Veetee Invests in Integrated X-Ray Inspection to Ensure Top Quality Rice in the UK

Three Mettler Toledo systems unite to meet Veetee's inspection demands
Dine In rice lines meet HACCP and the tough standards of British supermarkets
Complete solution combines X-ray inspection, metal detection and weight checking
Systems answer need for single vendor solution
Systems underpin Veetee’s mission critical inspection programme
Mettler Toledo already approved by UK supermarkets
Systems praised for their ease of use and versatility
Mettler Toledo underlines quality of technology with good staff training

When groundbreaking rice vendor Veetee wanted to target British supermarkets, it asked METTLER TOLEDO SAFELINE for an integrated product inspection system that would help it to meet the highest UK quality compliance standards.

The situation

Veetee is a rapidly growing rice brand. The company sources rice from every major growing area of the world and exports it to 50 countries.

Microwaveable rice was launched in 2000 and is now the biggest value sector within the rice market. In order to challenge the dominance of one brand, Veetee launched Dine In, a two-minute cook range that gives customers a foolproof route to restaurant quality rice.

Veetee based its product on a groundbreaking process that uses natural white rice rather than the inferior easy-cook varieties used in other convenience rice products.

The company recognised that product quality was paramount for consumers. It also knew that distribution depended on a world-class production line and quality controls stringent enough to satisfy the most exacting names on the high street.

Veetee asked METTLER TOLEDO to supply product inspection equipment because it was a single supplier offering a complete solution: x-ray inspection systems, metal detectors, and checkweighers, all supported by first-class training and service levels.

The solution

Veetee needed to set up an inspection programme that would comply with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), a legal requirement in the UK.

X-ray Inspection Systems

"It [Dine In] was a brand new line, so we could plan it with our target market in mind," says Steve Austin, Veetee's Production Manager.

"To be sure of supermarket listings, we needed an inspection equipment supplier that was already approved by the supermarket chains. Ideally, we wanted to find a supplier who provided all three inspection systems."

METTLER TOLEDO is one of the few equipment suppliers to run its inspection business as a single division, something it has done since 2006.

Peter Marshall, Regional Account Manager for METTLER TOLEDO says: “Our customers now have a single point of contact for a full range of quality control issues. But that's only part of the story: we can adapt our equipment to meet just about any global food standard, plus we're already approved by all the major supermarket chains."

METTLER TOLEDO’s equipment met the requirements of all the standards without any modifications. The solution, already optimal for most food production processes, slotted straight into the Veetee Dine In production line.

Austin says: "All three machines were off the shelf and ready to meet the HACCP standards as well as those of the supermarket chains that we were targeting. That's what drew us to METTLER TOLEDO. We were so pleased with what their x-ray inspection systems could do, we knew we had to see their checkweighers and metal detectors too."

The systems

Veetee chose the versatile T10 x-ray inspection system, which detects glass, bone, and high-density plastics as well as stones, a common natural contaminant of rice.

Veetee chose X-ray Inspection Systems To catch aluminium and other metal contaminants, METTLER TOLEDO suggested the Profile Metal Detector, a compact model with a simple touch screen.

Finally, to make sure that every rice pack was within the company's stringent weight targets, Veetee picked an S3 Checkweigher - a supremely accurate machine that uses the latest EMFR (Electro Magnetic Force Restoration), weigh-cell, and vibration-interference filtering technology.

The process

The Veetee Dine In line typically processes 6,000 units an hour. Veetee sells a large number of Dine In varieties, so switching the packaging line between them must be quick and simple.

"We switch products and deep-clean the entire line daily," says Austin. "The machines are easy to set up for a fresh day's production – very user-friendly. I'd say that it's been smooth running all the way for us."

The importance of good training

Veetee staff learned how to set up and manage their product inspection equipment through training provided by METTLER TOLEDO.

"Good training and service are important to us," says Steve. “METTLER TOLEDO was the only supplier that could give us all three inspection systems, superior performance, and the comprehensive service to match. I'd certainly bring them in again to help set up another production line."

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