METAL DETECTABLE MOUNTS

Cable management specialist, HellermannTyton, has addressed the need for greater control and safety within the food and pharmaceutical industry by expanding its extensive range to include metal detectable cable tie mounts.   Recognising that many metal content products on the market can still go undetected, the new cable tie mounts provide a safe and secure surface to hold a cable tie in place.

Along with its range of detectable cable ties and cable protection, the new addition provides a more complete portfolio for the industry.   The development of this new product is the result of independent tests carried out last year by HellermannTyton on the detectability of their own products and those from other manufacturers in the market. The company discovered that leading branded products, including its own, were easily detectable while cheaper imported cable ties fell significantly beneath the guidelines, with some being completely undetectable. As all types of plastic cable management solutions are used in food and pharmaceutical manufacturing, HellermannTyton recognised that every aspect of cable management within such environments needed to contain a high content of metal to be detectable and the mounts were designed to address this need.  

Blue in colour for easy visual detection, the mounts are screw fixing bases that can be secured to any surface in order to hold a cable tie in place. This screw fixing element means that the product does not require any self-adhesive, removing the risk of the adhesive becoming detached from the base and entering the manufacturing process undetected.

The mounts also boast a high metal pigment, meaning that even small ‘cut-off’ pieces are detectable and they can be used as part of the HACCP process.   Richard Rands, Product Manager for Fastenings and Fixings with HellermannTyton, said; “Plastic contamination is a major issue that can cause problems through the supply chain from manufacturer, through to wholesalers and retailers and down to the final consumer.  If undetected before the products reach the consumer, plastic fragments could at best cause distress and have the potential to present a choking or laceration hazard.    “Let’s also not forget the impact of recalls which can be astronomical and include the cost of internal investigations, scrapped product and lost sales, related internal and external communications and, possibly, legal costs.  And, of course, there is also reputational damage to be considered.   “To avoid the risk of such problems, it is essential that cable management solutions comply with industry standards stating that any plastic component used around food or pharmaceutical production lines should have a detectable metal content.

However, this is not a statutory requirement and there are no established standards. The lack of statutory standards, combined with our test results, revealed to us that there was a real need to provide a safe, reliable and low risk solution and the cable mounts reflect the next stage of development here at HellermannTyton.”   The metal detectable range from HellermannTyton is specifically designed for use in the food and pharmaceutical manufacturing and processing industry.

The range provides components that can be identified by magnetic detection, greatly reduces the risk of contamination and provides easy visual detection with the ranges blue colour.  The new mounts also offer a simple installation with a screw or bolt and feature a four-way entry for a cable tie, ensuring a quicker and flexible installation.   Richard added: “It is vital that food and pharmaceutical manufacturers ensure the use of detectable products from a reputable supplier. 

Cheaper alternatives may contain an element of metal additive, but they will not be as detectable as others on the market and, if fragmented, may not be detectable at all if concealed in a food product.  It is equally important that third party contractors installing cables and cable management products are made aware of this requirement, otherwise a cheaper alternative could prove costly.”   Full details of HellermannTyton’s cable management solutions can be found at www.hellermanntyton.com.au, email: cservice@hellermanntyton.com.au or call +61 2 9525 2133.