O-ring failure is common when they are exposed to vibration and chemicals that cause corrosion. As a result, small fragments from seals can end up working their way into the product stream.

In most cases, this can cause production and processes to stop in order to replace the O-ring. However, when this occurs in industries such as food and pharmaceuticals, it means that there are bigger problems as these are products that are being manufactured for human consumption. As a result, this can lead to costly shutdowns while inspections take place to locate the problem part in the system. Downtime costs money and reduces safety and should the faulty part make its way into the supply chain then this can cause a wide range of problems.

One solution to help avoid or reduce this is to use metal detectable O-rings as they can help to keep the process safe and more efficient should problems arise. These O-rings can be detected quicker, reducing the risk of contamination while ensuring processes can begin sooner. What this means is that any failed components can be detected before they find their way into the supply chain. Standard seals can fail and find their way into the product, making it impossible to identify them and rectify the solution without costly interventions.

These metal detectable O-rings can be identified using standard metal detection methods and so, in very little time, they can be identified and removed. The production line can be paused allowing for an engineer to remove the contaminated products, so they do not enter the supply chain. Amazingly, it is possible to identify fragments as small as 2mm in size. These O-rings and seals can be made using a wide range of compounds and colours while they all provide a highly effective solution.

Essentially, metal or X-ray detectable O-rings can be easily detected, and this can help to minimise or completely reduce the need for product recalls which can help to reduce costs and the risk of further problems. They can be used in standard OEM equipment too, helping to prevent the distribution of products while they are also suitable for mechanical, high-temperature and microbial applications.