Just the Cheese: Fanchi-tech FA-MD Pro Metal Detector Safeguards Luxury Artisan Cheeses for UK Retail Leader
Crestwood Dairy Ltd.—one of the UK’s most established luxury cheese and specialty chilled food suppliers—has selected Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd. and its award-winning FA-MD Pro Metal Detector System to ensure the purity of its new range of 11 Artisan cheeses, exclusively crafted for retail giant Marks and Spencer.
With 42 years of heritage, Crestwood Dairy began in Peckham, London, and has grown into a BRC-accredited industry leader. Operating from two purpose-built facilities in Paddock Wood, Kent, the company supplies over 1,000 product lines—including its iconic “Heritage Reserve” branded cheeses—to major supermarkets, delis, farm shops, butchers, and premium retailers. Boasting an annual turnover of £40 million, Crestwood prides itself on product integrity, skilled craftsmanship, and same-day delivery, making quality and safety non-negotiable for its luxury brand.
“Our reputation is built on delivering exceptional, pure Artisan cheeses,” said Jason Fisher, Head of Operations at Crestwood Dairy. “For our new Marks and Spencer range, we needed an inspection solution that matched our commitment to excellence—one that could detect the smallest metal contaminants without compromising efficiency or accuracy.”
The Challenge: Precision Detection for Hand-Cut Cheeses & RFID Compatibility
Crestwood Dairy faced unique hurdles that demanded a specialized metal detection solution:
- Microscopic Contaminant Risk: All Artisan cheeses are hand-cut with wire, creating a risk of tiny metal fragments. The detector needed uncompromising sensitivity to identify even the smallest hazards.
- RFID Interference: To comply with industry tracking standards, Crestwood uses metal RFID tags on all trays for end-to-end delivery traceability. Standard metal detectors often misinterpret these tags as contaminants, causing costly false rejects.
- Product Variability: The 11 Artisan cheeses vary widely in moisture content, salt levels, density, and size—each emitting distinct product signals that can disrupt detection accuracy.
- Multi-Line Efficiency: With six cutting lines, the solution needed to handle diverse products without requiring multiple machines, keeping operational costs in check.
The Solution: Fanchi-tech FA-MD Pro Metal Detector System
After rigorous testing and consultation with Kerry Wang, Fanchi-tech’s EMEA Sales Director, Crestwood Dairy selected the FA-MD Pro Metal Detector—engineered to address its unique challenges head-on:
1. Ultra-High Sensitivity for Tiny Contaminants
The FA-MD Pro delivers class-leading sensitivity, detecting even minute metal fragments (down to 0.3mm ferrous, 0.4mm non-ferrous, and 0.5mm stainless steel)—critical for safeguarding hand-cut cheeses from wire fragments or processing debris.
2. RFID Signal Elimination Technology
Fanchi-tech’s innovative True Variable Frequency (TVF) technology solves the RFID interference problem. The FA-MD Pro “learns” the unique signal of Crestwood’s metal RFID tags, then filters it out entirely—ensuring only actual contaminants trigger rejects, eliminating false alarms.
3. Adaptive Product Memory & Auto-Calibration
With a 200-product memory and frequency range of 31–882 kHz, the FA-MD Pro seamlessly adapts to Crestwood’s diverse cheese range. Its automatic product learn function calibrates in seconds, adjusting for variations in moisture, salt, and density without manual operator input. This versatility allows one machine to serve all six cutting lines, eliminating the need for multiple detectors and cutting equipment costs significantly.
4. Tray-Friendly Reject System
Fanchi-tech customized the FA-MD Pro with a carriage track reject conveyor, which gently pushes contaminated trays onto a separate line. This ensures rejected products are isolated from safe batches, maintaining hygiene and operational flow.
5. Rugged Durability & Ease of Use
Built to Fanchi-tech’s “Designed to Survive” ethos, the FA-MD Pro features an IP69K-rated search head—resistant to high-pressure washdowns and harsh food production environments. Its intuitive icon-driven control panel makes operation effortless, even for non-specialized staff.
Client Testimonials: Efficiency, Accuracy, and Peace of Mind
“Choosing Fanchi-tech was an easy decision—they offered the complete package: deep industry knowledge, rigorous testing, a high-quality product, and competitive pricing,” said Fisher. “We share their focus on quality, and the FA-MD Pro has become invaluable to our operations. It handles our diverse cheese range flawlessly, and the RFID signal elimination has eliminated the false rejects that plagued our previous system.”
Kathy Pattenden, Cutting Room Supervisor, echoed the praise: “Operating the FA-MD Pro daily is effortless. It meets our strict standards and Marks and Spencer’s codes of practice, while noticeably boosting production efficiency. Our team can trust its accuracy, which lets them focus on crafting great cheese.”
To ensure uninterrupted production, Crestwood Dairy also enrolled in Fanchi-tech’s Premium Service Contract—providing fast, expert support and proactive maintenance. “We haven’t needed to use the service yet, as the FA-MD Pro has been incredibly reliable,” Fisher added. “But having that safety net gives us total peace of mind.”
Elevate Your Luxury Food Safety with Fanchi-tech FA-MD Pro
For specialty food producers prioritizing precision, efficiency, and brand protection, the FA-MD Pro Metal Detector delivers unmatched performance—whether for handcrafted cheeses, delicate pastries, or premium meats.
To learn how the FA-MD Pro can safeguard your products and streamline your operations, contact Kerry Wang at Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd.:
- Email: fanchitech@outlook.com
- Website: www.fanchitechnology.com
Post time: Nov-07-2025