Safety knives are commonly used in all manufacturing industries, but one sector has unique requirements - food and beverage manufacturing.

In this industry, the cutting tasks performed are the same as any other, like cutting shrink wrap, film, strapping, bagged goods, and cardboard. But the food & beverage industry also requires safety knives that are easy to clean without rusting and, most importantly, safety knives that are metal detectable and can be used in conjunction with onsite metal detectors.

One of the biggest safety concerns with knives around food manufacturing is the risk of foreign objects entering the production process. Once a knife, or part of a knife, enters production, it can be difficult for the human eye to see, especially if it becomes broken into small pieces. The potentially sensitive and dangerous materials can go unnoticed until found by a customer.

Between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019, Food Standards Australia New Zealand recorded 707 food recalls. Of these, 101 recalls were due to foreign matters entering the production process. Not surprisingly, the most common types of foreign matter found in food were metal (40%) and plastic (29%).

While it may not happen often, the long-term cost, not just in monetary terms, on the business can be devastating and, in some cases, can end in business closures and job losses. Product recalls have been calculated to cost upwards of $10M in direct and indirect costs for a company in this industry.

With metal detection machines being used throughout the industry to ensure that dangerous foreign objects do not get lost in the production line, it makes sense to use a knife made of Metal or Metal Detectable Plastic (MDP).

At MARTOR, we have developed cutting tools made of metal detectable metal plastic, especially for the food, beverage, and even the pharmaceutical industry. These knives are ideal for all staff working in susceptible areas, especially when materials need to be manually cut in or near a production area. Our MDP knives can be traced by all metal detectors and special x-ray machines. Even the small parts of the MDP knives can be detected, significantly decreasing the risk of any contaminated products leaving your production site or cause profound safety implications.

We recommend the following safety knives for the food and beverage industry:

SECUMAX 145 MDP

The SECUMAX 145 MDP is a disposal safety knife with a thin profile that can cut through bags, shrink wrap, and more. It has a stainless-steel blade, a double-sided head, and it can cut material up to 3.8mm thick.

SECUMAX 320 MDP

The SECUMAX 320 MDP is recommended for when your main tasks are removing packaging film, plastic strapping band and, opening boxes. The concealed blade and rounded nose reliably protect you and your products, while the 4-edge blade can cut material up to 4mm thick.

SECUNORM PROFI40 MDP

The SECUNORM PROFI40 MDP is a semi-automatic, spring-loaded knife with a 40mm blade extension. Suitable for cutting tasks that require a longer blade, such as opening sacks. Its body is made of paint-free aluminium and MDP plastic and is easy to clean.

SECUNORM SMARTCUT MDP

The SECUNORM SMARTCUT MDP is a lightweight and compact safety knife. Fully disposable with no blade change, this handy little knife is suitable for cutting all materials. It is entirely made of metal detectable plastic and features a stainless steel blade like all our MDP knives.

Need more information or assistance with choosing a safety knife for your workplace?

MARTOR Australia is available to assist you with meeting your obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to ensure that your workers have the proper equipment to perform their jobs safely and decrease their risk of getting cuts and workplace injury.

P: +61 3 5940 4476

E: [email protected]

References:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Graph 1: Foreign matter recalls, as a proportion of all foreign matter recalls, during the period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2019.