Slicing Through Quality Standards: Fanchi-tech FA-MD Elite Metal Detectors Safeguard Award-Winning Stilton for Long Clawson Dairy
Long Clawson Dairy—an International Cheese Award winner and iconic British co-operative founded in 1911—relies on Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd. and its FA-MD Elite Metal Detector System to meet the rigorous quality standards of UK retail giants including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and Marks & Spencer. With over a century of heritage in crafting premium Stilton and blue cheeses, the Leicestershire-based dairy trusts Fanchi-tech’s technology to protect its reputation, production efficiency, and global customer relationships.
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. With 20% of its production exported to the USA, Canada, Europe, and the Far East, the company operates three BRC-accredited sites in Long Clawson, Harby, and Bottesford. For over 15 years, Fanchi-tech has been a trusted partner in its quality journey—starting with two metal detectors and evolving to support six high-volume production lines at its flagship Long Clawson facility.
The Challenge: Overcoming Cheese’s Unique Detection Hurdles
Long Clawson Dairy faced critical challenges that demanded a robust, reliable metal detection solution:
- Variable Cheese Composition: Stilton’s fluctuating salt and moisture levels mimic metal properties, creating “product effect” interference that hinders standard detectors’ accuracy.
- Multi-Stage Protection Needs: Metal contaminants posed dual risks—endangering consumers and damaging expensive ultrasonic cutting blades, which would halt production and incur high replacement costs.
- HACCP & Retail Compliance: UK supermarkets and global regulators required strict adherence to HACCP standards, including frequent testing, detailed performance logs, and fail-safe contaminant isolation.
- Minimizing Downtime: With production losses potentially reaching thousands of pounds per hour, the dairy needed a partner offering rapid, responsive support—after negative experiences with other suppliers.
Two years ago, when expanding production to meet growing demand, Long Clawson evaluated three manufacturers based on price, functionality, service, and support. Fanchi-tech’s FA-MD Elite emerged as the clear choice, with the dairy upgrading all systems to the advanced metal detector.
The Solution: Fanchi-tech FA-MD Elite Metal Detector System
Tailored to the unique needs of cheese production, the FA-MD Elite delivers comprehensive protection across Long Clawson’s workflow—addressing every challenge with precision:
1. Advanced Product Effect Compensation
Fanchi-tech’s proprietary Smart Compensation Technology neutralizes the interference from Stilton’s variable salt and moisture levels. This ensures consistent detection accuracy for ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel contaminants—even in the most product-dense environments.
2. Multi-Stage Inspection for Dual Protection
- Pre-Cutting Safeguard: FA-MD Elite detectors are installed before the cutting stage to identify metal fragments early, protecting ultrasonic blades from damage and avoiding costly production halts.
- Final Packaging Check: Additional detectors at the end of each line ensure no contaminants slip through before products are sealed and dispatched.
3. HACCP-Compliant Features
- Lockable Reject Bins: Prevent contaminated products from re-entering the production flow, reinforcing health and safety standards.
- Easy Calibration & Testing: Operators can reset and calibrate systems in seconds, supporting the dairy’s 30-minute testing protocol. All performance data is logged automatically for daily reporting and audit compliance.
4. Reliability & Rapid Support
Built to Fanchi-tech’s “Durable for Food” engineering standards, the FA-MD Elite minimizes unplanned downtime. Complemented by Fanchi-tech’s global support network, the dairy benefits from instant assistance—critical for avoiding revenue losses.
Client Testimonial: A 15-Year Partnership Built on Trust
“Our experience with other inspection providers was disappointing, but Fanchi-tech’s service and support have been second to none,” said Peter Tinsley, Packing Administration Manager at Long Clawson Dairy. “If complications arise, we know their team responds instantly—downtime costs us thousands, so minimizing it is our top priority.
The FA-MD Elite detectors handle Stilton’s unique composition flawlessly. They’re easy to calibrate, deliver the accuracy we need, and the lockable reject bins give us peace of mind. Our customers demand rigid health and safety standards to avoid product recalls and penalties—and Fanchi-tech helps us meet those expectations every day.
This 15-year partnership is a testament to their reliability, communication, and quality. We have no doubt Fanchi-tech will continue to support our growth for years to come.”
Protect Your Premium Products with Fanchi-tech FA-MD Elite
For specialty food producers—especially those crafting cheese, deli meats, or other high-moisture, high-salt products—the FA-MD Elite Metal Detector System offers unmatched accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency. It safeguards your brand, production equipment, and customer trust.
To learn how Fanchi-tech can tailor a detection solution for your business, contact Kerry Wang at Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd.:
- Email: fanchitech@outlook.com
- Website: www.fanchitechnology.com
Post time: Nov-11-2025