Food processing equipment supplier JBT Corporation has purchased certain assets of Novus X-Ray LLC, a provider of advanced X-ray food inspection systems. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

According to the company, Novus X-ray technology will be integrated into JBT’s protein and liquid foods systems products.

Different than traditional metal detectors, X-rays can identify a wide range of metallic and non-metallic food contaminants. Additionally, X-ray inspection systems easily identify stainless steel—the most common metal used in food processing equipment, and a more difficult material for traditional metal detectors to identify.

“Our customers want a contamination detection system that helps ensure food safety,” says Steve Smith, executive vice president and president of JBT FoodTech. “In conversations with industry leading food companies, Novus technology stood out as having an attractive combination of detection capability, ease of software use and reliability.”