Physical Contamination Inspection via a Microwave Imaging System in the Food and Beverage Industry

Physical contamination inspection is a crucial verification step that must be addressed by production plants in the food and beverage industry to guarantee the conformity of the manufactured products, the safety of the consumers and the preservation of the brand reputation.A microwave imaging (MWI) system is here exploited to scan items moving on conveyor belts at high speed, and to detect, in real time, physical foreign intrusions, often unintentionally caused by malfunctioning equipment or improper handling.The possible advantages are multiple: the technique is non-destructive and harmless for both workers and products, the setup is cost competitive, the system is low power, and the maintenance is undemanding.