Magnets in The Spice and Grain Industries

Magnets in The Spice and Grain Industries

Did you know that every time you sprinkle pepper on your food, or enjoy a bowl of porridge, magnets helped get those products to your table? Powerful rare earth magnets are an essential part of the processing of spices and grains in Australia. In a country with such enormous reliance on these industries, purity in the processing and production of these foods is vital. Magnets, specifically separator bar magnets, are key to maintaining the safety and quality of the valuable spice and grain industries in Australia.  

Magfield Magnets is one of the biggest suppliers of these specialised magnets to the food industry. These industries often deal with contamination risks from metallic particles that may enter the production process through machinery wear or external materials. Separator bar magnets are used to capture and remove ferrous contaminants at various stages of production, such as during grinding, mixing or transportation. 

In the spice industry, separator bar magnets are placed in critical points like conveyor belts and hoppers to prevent metallic fragments from contaminating the product. During the different stages of spice handling, such as grinding, mixing and packaging, there is a risk of metallic contamination entering the production line. This can happen due to machinery wear, broken equipment parts or external contaminants. 

To address this, separator bar magnets are installed in key locations like conveyor belts, chutes, hoppers and discharge points. These magnets attract and capture ferrous particles before they can pass through to the next stage of processing. Their strong magnetic field ensures that even small metal fragments are pulled from the spice mix, effectively removing potential contaminants. 

By doing this, separator bar magnets help maintain the quality of the final product, ensuring it meets food safety standards and preventing any metallic debris from reaching consumers. 

This ensures the final product is pure and safe for consumption and meets stringent industry standards. Magfield Magnets supplies these separator bar magnets to a range of food processing operators, in particular one of Australia’s biggest paprika processors. 

Similarly, in the grain industry, magnets help prevent contamination that can occur during harvesting and mechanical processing. Grains often pass through numerous mechanical processes, from harvesting and transportation to cleaning and milling, which can introduce metal particles from equipment wear, loose bolts or external debris. 

Separator bar magnets are strategically placed at key points along the processing line, in conveyor systems, chutes and hoppers. These powerful neodymium magnets create a strong magnetic field that attracts and captures metal fragments as grains move through the production process. Throughout the production process, these strong separator bar magnets prevent metal contaminants from proceeding further down the line and entering the final product. 

By capturing and removing metal debris, separator bar magnets protect both the integrity of the grain, and the machinery involved. This reduces the risk of equipment damage, which can lead to costly repairs and production downtime. Using these powerful rare earth bar magnets helps ensure the grains meet strict quality and safety standards, whether for human consumption or as animal feed. 

The role of these magnets in safeguarding product integrity helps Australian producers maintain compliance with food safety regulations and meet international quality expectations. 

Overall, separator bar magnets are a reliable, low-maintenance solution that enhances the efficiency and safety of grain processing. Their application helps maintain product quality, supports compliance with food safety regulations, and contributes to the Australian grain and spice industries’ reputation for high-quality, contaminant-free products. 

Keeping those industries contaminant free plays into a bigger picture. Australia’s economy relies heavily on the grain industry and to a lesser extent our spice growing and processing industry. Both contribute to our domestic and international markets.  

The grain industry produces between 35-50 million tonnes of grain per annum from an area of more than 20 million hectares, with an annual gross value of production of around AUD$9-25 billion. Australian grain is sought after because of its quality and purity, underlining the importance of the high standards in processing. Magnets play a vital role in maintaining that purity, and our reputation.  

The Australian spice industry is growing, with demand for a variety of homegrown spices as well as a strong export market. Again, it is the reputation of purity and quality of Australian products that has helped boost this demand – and magnets play their part in that process.  

The scope of Australia’s spice growing industry might surprise you. We produce black and white pepper, turmeric, ginger, coriander, cumin and chili powder. The demand for Australian grown paprika is also increasing and Magfield Magnets recently installed separator bar magnets in the production lines of one of our biggest paprika processors. 

Paprika is produced from capsicums and used in spice mixes, rubs and as a colouring agent. As well as the more common spices, Australian farmers grow and export cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, aniseed and fennel. 

Australia also imports a variety of raw spices that are processed and blended locally to create unique spice mixes tailored to Australian and international tastes. Magnetic separator bars are essential in ensuring those imported crops meet our consumer standards. The processing involves cleaning, drying, grinding and packaging, with magnets used to remove contaminants and increase purity through the processing to ensure that the final products meet stringent quality and safety standards.