Established in 1984 Shawpak Systems prides itself on providing high level technical sales and support to our valued customer base. Offering solutions for Product Inspection, Packaging and Hygiene equipment sales and after sales support including certified customer training on site or at our Centre of Excellence training and demonstration facility.

What Our Clients Are Saying

Food Metal Detectors

A food metal detector is an electronic inspection system that identifies ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel contamination in food products before they reach customers. If you run a food processing, meat packing, or manufacturing facility, this equipment protects your brand reputation and meets regulatory requirements that your customers and regulatory bodies expect.

At Shawpak Systems Ltd, we've been helping facilities across North America select and install the right contamination detection equipment since 1984. Based in Oakville, Ontario, we work with food processing plants, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and industrial facilities throughout Canada and the USA to integrate systems that catch problems before they become crises. Whether you're in Oakville or anywhere across the continent, we bring the same level of technical expertise and after-sales support.

Choosing the right system depends on your product type, line speed, and regulatory environment. Let's walk through your options so you can make an informed decision.

Understanding Your Detection Options

Metal detection systems come in several configurations, and each suits different manufacturing situations. The choice isn't about finding the "best" detector-it's about finding the right fit for your operation.

Pipeline detectors are installed inline on liquid or slurry products. They work well if you're running consistent flow rates and your product moves through pipes or hoppers. Because the product path is controlled, these systems deliver reliable readings with minimal false alarms.

Conveyor-belt detectors scan packaged products as they move past the sensor head. These are the most common choice for solid products, pre-packaged goods, and items moving at variable speeds. They're flexible, easy to integrate into existing lines, and allow operators to eject contaminated items quickly.

Hand-held and spot-check detectors let you verify product batches manually or test incoming raw materials. These aren't replacements for inline systems, but they add a layer of confidence for critical control points.

Walk-through or portal detectors screen entire pallets, cases, or bulk bins as they pass through. These work well for final product verification or incoming material inspection, though they typically run slower than inline systems.

Shawpak Systems Ltd helps you evaluate which approach matches your throughput, product characteristics, and contamination risk profile. Our technical advisory service includes on-site assessment so we understand your actual line speed, product density, and handling challenges before recommending equipment.

Comparing Detection Technology and Practical Performance

The table above shows how different approaches trade off speed for thoroughness and versatility. In practice, many facilities use a combination. You might run a conveyor detector on your main production line, use a gravity-fall detector at ingredient intake, and keep a hand-held unit for troubleshooting and raw material batches.

What matters most is sensitivity calibration. All modern detectors can be tuned to catch particles as small as 1.5 millimeters (for ferrous metals) down to 2-3 millimeters (for non-ferrous and stainless), depending on product density and composition. Because denser products block metal signals more effectively, a chicken breast requires different sensitivity than a cookie dough.

This is where technical expertise becomes critical. Shawpak Systems Ltd provides on-site training and operates a Centre of Excellence demonstration facility where you can test equipment with your actual product before committing. That hands-on evaluation prevents costly mistakes and ensures your team understands how to set up, calibrate, and maintain the system correctly.

Making Your Decision: Reliability, Compliance, and Partnership

When you're evaluating options, three questions matter most: Will this system catch the contaminants we're most worried about? Can my team operate and maintain it reliably? And if something goes wrong, is support available?

Detection capability depends on product type. Ferrous metals (iron, steel) are easiest to detect. Non-ferrous metals (aluminum, copper, brass) require higher sensitivity settings. Stainless steel is the trickiest because it's weakly magnetic, so you need fine-tuned equipment and good signal processing to avoid false alarms when detecting small stainless particles in stainless packaging.

Maintenance and reliability are often overlooked. Detectors need regular checks: calibration verification, sensor cleaning, and software updates. If your equipment sits idle or is badly calibrated, it becomes a liability instead of a safeguard. Shawpak Systems Ltd includes certified after-sales support across Canada and the USA, meaning when you need help troubleshooting or scheduling preventive maintenance, there's a partner who understands your equipment and your regulatory environment.

For facilities in Oakville and throughout North America, choosing the right detection approach also means choosing a supplier who stays involved. We don't just sell equipment; we provide parts distribution, ongoing technical advisory, and training so your team stays confident and your system stays effective. Because your product safety and brand protection don't stop after installation, our commitment doesn't either.

If you're evaluating detection solutions for your facility, we'd like to help you think through the options. Contact Shawpak Systems Ltd to discuss your operation, product line, and contamination risks. We can arrange an on-site assessment and walk you through a demonstration so you see real performance before deciding.