The factors call for Eddy current sorting because

• To avoid raw material mix up

• To check supply condition (Heat-treatment) of various vendors of forgings, fasteners etc.

• To ensure properties of components to their design values

• To save the cost of replacing, reworking.

In automobile industry following products are subjected to metal sorting: these are rings, gears, shafts, pins, connecting rods, studs, fasteners, forging items in various heat treatment states. Eddy current metal sorting is also employed for segregation of mix-ups in raw material stage, semi-finished state, and in finished state. The parameters normally needed for inspection are hardness, case-depth, heat-treatment, grain size etc.

About fifty units are working in automobile industry in India apart from additional about 150 units in their ancillaries.

The paper describes the trials conducted, their pattern on display and interpretation of results on two wheeler components. This study elaborates the need of such testing in the testing plan of critical components at different stages of production.