At Anuga FoodTec India 2026, Mettler Toledo showcased its inspection technologies spanning checkweighing, metal detection, X-ray inspection and data management. In this conversation, Siddharth Kachroo, head of sales – Product Inspection India, Mettler Toledo, discusses changing inspection requirements, technology adoption and the growing focus on connected quality control.
Mahan Hazarika: What are the key technologies and solutions you demonstrated at Anuga FoodTec India, and what industry challenges do they address?
Siddharth Kachroo: At Anuga FoodTec India, we brought our ‛Inspect. Protect. Comply.’ theme to life by showing how different inspection technologies can be applied at critical control points across the production line to support product quality, contamination detection, compliance and productivity.
On the stand, we demonstrated the C33 checkweigher, which provides precise in-line weight control to help manufacturers identify under- and over-filled packs, reduce product giveaway and support weights and measures requirements.
For contamination detection, the M31R metal detector demonstrated reliable conveyorized detection of metal contaminants within food production environments, while the X12 and X13 x-ray inspection systems address a broader range of physical contaminants. The X13 is designed for bulk-flow applications before packaging, while the X12 can inspect packaged products for contaminants as well as carrying out additional product and packaging quality checks.
We also highlighted ProdXTM data management software, which connects inspection devices and brings quality and compliance data into a centralized view. This can help manufacturers automate data capture, strengthen traceability and simplify audit preparation.
Together, these technologies show that effective product inspection isn’t about one machine or one inspection point. It is about selecting the right technology for the product, packaging and risk, and using inspection data to maintain greater control across the production process.
Mahan Hazarika: What are the major product inspection challenges currently faced by food and beverage manufacturers in India? How have these challenges evolved over the past few years?
Siddharth Kachroo: Indian manufacturers are balancing several pressures at the same time, from maintaining product quality and increasing throughput to managing rising costs and waste and meeting increasingly demanding customer and compliance requirements.
The inspection challenge also varies considerably by product. India has a very diverse food manufacturing sector, covering everything from powders, bakery and snacks to dairy, meat and highly conductive products. Wet, salty or conductive foods, for example, can create a strong product signal during metal detection, known as the ‛product effect’ phenomenon, which makes it more difficult to distinguish between the product itself and genuine contamination.
What has changed is the level of performance manufacturers now expect. Detection remains fundamental, but customers are increasingly looking for higher sensitivity, fewer false rejects, more automated testing, stronger traceability and easier access to production data.
Inspection is therefore becoming less of a standalone quality-control step and more closely connected to the overall performance of the production line.
Mahan Hazarika: Food safety and quality requirements are becoming increasingly stringent. How is this influencing manufacturers’ investment in inspection technologies such as metal detection, X-ray inspection, and checkweighing?
Siddharth Kachroo: We are seeing manufacturers take a more structured, risk-based approach to inspection. The starting point is increasingly the product, packaging, likely contamination risks and required quality checks, rather than simply selecting a particular type of machine.
Each inspection technology has a different role. Metal detection is highly effective where metal represents the primary contamination risk, while x-ray inspection can detect a broader range of physical contaminants and carry out additional product integrity checks. Checkweighing supports accurate weight control and completeness. For many manufacturers, the value comes from using these technologies together at appropriate points across the production process. There is also greater focus on demonstrating inspection performance. Digital record-keeping, traceability and automated reporting are becoming increasingly important alongside detection itself, which is why software and connectivity are playing a bigger role in inspection investment decisions.
Mahan Hazarika: What are the latest developments in Mettler Toledo’s product inspection portfolio, and how do they improve detection accuracy, productivity and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)?
Siddharth Kachroo: Much of the development across our portfolio is focused on making inspection more intelligent, precise and connected. In metal detection, for example, the M50 R-Series includes technology designed to improve performance in challenging applications. Within the range, the M56R combines Multi-Simultaneous Frequency technology with the 3S PLUS algorithm and AI-based machine learning. This helps distinguish the natural signal created by wet or conductive products from genuine metal contamination, improving sensitivity while reducing false rejects. To simplify operations and support productivity, the system also features a 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen, RFID (Radio-frequency Identification) for secure access management, and INFINITY Electronic Test System which automates performance monitoring and testing routines.
X-ray technology is also advancing. Dual-energy systems analyze products at two different energy levels, which can provide better differentiation between the product and potential contaminants in challenging applications. Developments in AI-enabled image analysis, higher-resolution detectors and photon-counting technology are extending these capabilities further.
Connectivity is another important area. ProdXTM can bring inspection results from multiple devices into a centralised system, giving production and quality teams greater visibility of equipment performance and supporting more automated data capture and reporting.
These developments can support OEE in several ways. They can reduce unnecessary rejects and stoppages, simplify routine processes, improve data visibility and help manufacturers respond more quickly when performance starts to change.
Mahan Hazarika: What are the common misconceptions among Indian manufacturers about the cost and return on investment of advanced inspection systems?
Siddharth Kachroo: A common misconception is that the cost of inspection technology should be evaluated primarily based on its purchase price. However, a more effective approach is to assess the total value the system delivers over its entire operational lifespan.
Better inspection performance can help reduce false rejects, product giveaway and unnecessary waste. It can also reduce the risks and costs associated with rework, rejected batches or product recalls.
Productivity is another part of the calculation. Systems that simplify testing, changeovers or data collection can reduce manual intervention, while combination systems can bring more than one inspection process together within a smaller footprint.
At the same time, advanced technology is not automatically the right answer for every application. The best return comes from selecting the inspection system that matches the actual risk and production requirement. For one manufacturer that may be metal detection; for another, x-ray inspection or a combination system may provide greater long-term value.
Mahan Hazarika: How does Mettler Toledo approach the challenge of integrating inspection equipment into existing production lines, particularly for manufacturers looking to upgrade rather than build new lines?
Siddharth Kachroo: Most inspection projects involve existing production environments, so integration has to be considered from the beginning. Our product inspection experts start by looking at the complete application, from the product to the packaging, from line speed to available space and from product flow to required inspection performance. The aim is to find a fit-for-purpose solution that can deliver the required level of control without adding unnecessary complexity to the line.
Space is often a major consideration when manufacturers are upgrading existing facilities. Combination systems can be valuable in these situations because they can bring two inspection technologies together within a single footprint.
Integration increasingly includes data as well as the physical equipment. Manufacturers want inspection systems that can connect with wider production processes and give quality and production teams better access to performance information.
Our role therefore goes beyond supplying the machine. We support customers with application advice and system selection through to installation, training, performance verification, maintenance and ongoing service. This becomes particularly important when manufacturers are modernizing their production operations gradually rather than replacing complete lines.
Mahan Hazarika: What trends are you seeing in demand from Indian customers? Are manufacturers increasingly looking for integrated inspection solutions rather than individual machines?
Siddharth Kachroo: Yes, we are seeing growing interest in more integrated approaches, although this will always depend on the particular application. Manufacturers increasingly want to achieve several quality-control objectives at the same inspection point. A combination system might bring checkweighing together with metal detection, for example, allowing accurate weight control and contamination detection within one compact system.
But integration is becoming broader than simply combining two pieces of equipment. Customers are also looking at how inspection systems communicate, how data is captured and how quality information can be viewed across the production process.
This reflects the wider move towards automation within Indian food manufacturing. As production becomes faster and more sophisticated, customers increasingly want inspection technology that can become part of that connected production environment rather than operating as an isolated machine.
Mahan Hazarika: How important is regulatory compliance in driving adoption of product inspection technologies in India? Are you seeing greater awareness of international food safety standards among Indian manufacturers?
Siddharth Kachroo: Compliance is an important driver, particularly for larger manufacturers, exporters and companies supplying major retailers or international customers. Inspection technology can support HACCP-based quality-control programmes and provide evidence that appropriate controls are in place. However, compliance involves more than simply installing a metal detector or x-ray system. Manufacturers also need confidence that inspection performance is consistent and that testing, verification and record-keeping processes can be demonstrated.
We are seeing greater awareness of this within the Indian market. Conversations increasingly include traceability, data capture, performance verification and audit readiness alongside traditional questions about detection sensitivity.
For companies exporting to multiple markets, international requirements add another layer of complexity. This is where having both global application expertise and strong local knowledge becomes particularly valuable. Manufacturers need technologies that meet their production requirements in India while also supporting the standards expected by their customers elsewhere in the world.
Mahan Hazarike: Mettler Toledo operates across a wide range of markets. How does the Indian market differ from other major markets in terms of customer requirements, technology adoption and purchasing priorities?
Siddharth Kachroo: A key characteristic of India’s food manufacturing industry is its remarkable diversity. The sector comprises both highly automated manufacturers that operate in line with global standards and businesses that are still in the early stages of automation. There is also significant variation across product categories, packaging formats, production environments, and investment priorities, reflecting the broad spectrum of capabilities and market needs within the industry.
As a result, there is no single technology pathway. Some manufacturers may be introducing automated inspection for the first time, while others are looking to improve detection sensitivity, reduce false rejects, automate quality processes or connect inspection data across multiple lines.
There is also a strong focus on long-term value. Customers want to understand not only how a system performs when it is installed, but how it will fit with future production requirements and what technical and service support will be available throughout its lifecycle.
That makes the combination of global expertise and local support particularly important in India. Technology has to be applied in a way that reflects the realities of the individual manufacturing environment.
Mahan Hazarika: What is Mettler Toledo’s strategy for expanding its presence in India’s food and beverage processing and packaging sectors?
Siddharth Kachroo: India is an important market for food manufacturing, with continued investment in processing capacity, automation and higher standards of quality control. Our strategy is to support that development with both a broad inspection portfolio and strong local application and service expertise.
Because we work across checkweighing, metal detection, x-ray inspection, combination systems and data management software, the conversation can begin with the customer’s actual production challenge rather than with a particular technology.
Our ‛Your Partner in Precision’ positioning also reflects the importance we place on the wider relationship. We support manufacturers from application testing and specification through to installation, training, performance verification and preventative maintenance.
As Indian manufacturers move towards increasingly automated and connected production environments, we see strong opportunities to help customers develop inspection programmes that can help them achieve all of their production requirements.
Mahan Hazarika: What would you say is the biggest opportunity for Mettler Toledo in the Indian food manufacturing market today?
Siddharth Kachroo: The greatest opportunity lies in the ongoing modernisation of India’s food manufacturing sector. As manufacturers continue to invest in expanding production capacity and adopting advanced automation, their inspection needs are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The focus has evolved beyond simply identifying contaminants. Today, manufacturers are seeking solutions that enhance productivity, reduce waste, improve traceability, support regulatory compliance, and provide greater visibility into operations across the production line.
That creates an opportunity to move from individual inspection machines towards a more connected approach to quality control. For Mettler Toledo, our breadth of technology means we can support manufacturers at different stages of that journey, whether they need straightforward contamination detection today or are moving towards integrated inspection, automated data capture and connected production environments.
Ultimately, the opportunity is to help Indian manufacturers build inspection processes that support both their immediate quality requirements and their longer-term growth.