Why does a factory lose precious metal at the exit?

Electronics, jewellery and plating plants handle copper, silver and gold in small, high-value quantities. A few grams in a pocket, a sleeve or a shoe is invisible to a supervisor but material to the monthly loss figure. A conventional metal detector cannot help much, because it alarms on every belt buckle and steel-toe boot — so operators stop paying attention to it.

What a precious-metal gate does differently

• Tuned to the metals you lose: Reacts to copper, silver and gold while tolerating the steel in clothing and footwear
• Zone indication: Shows roughly where on the body the metal is, so a secondary check is quick and targeted
• Exit-lane deployment: Fits at the staff exit, often beside a bag X-ray for the bag itself
• Counting and records: Alarm counts per shift give the loss-prevention team a number to work with

How to size the problem before buying

Take three months of scrap records and compare input weight against output and scrap sold. If the gap is material in value, a gate is easy to justify; if the gap is noise, fix the process first. Then decide the lane: one gate at the main exit for a small plant, or gates at every exit plus a bag scanner where the volume justifies it.

Frequently asked questions

Can it distinguish gold from copper?

Not by grade. The gate reacts to the metal family you configure; it tells you metal is present and roughly where, not which alloy.

Will it alarm on a wedding ring?

Probably, at the sensitivity needed for grams of metal. Plants usually declare jewellery at the gate or ask staff to remove rings during the shift.

Does it replace a bag check?

No. A gate screens the person; bags, toolboxes and lunch boxes need an X-ray or a manual check.

How is the return on investment measured?

Against the scrap-loss gap and the cost of the secondary checks it replaces. Most plants compare a quarter before and after.