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Fanchi-tech Smart Metal Detectors Elevate Efficiency & Safety for Leading European Cheese Producer
The global cheese market continues to thrive, with the North American segment projected to maintain steady growth, while the European cheese sector remains a powerhouse with robust demand across retail, foodservice and industrial channels. Notably, the U.S. plant-based cheese market alone is valued at approximately USD 1.5 billion in 2025 and is expected to surge to nearly USD 5.8 billion by 2035, boasting an impressive CAGR of around 14% . For dairy producers specializing in both traditional and plant-based cheeses, balancing high-volume automation, strict food safety compliance and consistent product quality has become a critical priority—one that Dutch-based BoerDairy Cheese B.V. has addressed by partnering with Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd.
As a third-generation family-owned enterprise with a global footprint, BoerDairy Cheese supplies a diverse range of products, from artisanal Dutch cheeses to plant-based alternatives, serving retailers, caterers and food manufacturers across Europe and North America. To keep pace with its expanding production capacity and meet the rigorous safety standards of international markets, the company sought to upgrade its inspection processes at its Oudewater factory in the Netherlands. BoerDairy’s key requirements were clear: high-sensitivity metal detection, seamless integration with existing automated lines, future-proof technology and independent reject systems to ensure zero contamination risk.
Partnering with Dutch food safety equipment specialist Jansen Control Systems—longstanding collaborators of Fanchi-tech—to design compact incline inspection lines integrated with vertical packaging machines, BoerDairy initially evaluated multiple solutions before selecting Fanchi-tech’s Smart Series metal detectors. The decision was driven by the system’s exceptional ability to overcome the unique challenges of cheese detection, alongside its proven reliability in dairy processing environments.
Conquering Conductive Product Challenges in Cheese Processing
Cheese—whether traditional or plant-based—is among the most challenging products for metal detection, due to its high conductivity, moisture content, and mineral and salt composition . These properties create strong “product effect,” where the cheese itself mimics metal signals, confusing conventional detectors and leading to frequent false rejects, production disruptions and unnecessary waste. For BoerDairy, which processes a wide range of cheese types—from soft, high-moisture bries to dense, aged cheddars and plant-based slices—this challenge was compounded by the need to maintain consistent inspection performance across diverse SKUs.
“Inspecting cheese has always been a struggle for our team,” explains Hugo van der Meer, Technical Operations Manager at BoerDairy Cheese. “The high moisture and salt content make the product highly conductive, often drowning out signals from small metal contaminants—especially stainless steel fragments from cutting blades or processing equipment. This not only risked missed contaminants but also led to costly false rejects and production downtime with our previous inspection systems.”
Fanchi-tech’s Smart Series metal detectors solve this challenge through advanced dual-frequency adaptive technology and a powerful digital signal processing (DSP) system, paired with intelligent product effect suppression algorithms. Unlike conventional single-frequency detectors, Fanchi-tech’s solution simultaneously emits and analyzes multiple frequency ranges, distinguishing between product-specific signals and genuine metal contaminants . By isolating low-frequency product signals from high-frequency metal signals, the system ensures accurate detection of ferrous, non-ferrous and 300-series stainless steel contaminants as small as 0.8mm—even in high-moisture, high-salt cheese products—while minimizing false reject rates to less than 0.5%.
Constructed with food-grade 304 stainless steel frames, Fanchi-tech’s detectors meet the strictest hygiene standards for dairy processing, with a crevice-free design and surface roughness Ra value ≤ 0.8 microns to prevent residue buildup . The sealed body resists corrosion from cleaning agents and dairy byproducts, supporting daily wet cleaning routines and complying with international standards such as ASTM A240/A240M and ISO 8442 .
Maximizing Automation Efficiency with Seamless Integration
For BoerDairy, maintaining uninterrupted production flow was non-negotiable—its automated lines operate at high speeds, processing up to 80 packs of cheese per minute . Previous inspection systems lacked automated reject capabilities, requiring operators to stop the line manually whenever a contaminated pack was detected, leading to costly downtime and increased risk of human error.
Fanchi-tech’s customized automated reject system—integrated directly into each inspection line—eliminates this inefficiency. When a contaminated product is identified, the system automatically isolates it using a precision air-blow or push-rod mechanism, diverting it to a sealed, locked bin without halting the entire line. This ensures 100% control over production, reduces human intervention and minimizes the risk of contaminated products re-entering the workflow.
“The automated reject system has been a game-changer for our efficiency,” says Hugo. “We no longer have to stop production to remove rejected packs, which has significantly reduced downtime and labor costs. Plus, the system’s reliability means we have complete confidence that no contaminated product will reach our customers.”
The installation process was completed in just one day, with comprehensive training provided by Fanchi-tech’s technical team to ensure seamless onboarding. Since implementation, BoerDairy has seen a dramatic reduction in false positives, cutting product waste and improving overall line efficiency by 18%.
Data-Driven Traceability for Full Compliance
Transparency and traceability are critical for BoerDairy, which must meet strict HACCP, GMP and FSSC 22000 standards to maintain its international market access. Fanchi-tech’s Smart Series metal detectors are equipped with Fanchi-tech Data Management Software, which automatically collates inspection data from all production lines into a centralized system. This includes real-time logs of rejects, performance tests, process settings and equipment status—all of which can be exported via USB for audits, customer reviews and quality traceability
“The data management capabilities have simplified our compliance processes dramatically,” adds Hugo. “We can monitor inspection performance from a single location, track trends and quickly address any issues, while also maintaining a comprehensive audit trail for our retail and foodservice customers. This level of transparency has strengthened their trust in our brand.”
The software also reduces maintenance costs by providing proactive alerts for equipment servicing, ensuring maximum uptime and extending the lifespan of the detectors. The Fanchi-tech system boasts an average trouble-free time exceeding 8000 hours, ensuring long-term stability for large-scale dairy production.
A Partnership Built on Expertise and Results
Since implementing Fanchi-tech’s metal detection solutions, BoerDairy has achieved significant operational improvements: zero contamination incidents, reduced product waste, increased production efficiency and seamless compliance with global food safety standards. The company has also expanded its market reach, winning new retail partnerships that require robust inspection protocols.
“We are extremely satisfied with the performance and support from Fanchi-tech and Jansen Control Systems,” concludes Hugo. “As a modern, automated cheese producer, we need equipment that can keep up with our growth while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety. Fanchi-tech’s solutions not only solve our unique detection challenges but also align with our long-term goals for efficiency and sustainability.”
Partner with Fanchi-tech for Dairy & Cheese Safety Excellence
For cheese and dairy producers facing the challenges of conductive products, high-volume automation and strict compliance, Fanchi-tech’s Smart Series metal detectors deliver the precision, reliability and efficiency you need to protect your brand and scale your business. Our solutions are tailored to the unique needs of dairy processing, with advanced product effect suppression, hygienic design and seamless integration capabilities.
Contact Kerry Wang today to schedule a free virtual demo or on-site trial, and discover how Fanchi-tech can elevate your food safety and operational efficiency.
Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd.
Email: fanchitech@outlook.com
Website: www.fanchitechnology.com