IFT Expo Features Lab and On-Line Analysis Instruments
Moisture/Solids Analyzers
Kett featured the KJT550 on-line component analyzer, which uses Near-Infrared Reflectance (NIR) technology to provide non-contact, non-destructive testing on most liquids and solids. The unit's "smart head" design integrates calibration and memory storage, measurement display, and process I/O within the sensor head itself.
Arizona Instruments' new Computrac MAX-2000 combines the precision of a lab instrument with the durability and speed of a production-floor unit. The instrument detects moisture levels from 50 ppm to 100%, and accommodates sample weights of 150-mg to 40-g.
Zeltex's ZX-880 near infrared food analyzer is designed to analyze food/cheese products such as confections, meat, natural cheese, and process cheeses. The unit measures the amounts of protein, moisture, oil, or other organic constitutions present and features an easy-to-load cup designed for granular, slurry, and liquid products.
Other companies featuring moisture/constituent analyzers included CEM Corp., Foss North America, NDC Infrared Engineering, MSC, and RL Instruments.
Color Measurement
Hunter Labs introduced its ColorFlex system, a self-contained unit that adapts to many different types of food samples, including powders, pastes, pellets, and opaque or translucent liquids or solids. The company also featured ColorQuest XE color measurement spectrophotometer for research and QC applications.
Agtron's spectrophotometers for QC and color measurement include full-spectral, CIELAB, and Super-Abridged formats. The instruments are designed for both lab and plant operations.
Rheometers
TA Instruments introduced its new AR500, a rheometer that promises high performance and ease-of-use at an economical price. The device performs both controlled stress and controlled rate measurements and offers a broad torque range, multiple measurement modes, and precise and rapid control of temperature.
Bohlin Instruments showcased its CVO 120 HR rheometer, featuring 0.1 micronm 120 mnm torque range, normal force measurement and a 150-550C temperature range.
pH Meters
IQ Scientific Instruments' IQ240 benchtop/portable pH system is made with a stainless steel electrode and silicon chip sensor, eliminating the risk of broken glass. The company's pocket size, non-glass pH meter line was also featured.
Additional pH meter vendors included Orion Research, Sentron, and Thermedics Detection.
Odor Detectors
As for volatile compound detectors, Cyrano Sciences drew lots of attention with their new electronic nose. The portable instrument, designed for field use, incorporates an easy-to-read graphic LCD, connection ports to make downloading of data easy, and a water-resistant case - making it suitable to all environments.
Microanalytics (MOCON) showcased their AromaTrax system, a multidimensional GC based aroma, odor profiling system that features integrated FID/PID, olfactory, and MS detectors. On Tuesday, MOCON's Project Chemist, Larry Nielsen presented a technical paper entitled "Improved GC Instrumentation for the Determination of Aroma Profiles", which addressed the application of the AromaTrax instruments.
Nordic Sensor Technologies also introduced their new NST 3310 and 3320 Electronic Nose instruments. NST 3320 autosampler allows food samples to be heated or cooled individually to maintain optimum sample quality and reproducibility. The 3310 is designed for process monitoring or coupling to a high-capacity autosampler.
Refractometers
Liquid Solids Control introduced a process refractometer with computerized electronics for continuous, direct in line measurement of "concentration" brix, %solids, or other engineering units.
Maselli Measurements introduced the UR-20 in line refractometer and the latest version of their LR-10 lab refractometer. Index Instruments presented their 12-70 and TCR 15-30 instruments.
Texture Analyzers
Instron demonstrated new Texture Profiler Analyzer software that provides TPA capability as well as runs shear, deformation, puncture, and back extrusion testing. The software is a suite of modules for food testing set up, control, data collection, result generation and report preparation that can be configured to perform an assortment of food measurement related tests.
Besides this small sampling of analysis instruments, the IFT Expo included new viscometers, temperature monitors, and pathogen detection systems. Additional new product announcements made at the show will be featured in detail in the Product Showcase section of the site.
Edited by Pam Ahlberg