FA-XIS Fish Bone X-Ray System: Precision Bone Detection for Premium Scottish Seafood
For premium fish processors supplying global retailers and foodservice giants, eliminating fish bone contamination is non-negotiable—even the tiniest fish bone can compromise consumer safety and brand reputation. This is why Highland Salmon Co., a leading Scottish seafood processor based in the Highlands near Inverness, partnered with Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd. to deploy our FA-XIS Fish Bone X-Ray System—a purpose-built inspection solution tailored exclusively for fish processing. The system has become the backbone of their quality control, detecting microscopic fish bones across 100+ metric tonnes of weekly salmon and trout production, while overcoming the challenges of metallic packaging and remote-location servicing.
Company Background: Scottish Seafood Excellence
Founded in the Scottish Highlands, Highland Salmon Co. processes over 100 metric tonnes of premium fresh salmon and trout weekly. Its diverse product portfolio includes skin-packed fresh portions, peppered hot-smoked salmon, poached Scottish salmon, boneless stuffed butterfly trout, and marinated salmon portions—supplied to high-profile clients like Asda, Prêt à Manger, Greencore, and Donald Russell. Operating from a remote facility near Inverness, the company prides itself on exceeding customer expectations for quality and safety, making fish bone detection a critical control point in its production workflow.
Fish processing involves trimming, boning, filleting, and packaging—steps that pose inherent risks of residual fish bones, even with meticulous manual inspection. For Highland Salmon Co., relying solely on manual checks was no longer sufficient to meet retail safety standards and avoid costly product recalls.
The Challenge: Zero Fish Bone Tolerance & Operational Hurdles
Highland Salmon Co. faced three core challenges that demanded a specialized inspection solution:
- Microscopic Fish Bone Detection: Residual small fish bones (down to 0.5mm) in processed fish—especially in smoked, marinated, or stuffed products—posed a severe consumer safety risk and threat to retail partnerships.
- Metallic Packaging Interference: Products like “cook-in-the-bag” fish packed in foil trays with sauce sachets rendered conventional inspection methods ineffective, as metallic packaging obscured detection of both bones and contaminants.
- Remote-Location Servicing: Located 4.5 hours from Glasgow, the facility couldn’t afford costly downtime waiting for engineers from distant regions—reliable local servicing was a make-or-break factor.
“Our customers expect 100% bone-free seafood, and we can’t afford downtime from unreliable equipment or delayed servicing,” says David Leverage, Quality Assurance Manager at Highland Salmon Co. “We needed a solution that was built for fish, not generic food—one that could detect the tiniest fish bones through foil packaging, and backed by responsive local support.”
The Solution: FA-XIS Fish Bone X-Ray System—Built for Fish, Perfect for Detection
After rigorous evaluation, Highland Salmon Co. selected Fanchi-tech’s FA-XIS Fish Bone X-Ray System for its fish-specific design, unrivaled bone-detection precision, and regional service commitment. Unlike generic X-ray machines, the FA-XIS is engineered exclusively for fish processing, with advanced algorithms optimized to distinguish fish bones from fish tissue—even in high-moisture, fatty, or processed products.
Key Features of the FA-XIS Fish Bone X-Ray System:
1. Fish-Specific Bone Detection Algorithm
Tailored to the density differences between fish bones (collagen-rich, high-density) and fish flesh, the FA-XIS detects fish bones as small as 0.5mm—including fine pin bones in salmon and trout. Its AI-enhanced image processing minimizes false rejects, even for irregularly shaped fillets or stuffed products (e.g., boneless stuffed butterfly trout).
2. Penetration of Metallic Packaging
The system effortlessly penetrates metallic packaging like foil trays, metallised “fish board,” and cook-in-the-bag materials—eliminating the interference that plagues conventional detectors. This ensures consistent bone detection for all Highland Salmon Co.’s product lines, from foil-packaged poached salmon to metallised-board packed smoked salmon portions (100g to 5kg).
3. High-Speed Line Compatibility
Operating at 70–80 packs per minute, the FA-XIS syncs seamlessly with Highland Salmon Co.’s retail-packaging lines. Rejected products (with detected fish bones) are automatically removed from the line, ensuring no disruption to throughput.
4. User-Friendly Operation & Versatility
Pre-programmed settings for 100+ fish product specifications allow one-touch recall via the intuitive color touchscreen—ideal for Highland Salmon Co.’s diverse portfolio. No mechanical adjustments are needed for product changes, reducing downtime and operator training time.
5. Regional Servicing Support
Critical to Highland Salmon Co.’s decision was Fanchi-tech’s regional service presence in Scotland—with local engineers on call, unlike competitors who lack on-the-ground support north of the border. “Waiting for an engineer from England would mean hours of costly downtime,” David notes. “Fanchi-tech’s Scottish-based service team ensures we get support within hours, not days.”
The Outcome: 100% Bone-Free Assurance & Uninterrupted Production
Since deploying the FA-XIS Fish Bone X-Ray System across its raw fish, processing, and packaging departments, Highland Salmon Co. has achieved transformative results:
- Zero Fish Bone Complaints: The system has eliminated fish bone-related customer feedback, strengthening trust with retailers like Asda and Prêt à Manger.
- 100% Retail Compliance: Meets strict retail codes of practice for foreign body detection, with detailed inspection logs available for audits.
- Minimal Downtime: Local servicing has reduced equipment downtime by 90%, avoiding costly production halts.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Automated detection has reduced reliance on manual checks, cutting labor costs while improving accuracy.
“The FA-XIS Fish Bone X-Ray System is a game-changer for our operation,” says David Leverage. “It’s built specifically for fish—so it detects even the smallest pin bones that manual checks miss, and works flawlessly with our foil and metallised packaging. Fanchi-tech’s local service team is the cherry on top—we never have to worry about being stranded with equipment issues.”
He adds: “After a decade of relying on generic inspection tools, the FA-XIS has set a new standard for our quality control. We’re so confident in its performance that we’ve expanded it to all our production lines.”
Why Fanchi-tech’s FA-XIS for Fish Processors?
For seafood processors like Highland Salmon Co., the FA-XIS Fish Bone X-Ray System delivers unmatched value:
- Fish-Exclusive Design: Optimized for salmon, trout, and all finfish—no generic food compromises.
- Microscopic Bone Detection: Catches 0.5mm+ fish bones, the smallest residual bones that risk consumer safety.
- Metallic Packaging Compatibility: Penetrates foil, metallised board, and cook-in-the-bag materials.
- Regional Support: Local service teams minimize downtime for remote facilities.
- Retail-Ready Compliance: Built-in audit trails and reporting meet global retail and food safety standards (BRC, FDA).
Take the Next Step: Secure Your Seafood Quality
If you’re a fish processor struggling with fish bone contamination, metallic packaging challenges, or remote-location servicing, contact Kerry Wang (Seafood Inspection Specialist) to schedule a free virtual demo of the FA-XIS Fish Bone X-Ray System. We’ll tailor the solution to your fish species, production speed, and packaging types—with free sample testing to prove its bone-detection precision.
Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd.
- Email: fanchitech@outlook.com
- Website: www.fanchitechnology.com
Post time: Jan-05-2026