At Line NIR Snack Foods Analyser Launched

At-Line Snack Foods AnalyzerSuitable for extruded corn and potato based snacks, potato chips/crisps, low fat snacks, tortillas, popcorn and pretzels, crackers and other baked or fried snacks, the analyzer uses non-contacting multi-wavelength NIR technology to measure the key parameters of moisture and oil. Calibrated to the process plant’s primary reference methods, the InfraLab provides measurements right beside the production line - to laboratory accuracy.

With a measurement period of less than 10 seconds, minimum sample preparation and no special user skills requirement, the InfraLab e-Series can be used to measure samples extracted at various stages of the process, to improve process visibility and quickly manage and adjust process parameters in order to achieve a within- spec final product. Measurement and control of moisture in snack products is critical for taste, texture and shelf-life. Oil measurement is essential for maintaining consistent flavour and meeting labelling requirements, and can also give early indication of process changes.

InfraLab’s consistent and accurate measurements are completely independent of product and ambient changes in the process area such as: temperature, relative humidity and factory lighting. Key benefits offered by the InfraLab include reduced operator dependency, improved batch consistency and improved traceability.

Recognizing that snack food manufacturers use many different primary reference methods, either in-house or externally, the InfraLab’s linear factory calibrations are easily adjusted to provide equivalent measurements, saving on analysis costs and laboratory overhead and delivering considerable time advantages. Each measurement is pre-loaded into the InfraLab and can be selected from the drop-down menu within the intuitive touchscreen user interface.

Connectivity via Ethernet to Management Information Systems, LIMS laboratory networks or to a PC, as well as extensive integral memory capacity, enable the display or storage of vital quality data wherever it is needed – both locally and centrally.