WDS launches new range of visually and metal detectable components

The new range is engineered particularly for use in food processing, bakery, dairy, pharmaceutical and packaging production lines, where stringent hygiene, audit and compliance requirements demand enhanced risk management strategies. These products perform to a detection volume above 0.027 cm3 as well as adhering to EU10/2011 and FDA conformity.

Designed for regulated production environments

Visually and metal detectable components are manufactured to incorporate either high-visibility pigments or metallic additives within their material composition. This enables fragments or damaged parts to be identified rapidly using visual inspection systems or inline metal detection equipment.

In regulated sectors, foreign body contamination presents both operational and reputational risk. By integrating detectable operating elements into machinery and guarding systems, manufacturers can strengthen preventative control measures and demonstrate robust compliance during audits.

Detectable operating elements are commonly specified in applications aligned with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles. Where machine adjustment points or guarding systems form part of a defined Critical Control Point (CCP), the use of detectable components supports documented risk reduction strategies.

By embedding detectability into specific hardware, engineering teams can reduce the likelihood of undetected polymer fragments entering product streams while reinforcing contamination control protocols.

For engineering and technical teams, specifying detectable components can form part of a broader design-for-compliance strategy, aligning mechanical design decisions with hygiene, safety, and audit requirements.

Application categories

The WDS detectable range is divided into two primary categories, each addressing different inspection and detection methodologies:

Visually Detectable Products - Visually detectable components are manufactured in a high-contrast blue polymer. The blue colour is widely recognised within food production environments as a non-natural food colour, increasing the probability that fragments will be identified during inspection.

These components are designed to support: manual inspection during cleaning and maintenance procedures; pre-production line clearance checks; ongoing operational monitoring; and automated optical and vision-based inspection systems

The strong colour contrast enhances fragment recognition against typical food products and stainless-steel processing environments, enabling faster intervention should damage occur to the components.

Metal Detectable Products - Metal detectable components are manufactured from engineering-grade polymers containing a homogeneously dispersed metallic additive. This ensures that fragments retain detectable properties even if the component is fractured or unevenly worn.

These parts are compatible with standard inline metal detection systems commonly installed in food, dairy, and pharmaceutical production lines. If a fragment enters the product flow, it can be identified and rejected automatically, reducing the risk of contaminated product reaching downstream processes or customers.

Metal detectable polymers provide an additional level of assurance in scenarios where fragments may not be visually apparent, such as enclosed conveying systems or opaque product streams.

The detectable range from WDS Components includes clamping knobs, star grips, wing knobs, adjustable handles, machine handles and pull handles, and locking and positioning components

As these parts are frequently subject to manual interaction, repeated adjustment, and mechanical stress, they represent a potential contamination risk if fractured or degraded over time. By manufacturing these components from detectable materials, OEMs and end users can mitigate risk at the design stage rather than relying solely on downstream inspection controls.

The new detectable product range is available directly from WDS Components. Detailed technical specifications, dimensional data, and CAD drawings are available to support design integration and retrofit applications.