International Cheese Award winner Long Clawson Dairy—renowned for its premium Stilton and blue cheeses—relies on Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd. and its FA-MD Series Metal Detectors to meet the rigorous quality and safety standards of UK retail giants like Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and Marks & Spencer. With a heritage dating back to 1911, the Leicestershire-based dairy has built a legacy of excellence, and Fanchi-tech’s technology ensures that legacy remains uncompromised.

Founded by twelve farmers in the Vale of Belvoir, Long Clawson Dairy has grown into a leader in luxury cheeses, offering over 30 products—from 60g supermarket wedges to 8kg bulk blocks for delis and wholesalers. Operating from three BRC-accredited sites in Long Clawson, Harby, and Bottesford, the company exports 20% of its production to the USA, Canada, Europe, and the Far East. For nearly 15 years, Fanchi-tech has been a trusted partner in its commitment to food safety and quality.

Long Clawson Dairy’s relationship with Fanchi-tech began with two FA-MD metal detectors installed at the end of each packaging line, where cheese is securely wrapped and contamination risks are minimized. As the dairy’s success grew, so did its production capacity—today, its Long Clawson facility runs six production lines.

When demand surged two years ago, Long Clawson Dairy decided to upgrade its inspection systems and evaluated three manufacturers. Key criteria included price, functionality, service, and support. After extensive testing, Fanchi-tech’s FA-MD Series emerged as the clear choice, aligning perfectly with the dairy’s needs.

Peter Tinsley, Packing Administration Manager at Long Clawson Dairy, notes: “We’ve worked with other inspection providers, but Fanchi-tech’s service and support have been exceptional. Equipment downtime can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds in lost revenue, so having instant support from their team is crucial. Fanchi-tech understands the urgency and responds immediately.”

Stilton cheese’s varying salt and moisture levels create a “product effect” that can mimic metal properties, making contaminant detection uniquely challenging. Tinsley explains: “We needed detectors that operators could calibrate easily while maintaining pinpoint accuracy. Fanchi-tech’s FA-MD Series is incredibly user-friendly—calibration takes seconds, and the accuracy is exactly what we need for our premium products.”

Fanchi-tech’s FA-MD metal detectors at Long Clawson Dairy feature lockable reject bins, ensuring no contaminated product re-enters the production flow—an essential feature for upholding the dairy’s strict health and safety standards. Additionally, the cheese passes through an FA-MD system before the cutting stage to protect expensive ultrasonic blades from metal damage, which would halt production and incur high replacement costs.

National supermarkets mandate suppliers meet stringent HACCP standards, and Long Clawson Dairy is no exception. The dairy’s quality control team tests its FA-MD systems every 30 minutes, logging performance data daily to ensure full compliance.

Peter emphasizes: “Our customers demand rigorous health and safety standards to prevent contaminants from reaching consumers. Failing to meet these standards can result in costly product recalls and penalties. Reliable inspection systems like Fanchi-tech’s FA-MD Series protect our business and our customers’ businesses. The more dependable our production line systems, the better we safeguard our investment.”

He concludes: “Fanchi-tech meets all our contaminant detection needs, and our 15-year partnership is proof of that. Their service, support, communication, and reliability are outstanding, and we’re confident they’ll continue to support us as we grow.”

For food producers prioritizing precision, compliance, and reliability—especially in challenging applications like cheese production—the FA-MD Series Metal Detectors deliver unmatched performance.

To learn how Fanchi-tech can tailor a solution for your operation, contact Kerry Wang at Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd.: