Food Engineering logo
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • MEDIA
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
  • RESOURCES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Latest Headlines
  • Manufacturing News
  • People & Industry News
  • Plant Openings
  • Recalls
  • Regulatory Watch
  • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
  • New Plant Products
  • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
  • Alternative Protein
  • Automation
  • Cannabis
  • Cleaning | Sanitation
  • Fabulous Food Plants
  • Food Safety
  • Maintenance Strategies
  • OEE
  • Packaging
  • Sustainability
  • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • Plant Construction Survey
  • Plant of the Year
  • Sustainable Plant of the Year
  • State of Food Manufacturing
  • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • White Papers
  • EVENTS
  • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
  • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
  • eNewsletter
  • Custom Content & Marketing Services
  • FE Store
  • Government Links
  • Industry Associations
  • Market Research
  • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
  • eMagazine
  • Archive Issue
  • Advertise
Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Case Studies & Field Reports

Field Reports

Inspecting one jar at a time

The all-seeing X-ray eye can do it faster and better than the human eye, fulfilling this processor’s motto, “Filled and Inspected One Jar at a Time.”

By Wayne Labs, Senior Contributing Technical Editor
The ScanTrac Trio

The ScanTrac Trio was installed over T.W. Garner’s existing conveyor and inspects up to 400 jars per minute. Three beams identify any irregular-shaped glass contaminants. Source: InspX.

October 11, 2013

Through four generations, Winston-Salem-based T.W. Garner Company has developed and delivered specialty food products to the American market. Texas Pete’s hot sauce adds a zip for many food enthusiasts. Most recently, Green Mountain Gringo Salsa has provided a high-quality accompaniment to chips and snacks.

The Green Mountain Gringo Salsa home page heralds this product is, “Filled and Inspected One Jar at a Time.” The tag line pre-dated the installation of the processor’s new glass line X-ray inspection system; however, it has long provided the guidance and direction for how the salsa is processed. 

The ScanTrac Trio

The ScanTrac Trio was installed over T.W. Garner’s existing conveyor and inspects up to 400 jars per minute. Three beams identify any irregular-shaped glass contaminants. Source: InspX.

Gerald Lambert, general manager—facilities, confirms maintaining a “One Jar at a Time” standard while offering the product at a competitive price has dictated that Garner use the highest-quality production equipment.

“Since we believe in glass packaging as a key element in delivering quality food products to the consumer, we wanted to assure each had been inspected for glass materials that may have been introduced somewhere in the process here,” says Lambert.

Lambert and select team members traveled to California to evaluate the ScanTrac systems offered by InspX and were convinced this was an investment that resonated with the way the Garner operates.

After working through the challenges of installing a new packaging line for the salsa in early 2011, Lambert and the balance of the management team revisited the proposals from InspX and learned its two beam X-ray system for inspecting glass containers had been enhanced by the addition of a third beam, the ScanTrac Trio.

“The Trio easily installs over our existing conveyor,” observes Lambert. “I just had to find the linear space on the line to put this in. We decided on a location just downstream of the labeler. Since there is no container contact, maintenance is not an issue.

“The results have been outstanding,” continues Lambert. “We feel we get three benefits from the system. First, when the system detects a fault, we can immediately assess the source and take corrective action. For example, if there is any irregularity in the package—such as the presence of foreign material, under-filled jars or missing lids—[the jar] will be immediately ejected from the line. Second, if we have received some irregular glass that may pose a risk in shipment, we can stop and make a decision about proceeding or not. Finally, by challenging the system regularly during the day with a glass-in-glass test jar, we know the Trio is doing its thing, and we can sleep more comfortably with this risk being prudently addressed.”

The Trio system’s two outer beams are at 90° to optimize the inspection around the pushup on the bottom of the jar. The three beams (each at a different angle) greatly increase the probability irregular-shaped glass contaminants will project one X-ray detectable dimension into the image for analysis. Capable of operating at speeds in excess of 1,200 containers per minute, the Trio provides ample inspection capacity for the 400 jars per minute at T.W. Garner.  

 For more information: Allan Anderson, 510-226-6686 X3055, anderson@inspx.com

KEYWORDS: filling inspection quality control x-ray

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Wayne labs 200px
Wayne Labs has more than 30 years of editorial experience in industrial automation. He served as senior technical editor for I&CS/Control Solutions magazine for 18 years where he covered software, control system hardware and sensors/transmitters. Labs ran his own consulting business and contributed feature articles to Electronic Design, Control, Control Design, Industrial Networking and Food Engineering magazines. Before joining Food Engineering, he served as a senior technical editor for Omega Engineering Inc. Labs also worked in wireless systems and served as a field engineer for GE’s Mobile Communications Division and as a systems engineer for Bucks County Emergency Services. In addition to writing technical feature articles, Wayne covers FE’s Engineering R&D section.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    With a CAGR of 12.07%, Bonafide Research estimates this...
    People & Industry News
  • skilled MEP worker

    Predicting Food and Beverage Manufacturing Trends for 2024

    The two words that should be kept in mind are labor and...
    Automation
    By: Derrick Teal
  • cleaning and sanitation

    The basics of cleaning and sanitation in food plants

    Sanitation maintains or restores a state of cleanliness...
    Food Safety
    By: Richard F. Stier
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

OT Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Food Manufacturing Facilities

OT Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Food Manufacturing Facilities

Understanding Impacts of OT Cybersecurity Events in Food Manufacturing

Understanding Impacts of OT Cybersecurity Events in Food Manufacturing

Food Plant Openings and Expansions April 2025

Food Plant Openings and Expansions April 2025

FA&M 2025 in Rewind

FA&M 2025 in Rewind

More Videos

Popular Stories

Conagra Logo

Conagra Brands to Sell Chef Boyardee Brand to Hometown Food Company

Salt

FDA to Amend Standards of Identity to Include Salt Substitutes

Vilter IHP in plant

Industrial Heat Pumps: Sustainable Energy Solutions for Now and the Future

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ESSENTIAL TOPICS

Alternative ProteinAutomationCleaning/SanitationFabulous Food Plants

Food SafetyMaintenance StrategiesOEE

PackagingSustainability

Events

June 5, 2025

Mass Customization Driving Innovation in the Food and Beverage Industry

The food and beverage industry is at the nexus of transformative global manufacturing trends, driving a shift toward personalized, customer-centric solutions. 

June 5, 2025

How Cafe Spice Uses Automation to Propel Private Label

Learn about Cafe Spice’s new, state-of-the-art, highly automated manufacturing facility in Beacon, New York. 

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

Plant of the Year

Related Articles

  • Crowded, pre-COVID line

    Automation in the time of COVID-19: An A&E/C perspective

    See More
  • Importing and exporting

    Time for a Supply Chain System Update?

    See More
  • Partner with an expert system integrator/machine builder/supplier like Rapid Development Services

    When automation projects need special attention and ASAP delivery, a one-stop SI delivers

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • cleaning-in-place

    Cleaning-in-Place: Dairy, Food and Beverage Operations, 3rd Edition

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • March 27, 2025

    Optimizing Production Efficiency With Checkweighers: A Comprehensive Guide

    On Demand Whether you're in the food, pharmaceutical, or personal care industry, this webinar will provide valuable insights into leveraging checkweighers for optimal efficiency and brand protection.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Elevate your expertise in food engineering with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!