Process control in the food industry refers to the systematic monitoring and control of manufacturing processes to ensure food products are produced by established quality standards and safety regulations. Labotec provides a wide range of equipment solutions and technical services to help customers meet these regulatory expectations.
Determination of sugar & other analytes
Quality and safety involve the continuous monitoring and measurement of factors such as temperature, pressure, humidity, moisture, pH, and other relevant parameters that affect the manufacturing process. The data collected is analysed to ensure that the process meets the desired production requirements, and that product quality is consistent.
The total sugar content is measured as a sum parameter and expressed as brix value, determined either as density or refractive index. The Bellingham & Stanley high-performance digital handheld refractometer has a vast choice of scales for a wide range of applications – all in the palm of your hand.
The NIR method – using Buchi’s NIR Proximate – is also used to determine sugars such as sucrose in chocolate or lactose in milk products, among other applications.
Depending on the food matrix, additional analytes; such as oil, salt or pH, mV, ORP and temperature measurements, influence the process quality. Thermo Scientific Orion VersaStar Benchtop meter with pH/ISE, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen / RDO modules will meet your most challenging applications for pH, ion concentration, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and temperature. In addition, Orion Star Com software transfers measurements and calibration data from your meter to a computer in a few simple steps.
Transport and process monitoring
For the food industry, Ebro offers handheld instruments and data loggers for the entire cold chain: from process monitoring, on transport, and storage monitoring to incoming goods inspection. Ebro specialises in high-quality measurement technology such as handheld instruments, thermometers, and data loggers. The devices and software cover measurement and evaluation in temperatures, humidity, pH, and oil qualities, to name a few.
Determination of shelf life & stability
High water activity content can affect microbial activity and lead to early food spoilage. The Novasina LabMaster water activity meter is used to investigate the source of product spoilage, texture failures, or rancidity.
Seasonal differences, different climatic zones, and a variety of temperatures during manufacturing, transport, storage, and use can affect the food products’ shelf life and stability. Weiss climate test chambers will test the influence of temperature and humidity on food properties, function, and lifespan.
Labotec’s IncoTherm incubators and Low temperature incubators are suitable for Microbiology, QC and stability testing. Sizes vary from benchtop 40 litre up to floor-standing 700 litre incubators with operating temperatures from 37°C to 110°C.
Determination of moisture
The moisture content of raw materials, such as grains or finished products can be an indication of their storage stability. Moreover, moisture is one of the parameters that can generate the highest production margins. If there is a limit on the amount of moisture in a product, it is profitable to keep the water content as close to this limit as possible without crossing it. The water content is traditionally measured with moisture balances or titration. Labotec’s house-branded Labotec Precision Moisture balances will measure moisture content. The Orion Star T940 all-in-one titrator gives flexible pH, redox, and ion concentration titrations including equivalence point titrations, pre-set pH, or mV endpoint titrations plus multiple known addition (MKA) mode for automated known addition of various ions. Pair the titrator option with any premium ROSS pH electrodes or Orion redox and ion selective electrodes.
Sample preparation
Milling is a critical initial step in sample preparation, aiming to reduce particle size and create a homogeneous and representative sample for subsequent analyses. The process involves a range of milling parameters, including material properties, sample feed size and volume, grinding time, desired end particle size, and abrasion of grinding elements, all while being mindful of cost implications. To cater to diverse requirements, FRITSCH offers a comprehensive range of high-performance mills across various categories: Planetary Mills, Ball Mills, Cutting Mills, Knife Mills, Rotor and Beater Mills, Jaw Crushers, Disk Mills, and Mortar Grinders.
