Fanchi-tech Gravity Metal Detector: Trusted Precision for Bulk Nuts, Seeds & Free-Flowing Ingredients
When Spain-based edible nut and seed processor NutHarvest Iberia sought to install a precise, reliable gravity-fed metal detector on its high-speed bulk bagging line, their top priority was a system with ultra-fast, accurate reject capabilities. During their evaluation, the team chose to upgrade to the latest generation of the same trusted solution they’d deployed 5 years prior: the Fanchi-tech Gravity Metal Detector. Since installation, the equipment has ensured NutHarvest meets the strictest global standards for bulk exports to the U.S. and EU markets.
A Legacy of Reliability Drives Repeat Purchase
Founded in 2005 and based in Madrid, NutHarvest Iberia first installed a Fanchi-tech Gravity Metal Detector for its bulk processing lines in 2018. “We expanded our production capacity with a new bulk bagging line and needed the same unmatched reliability, sensitivity, and accuracy we’d come to rely on,” says David Marquez, Managing Director of NutHarvest Iberia.
“We hold BRCGS (British Retail Consortium Global Standards) certification, which requires rigorous HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) assessments, with metal contaminant detection as a top critical control point,” Marquez emphasizes. “Sensitivity levels were non-negotiable, and Fanchi-tech’s gravity detector far exceeded our requirements for detecting even the smallest metal fragments in bulk nuts and seeds.”
Meeting Global Regulatory Requirements for U.S. Exports
While BRCGS is widely recognized across the EU, U.S. importers require strict FDA (Food and Drug Administration) compliance. “We’ve fully met all FDA registration requirements for bulk food imports to the U.S., which governs all food safety protocols for our products,” says Laura Ruiz, Operations Director at NutHarvest Iberia. “As part of this, we completed a comprehensive Food Safety Plan aligned with HACCP standards, which included a full audit of our metal detection systems to ensure zero contamination risks.”
While premium nut varieties remain NutHarvest’s core volume, specialty seeds (including chia, flax, and pumpkin seeds) have become a fast-growing segment of the business. As Marquez explains, the company serves both retail portion packs (including own-label lines for major European supermarket chains) and bulk supply to food processors, including snack brands, chocolatiers, and ice cream manufacturers. Bulk bags are filled in weights ranging from 12.5kg, 15kg, 25kg, up to 1-ton industrial bulk totes.
“While we don’t sell direct-to-consumer retail packs in the U.S., we supply bulk nuts and seeds to North American food manufacturers, who then package them for retail sale,” Ruiz adds. “The 12.5kg sack is our most popular bulk format, and our Fanchi-tech detectors ensure every batch is 100% contaminant-free before export.”
Precision Reject & Low False Rejects for High-Value Bulk Product
For NutHarvest, the speed and precision of the reject system was a make-or-break requirement, especially for high-value free-flowing nuts and seeds in freefall. It’s critical to accurately target and remove contaminants without wasting excessive amounts of uncontaminated product.
“We already knew Fanchi-tech’s reject mechanism delivered exactly what we needed,” Marquez says. “The reject speed is fully adjustable via a pressure-regulating valve, tailored to the weight, flow rate, and density of each product, from light pumpkin seeds to dense roasted almonds. This ensures we only remove contaminated product, minimizing waste and protecting our bottom line.”
Minimizing Product Effect for Consistent Accuracy
Product effect is a common challenge in nut and seed processing, as salt, oils, and seasonings can mimic the signal of metal contaminants. “Fanchi-tech’s gravity detector minimizes this ‘wet’ product effect almost entirely,” Marquez notes. “The machine’s advanced digital signal processing (DSP) technology automatically adjusts settings to read the product accurately, eliminating false triggers.”
He adds: “False rejects are extremely rare for us—only occurring with occasional product clumps, salt aggregates, or seasoning buildup, which is a non-issue for our operations. This has drastically reduced product waste and preserved our profit margins.”
Space-Optimized Design for Busy Production Floors
NutHarvest operates a high-volume manufacturing facility in Madrid, specializing in roasting, caramelizing, and seasoning nuts and seeds, with daily production exceeding 12 tons of finished product. To maximize floor space, the Fanchi-tech Gravity Metal Detector is installed between the first floor and mezzanine of the facility, with product free-falling from a hopper above to the weighing and bagging station below.
The system features a robust 304 stainless steel frame, food-grade contact parts, and a reliable pneumatic reject mechanism, built for 24/7 operation in harsh food processing environments. It is controlled via a remote, operator-friendly touchscreen panel at floor level, eliminating the need for bulky on-machine controls and saving valuable production space.
Fanchi-tech’s gravity detector leverages advanced DSP technology for industry-leading sensitivity, detecting ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless-steel contaminants down to the smallest dimensions, even in dense, high-volume bulk flows. Integrated data logging and reporting software captures every system event, from contaminant detections to reject actions, ensuring full HACCP and BRCGS compliance for audits.
Fanchi-tech: Partner for Long-Term Reliability & Customization
“At Fanchi-tech, we differentiate ourselves through two core promises to our food processing clients,” says Kerry Wang, Head of Global Sales at Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd. “First, our Lifetime Support & Upgrade Guarantee ensures we provide ongoing technical support, software updates, and hardware upgrades for all our systems, so your detector never becomes obsolete. Second, we fully customize every system to fit your unique production layout, product requirements, and space constraints—whether you’re retrofitting an existing line or building a new facility from the ground up.”
“For NutHarvest’s second line, we worked closely with their team to design a gravity detector that seamlessly integrated with their existing mezzanine layout, optimized for their specific bulk flow rates and product mix,” Wang adds. “We’re thrilled that NutHarvest chose to return to Fanchi-tech for their expansion. In this competitive market, we never take customer loyalty for granted, and we went above and beyond to ensure this project was a complete success.”
Partner with Fanchi-tech for Your Bulk Material Inspection Needs
If you’re a processor of bulk nuts, seeds, grains, or other free-flowing food ingredients, the Fanchi-tech Gravity Metal Detector delivers the precision, reliability, and compliance you need to protect your brand and meet global food safety standards.
Contact Kerry Wang today to schedule a free virtual demo or on-site trial, and learn how we can customize a gravity metal detection solution for your production line.
Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd.
- Email:fanchitech@outlook.com
- Website: www.fanchitech.net
Post time: Apr-03-2026