The main difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals is that ferrous metals contain iron, while non-ferrous metals do not. They also have different magnetic and conductive properties. 

Non-ferrous metals:

• Are not magnetic
• Usually have good or excellent electrical conductivity
• Are harder to detect in wet environments because they are non-magnetic
• Examples include copper, aluminum, and nickel

Ferrous metals:

• Are magnetic (typically, but not always)
• Have good electrical conductivity
• Are easier to detect in wet environments
• Examples include stainless steel*, carbon steel, and cast iron

*Note about stainless steel:

• It’s a ferrous metal but has unique properties
• It’s usually non-magnetic
• It typically has poor electrical conductivity
• It can be more difficult to detect due to being non-magnetic and a poor conductor of electricity

Because non-magnetic metals like non-ferrous metals and stainless steel can be harder to detect or more prone to false rejects in some products (such as wet products or those with a high salt content), using an advanced metal detection system specifically designed for these challenging applications is essential.

Spherical sensitivity is a crucial aspect of your industrial metal detection system, and acts as a measurement of how a system detects different shapes, sizes, and types of metal contaminants (e.g., non-ferrous, ferrous, and stainless steel). The higher the level of sensitivity, the smaller the metal contaminants that can be detected.

There are certain factors can affect the level of sensitivity of the metal detection system. These factors need to be taken into account in order to help increase the effectiveness of your inspection process.

Many factors can affect metal detection for detecting metal inclusions in industrial processes such as whether the metal is ferrous or non-ferrous, the physical form of the product being inspected, the size and shape of the metal, the temperature of the product at inspection, and much more.

We offer a wide range of metal detection systems with various sensitivity options to help you find the right industrial metal detector for detecting ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Using an industrial metal detector for detecting ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless-steel metals in industrial food, non-food, and pharma applications is crucial for a wide number of reasons. These include:

• Reduced costs from only having to dispose of the contaminated portion of the product.
• Support compliance with industry standards
• Metal detection during production can help prevent product recalls
• Solidify your brand integrity with consumers

The best metal detection system for detecting non-ferrous metals depends on several factors, including:

• The type of product being inspected
• The packaging material used if the product is inspected post-packaging
• The product flow (e.g., solid, liquid, powdered, or granulated) if the inspection occurs before packaging
• The state of the product (e.g., room temperature, warm or hot, frozen, etc.)

Choosing a metal detector that is designed for your specific application is crucial to achieving optimal results.