Labotec marks its enduring legacy while continuing to tranform Southern Africa’s food industry with cutting-edge equipment that ensures quality and safety.
For over six decades, Labotec has supported Southern Africa’s scientific community by supplying cutting-edge analytical equipment and offering comprehensive support, particularly in the food industry. From testing protein and fat content in dairy products to ensuring safety in pet food and alcoholic beverages, Labotec’s contributions have helped enhance the quality and safety of food production throughout the region.
This year marks the company’s 65th anniversary—a milestone that reflects not only its ability to adapt and grow with the changing demands of the industry but also its long-standing relationships with clients and suppliers across various sectors.
Food testing and safety
Labotec offers a broad array of products designed to address key challenges in the food industry. Its equipment helps food manufacturers with research and development, ensure consistent product quality, comply with regulations, and improve processes throughout the food production chain.
Analytical tools for food quality: Accurate measurement of key parameters in food products is essential for maintaining consistency and meeting industry standards. Labotec provides a variety of tools for testing ingredients like fat, protein, and moisture, among others. For instance, the Thermo Scientific Orion series offers benchtop and portable meters for measuring pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen—critical for quality control. Additionally, the Bellingham & Stanley high-performance digital refractometer allows manufacturers to measure sugar content, helping producers ensure the correct levels for beverages like juices and soft drinks. For real-time analysis, Buchi’s NIR Proximate System provides measurements of fat, protein, fibre, ash, moisture, and even colour in seconds, all of which are important for maintaining the desired quality of products for both on-line and in-line production monitoring.
Fat and protein testing
Fat and protein content are fundamental metrics in food analysis, especially for nutritional labelling and quality control. The Buchi Fat Extractor automates the Soxhlet extraction process, a widely accepted method for determining fat content in food products. Similarly, the Kjeldahl method, the gold standard for protein determination, is carried out on the Buchi Distillation unit, offering a reliable and consistent method for measuring protein levels in a range of food products.
Stability and shelf life testing: The stability and shelf life of food products depend on several factors, including moisture content, temperature, and water activity. Labotec’s Novasina LabMaster water activity meter is a vital tool for manufacturers looking to prevent microbial growth and spoilage. By measuring water activity, manufacturers can identify potential issues related to product texture, flavour, and rancidity before they become problematic. Temperature and humidity can significantly impact the shelf life and safety of food products. Labotec’s range of incubators, such as the IncoTherm series, offers a reliable means of conducting microbiological stability tests. Labotec offers precision moisture balances to accurately measure the moisture content of raw materials, such as grains, and finished products. In addition to traditional moisture analysis methods, NIR technology provides a fast and non-destructive option for real-time moisture analysis.
Alcohol content and volatile acidity testing
In the food and beverage industry, accurate alcohol content measurement is important not only for quality control but also for legal and tax compliance. Labotec provides solutions like steam distillation techniques, determination of volatile acid content combined with density meters, and equipment to monitor sulphur dioxide levels, which are particularly important for wine production as a potential allergen.
Sample preparation and process monitoring: Proper sample preparation is a crucial first step in accurate food testing. Miele washers are widely used for cleaning glassware while the ELGA Veolia water purification systems are able to produce any grade of water, from deionised to ultra-pure water. This lab water is often used for preparing media to check for microbial contaminants. Labotec provides a range of Fritsch milling, grinding, and crushing equipment to ensure samples are prepared for further analysis. Whether using planetary mills, ball mills, or rotor mills, this equipment ensures that samples are consistently prepared for testing with minimal variation. Labotec supplies Ebro® data loggers and handheld instruments designed to maintain temperature control throughout the cold chain—from production to transportation and storage. By tracking critical parameters in real-time, manufacturers can quickly identify issues and correct deviations to maintain the quality of their products.
<Sub-head> Real-time process control
As food production becomes increasingly automated, real-time monitoring of key parameters like moisture, protein, and fat is essential for maintaining product quality. Buchi’s NIR-Online process analyzers enable manufacturers to continuously monitor these parameters directly on the production line. This real-time data helps adjust the production process in real time, minimising waste and improving efficiency. Labotec has recently introduced the Buchi ProxiScout™ and NeoSpectra Cloud Portal to their NIR offerings. The ProxiScout™ allows for quick, non-destructive material analysis directly on production lines or in warehouses, providing immediate results that help optimise production and quality control.
