Our customerDuPontSolae Belgium S.A. (DuPont Company) is a supplier of raw materials for the food industry. They have recently strengthened internal controls for metal contaminants in their products. To this end, they installed a new type of magnetic separator on their powder production line: the Goudsmit Easy Cleanflow magnet.

DuPont Solae has been dedicated to developing innovative soy-based technologies for the food, meat products, and nutritional supplements industries for over 50 years. Our products include soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate, textured soy protein, lecithin, soy fiber, and soy flour, which can be applied to various products loved by consumers worldwide, such as baked goods, beverages, dairy products, nutrition bars, meat products, vegetarian foods, and more.

DuPontSolae'sProblem

Among other things,DuPontSolae processes soy flour residues into animal feed ingredients. This product contains metal particles and stainless steel wear particles that enter the product due to friction on the drying drum. Of course, metal particles are unacceptable in any food product. Magnetic separators, found in most food processing companies, are important filters for very fine metal separation. They can even capture metal particles as small as 30 µm, which might be missed by metal detectors. Magnetic separators ensure the optimal quality of the final product. Furthermore, they help prevent product recalls and costly damage claims, and in some cases, even machine downtime.

DuPontSolae'sRequirements

DuPontSolae asked us which magnet is most effective for removing metal particles from residual soy flour. The most important requirement in the extensive brief was that no operator intervention is needed. The second requirement concerned cleaning, which must be performed safely and effectively. Additionally, the unit must be dust-proof and food-compliant, equipped with food-safe EC1935 seals.

Goudsmit magnet'sSolution

To prevent metal contamination in the product, we placed a Goudsmit automatic Easy Cleanflow magnet under the vibrating sieve. This unit is highly suitable for removing metal particles and weakly magnetic stainless steel particles as small as 30 µm from powders. Cleaning is easy with the touch of a button. The extremely high flux density of 12,000 Gauss on the rods provides exceptional separation efficiency. Deflectors ensure that iron particles always remain in contact with the magnetic rods.

Goudsmit magnet316 grade stainless steel uniform particles

Stainless steel particles, especially 316 grade stainless steel particles, are difficult to remove. We have conducted extensive effectiveness tests. The figure (link) shows that by using deflectors, 60% of 316 grade stainless steel particles can be filtered out of the product.

Goudsmit's new "Easy" cleaning process features robust Ø50mm magnetic rods with a measured area of no less than 12,000 Gauss on their contact surfaces, suitable for magnetic filtration of small amounts of ferrous material and even weakly magnetic contaminants from large volumes of granules and fine particles. Free-fall and low-pressure conveying lines with a maximum pressure of 0.5 bar. Automatic cleaning makes this separator suitable for situations where electromagnetic separators cannot be operated or cleaned easily. Automatic cleaning (intermittent), electromagnetic rods in pneumatic tubes (Ø52mm), 12,000 Gauss), capacity 30-110m³/ h, pressure up to 0.5 bar, explosion-proof Atex II 1/3D. Goudsmit magnets for high-capacity powder and granules in pipelines up to 0.5 bar. These automatic Cleanflow units are ideal when magnetic separators are difficult to operate or clean. The magnet can be connected and controlled via the central control room through a junction box. A local control cabinet with PLC is optional. Due to the deep capture field and high flux density, the thick Ø50mm magnetic rods offer high separation efficiency. This allows them to capture not only ferromagnetic particles but also weakly magnetic stainless steel particles. Due to the larger spacing between the magnetic rods, these Easy Cleanflows have a significantly higher capacity than Cleanflows units with thinner rods. This is also an advantage for powders with slightly lower flowability. Suitable for granular and moderately to freely flowing powders, free-fall and low-pressure conveying lines up to 0.5 bar; not suitable for poorly flowing, sticky/greasy powders that may cause clogging. For these applications, Rotary Cleanflows are a better solution.

How does Goudsmit electromagnetic filtration work?

A magnetic grid with extremely strong neodymium magnetic rods is located in the middle of the product flow. Product contaminated with iron particles passes through the grid via the magnetic rods. If necessary, an optional deflector flange directs the product flow toward the magnetic rods, where the magnets attract the passing ferromagnetic contaminants. The captured particles adhere to the magnets, while the purified product continues to flow.

How does Goudsmit cleaning/demagnetization work?

Each magnetic rod has a magnet assembly that moves pneumatically within an enclosed tube to automatically discharge captured iron particles. After stopping the product flow and sending a clean start signal to the controller, the magnet unit automatically withdraws from the product channel on the guide rails. Once the magnet unit reaches the end position, air pressure automatically rotates the magnet further into its enclosing tube; the moving magnet inside the tube pulls out the captured iron particles. However, they are blocked by a plate at half the length of the tube. After the magnets are fully withdrawn, the iron particles fall from the tube into an iron drain tray, where you can collect and further process them. Cleaning/iron disposal sequence: Stop product flow; send a start signal to the magnet control unit, then the entire magnet unit is pneumatically withdrawn from the product channel on sturdy guides; then the magnets are pneumatically moved within their enclosing tubes to their OFF position; once the magnets are far enough out, the captured metal parts fall off the tubes; then the magnets return to the "ON" position, driving the magnet unit back into the product channel; once the magnets and magnet unit are back "IN", the control device receives a "ready for production" signal; production can now be safely resumed.

Goudsmit Magnets was founded in 1945 and primarily designs and manufactures high-tech magnet assemblies and industrial magnet systems for users.Goudsmit magnetic systemGlobal applications include the automotive, food, recycling, metal, pharmaceutical, offshore, chemical, and aerospace industries.