How a Combined Metal Detector & Checkweigher Improves Quality Control for Ready-to-Eat Chicken Rice Meals

Growing Demand for Ready-to-Eat Chicken Rice Meals Drives Higher Food Safety Standards

Ready-to-eat meals have become one of the fastest-growing segments in the global convenience food market. Among them, Ready-to-Eat Chicken Rice Meals are widely supplied to supermarkets, airlines, convenience stores, vending machines, hospitals, schools, and online grocery platforms.

As consumer demand increases, food manufacturers face stricter quality control requirements. Every packaged meal must meet declared net weight while remaining completely free from metal contamination before leaving the factory.

International retailers and food safety standards such as HACCP, BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000, and FDA regulations require 100% inspection of finished products.

To meet these requirements, many manufacturers are replacing separate inspection equipment with an integrated solution that combines metal detection and dynamic weighing in one compact system.

Customer Background

A ready-meal manufacturer exports microwaveable chicken rice meals to major supermarket chains across Europe and Southeast Asia.

Their product range includes:

Grilled Chicken with Rice
Teriyaki Chicken Rice
Chicken Curry Rice
Black Pepper Chicken Rice
Roasted Chicken Rice

Each meal is packed in a CPET or PP tray, sealed with film, labeled, and then transferred to the final inspection area before cartoning.

The production line operates at high speed, processing thousands of meals every shift.

Customer Challenges

The customer previously used separate metal detection and checkweighing equipment, which resulted in:

Excessive production line length
Increased installation costs
More maintenance work
Multiple operator checkpoints
Lower production efficiency
Difficult product changeovers

At the same time, supermarket customers required tighter control over package weight and stricter contamination prevention.

Fanchi-tech Solution

Fanchi-tech supplied a Combined Metal Detector & Checkweigher, allowing the customer to complete both inspections in one continuous operation.

The compact design reduced installation space while improving inspection efficiency.

Step 1 – Metal Detection

Each sealed chicken rice meal first passes through the high-sensitivity metal detector.

The system accurately detects:

Ferrous metal
Non-ferrous metal
Stainless steel fragments

Any contaminated tray is immediately rejected, preventing defective products from entering secondary packaging.

This significantly reduces the risk of product recalls and protects brand reputation.

Step 2 – Dynamic Weight Inspection

After metal detection, every tray enters the dynamic checkweigher.

The system compares each package with preset weight tolerances and automatically identifies:

Underweight meals
Overweight meals
Qualified products

Meals outside the acceptable weight range are automatically rejected, ensuring compliance with labeling regulations while minimizing product giveaway.

Why This Machine Is Ideal for Tray-Sealed Ready Meals

Two Inspections in One Compact System

Instead of installing two independent machines, manufacturers only need one integrated inspection station.

Benefits include:

Reduced production line footprint
Lower equipment investment
Easier installation
Simplified maintenance
Improved production efficiency

Designed for Tray-Packaged Meals

The conveyor system provides stable transportation for sealed meal trays, reducing vibration during weighing and ensuring reliable inspection results.

Suitable packaging includes:

CPET trays
PP trays
PET trays
MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging)
Vacuum-sealed trays

Hygienic Stainless Steel Construction

The food-grade stainless steel frame is designed for demanding food processing environments.

Features include:

Easy cleaning
Corrosion resistance
Moisture resistance
Long service life

Suitable for chilled and ready-meal production facilities.

Intelligent Touchscreen Control

Operators can easily:

Save multiple product recipes
Switch between different meal sizes
Adjust metal detector sensitivity
Set weight tolerance limits
View production statistics
Monitor reject history

This greatly reduces setup time during product changeovers.

Automatic Reject System

The integrated reject device removes any product that fails either inspection.

Rejected products include:

Metal-contaminated meals
Underweight trays
Overweight trays

Only qualified products continue to cartoning and palletizing.

Customer Benefits

After installation, the manufacturer achieved measurable improvements:

35% reduction in production line footprint
One integrated inspection station instead of two separate machines
Higher inspection efficiency
Improved package weight consistency
Reduced maintenance costs
Lower labor requirements
Enhanced compliance with international food safety standards
Increased customer confidence and export competitiveness

Typical Production Line

Raw Material Preparation

↓

Cooking

↓

Portion Filling

↓

Tray Sealing

↓

Cooling

↓

Fanchi-tech Combined Metal Detector & Checkweigher

↓

Cartoning

↓

Case Packing

↓

Palletizing

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the machine inspect tray-sealed ready meals?

Yes. It is specifically designed for stable inspection of tray-packed convenience foods, including microwave meals.

Can it detect stainless steel contamination?

Yes. The system detects ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel contaminants with high sensitivity.

Is it suitable for chilled food production?

Yes. The stainless steel construction and hygienic design make it suitable for chilled and refrigerated food environments.

Can one machine perform both metal detection and weight inspection?

Yes. The integrated design completes both inspections in one pass, reducing equipment footprint and operating costs.

Can different meal sizes be stored?

Yes. Multiple product recipes can be saved for quick product changeovers without lengthy setup.

Why Choose Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd.

Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd. specializes in advanced food inspection equipment for manufacturers worldwide.

Our solutions include:

Metal Detectors
Dynamic Checkweighers
X-ray Inspection Systems
Combined Metal Detector & Checkweigher
Customized Inline Inspection Solutions

With extensive experience in food processing applications, Fanchi-tech helps manufacturers improve product quality, reduce production costs, and meet the strict requirements of international retailers and food safety standards.

Contact Us

Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd.

Contact: Kerry

Email: kerry@fanchitech.net

Mobile / WhatsApp: +86 13917555254

Website: www.fanchitech.net

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fanchitech3323?si=gyh-f9JCbjkJ3tEu