lubricants for industrial purposes to finished products such as security helmets for law enforcement, and military ordnances. SAE also provides research and development as well as technical support for other companies in similar industries.
VC999 is a global manufacturer of vacuum packaging machines with a parent company in Herisau, Switzerland, and offices in Kansas City, Missouri, Germany, Canada, Austria, Colombia, and over 70 other countries. The brand name VC999 is an acronym for vacuum capacity 99.9%. It refers to the highest vacuum performance achievable, which echoes VC999 quality and performance. From small tabletop vacuum machines to dryers and thermoformers, VC999 stocks different types of vacuum machines to cater to various client needs.
Vecoplan, LLC was founded in 2000 in Archdale, North Carolina as a subsidiary of Vecoplan, originally founded in1969 in Bad Marienberg, Westerwald, Germany. The company is a manufacturer of industrial shredding equipment for the plastics, paper, wood, and waste industries, helping companies to reduce waste and increase the conversion, repurposing, and recycling of used materials. Individual products include industrial shredders, conveyors, separators, and shred trucks. The company sells both new and used equipment and provides demo products available for customers.
Bunting was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Newton, Kansas. The company is a family-owned manufacturer of standard and custom magnetic components for domestic and international customers from industries such as food processing, plastics, recycling, and mining. The company’s main product lines include magnetic separation, metal detection material handling equipment, printing products, and custom magnets & magnetic assemblies. Custom designs include materials such as ceramic ferrite, alnico, and samarium cobalt and are made for Halbach arrays, pump couplings, actuators, and other components.
RPMI Packaging, Incorporated was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Lebanon, Ohio. The company is a sales agency representing packaging equipment manufacturers, specializing in selling packaging equipment and material handling systems on behalf of manufacturers and engineering companies from around the world to customers around the world. The company’s services include onsite training and consultancy for manufacturers to assist in installation, startup, maintenance, and machine usage efficiency to decrease costs and downtime. Machine types that the company sells include primary and secondary packaging, quality control machines, and material handling machines.
Innotech Process Equipment is a food processing equipment manufacturer that opened its doors in 2012. Innotech has a large manufacturing facility in Bellingham and designs conveyor equipment like volta & forba blets, lug & flat dumpers to locking casters for food processing companies. From infeed equipment like tote dumpers and conveyors to complete process lines, Innotech designs manufactures and distributes equipment for the processing industry. The Bellingham based manufacturer also offers automation and control services and custom project management for customers who wish to integrate different elements into their food processing plants.
Twittlebit.com is located in Lexington, Kentucky. Twittlebit is a distributor of industrial equipment and components divided into 8 sub-stores including: sensors, HMI & PLC, visual & audio , panel components, and pneumatic & vacuum. The company offers next day delivery to Kentucky and neighboring states, and 2-to-3-day delivery to most other states of in-stock products. The company offers in-stock selection of many top brands such as Autonics, EEControls, Panasonic, and Cembre. The company can also in-source many hard to find products directly from Japan from companies such as IDEC, Canon, Omron, and Fuji Electric in 7-to-10-days.
AIRMATIC was founded in Philadelphia in 1944. AIRMATIC serves a many industries including cement and concrete, oil, gas, energy, biomass, chemical products, feed & grain, food manufacturing, glass & ceramics, and clay. For these industries, AIRMATIC provides installation, maintenance, fabrication, silo cleaning, inspection, and repair, as well as repair and rebuilding of power tools. AIRMATIC also has an extensive lineup of products for sale including air cannons, automatic lubrication systems, belt conveyor components, flow detectors, finishing equipment, safety equipment, industrial vibrators, railcar openers and unloading equipment, rebar tools, valves and actuators, and mechanical force exciters.
Schneider Electric S.E. is headquartered in Rueil-Malmaison, France, and has been operating since 1836. Schneider Electric provides a number of products and services including electrical car charging, energy management software, surge protection devices, load banks, servers and HMIs, valve and valve actuators, feeder automation, grid automation, and SCADA software products, data center cooling and software, home automation and security, light switches, motion control and robotics, signaling units, solar and energy storage, RFID systems, as well as other hardware, services, and software.
Saddle Brook Controls is a division of Ribble Engineering, which was founded in 1933 in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Saddle Brook Controls is a manufacture as well as a designer, distributor, and support service provider of automation solutions for factory automation. Product groups include PLCs, controllers, Remote IO devices, HMIs, industrial computers, machine vision and inspection machines, motion devices, drives, motor controls, enclosures, circuit breakers, safety products, sensing and control products, power supplies, and UPS.
VER Sales, Inc. was founded in 1971 by James Ryan and is headquartered in Burbank, California. The company has supported clients such as NASA, Disney, and Six Flags with assemblies, rigging, and safety supplies. The company also serves the aircraft, auto, maritime, and fishing industries. The company offers sales and rentals of products in five segments: rigging, rope & cordage, fall protection, cable assemblies, and bungee. For these, the company also provides services including fall protection training, engineered safety systems, and inspections.
ifm efector (ifm) is a subsidiary of ifm electronic, founded in Germany in 1969. ifm has developed, manufactured and marketed sensors and controls technology to industries that include assembly and robotics, automotive, material handling, metal forming, mobile equipment, plastics, and food and beverage. Ifm produces sensors, condition monitoring equipment, image processing, safety technology, industrial communication, IO-link, systems for mobile machines, displays, software, connection technology, voltage supplies, as well as other accessories.
Celduc Inc. through Celduc Transfo was founded in 1960 as a manufacturer of transformers. Celduc Inc. is based in, France. Celduc Inc. was officially created in 2020 and headquartered in Centerport, New York. Celduc creates electronics and customized products for industries including railway, plastic, packaging, medical, and electronics. Celduc’s main product lines include solid state relays, magnetic proximity sensors, reed relays & switches, and customized products. Customized products are versions of other products adapted for use in industries with special needs such as nuclear power, aircraft, and agriculture.
Ranking as of June 2023 in United States of America
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Autoclear LLC | 100% |
Ranking as of June 2023 Globally
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Autoclear LLC | 9.4% |
2 | Fortress Technology Inc. | 3.1% |
3 | Schneider Electric | 3.1% |
4 | Celduc Inc. | 3.1% |
5 | Synertek Process Equipment, Inc. | 3.1% |
6 | Airmatic | 3.1% |
7 | RPMI Packaging, Inc. | 3.1% |
8 | CASSEL Inspection US | 3.1% |
9 | MagneTherm Calibration | 3.1% |
10 | Equa Process & Services LLC | 3.1% |
11 | Vecoplan, LLC | 3.1% |
12 | SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp | 3.1% |
13 | VC999 Packaging Systems, Inc. | 3.1% |
14 | SpanTech | 3.1% |
15 | Bunting-Newton | 3.1% |
16 | Millholland Conrad, Inc | 3.1% |
17 | Mier Products, Inc. | 3.1% |
18 | AAAmachine, Inc. | 3.1% |
19 | Innotech Process Equipment | 3.1% |
20 | Saddle Brook Controls | 3.1% |
21 | Ver Sales, Inc. | 3.1% |
22 | Regal Packaging Services, Inc. | 3.1% |
23 | Evolv Technologies | 3.1% |
24 | Garrett Metal Detectors | 3.1% |
25 | Bounty Hunter | 3.1% |
26 | Fisher Research Laboratory | 3.1% |
27 | CEIA USA Ltd. | 3.1% |
28 | Detector Pro LLC | 3.1% |
29 | Badger Meter | 3.1% |
30 | ifm efector, inc. | 3.1% |
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the metal detector page as of June 2023. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History