FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about our products and applications as well as common technology questions we've encountered.
Grains, Flour, Dough & Baked Goods Analysis
How can I ensure the right water absorption for cookie dough?
Dough consistency can be measured by instrumental methods like the Mixolab which evaluates the effect of water addition to obtain the desired consistency. This method may aid in industrial environments where formulation precision is vital.
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What Type of Wheats Can Be Tested With the Alveolab and AlveoPC?
The Alveolab and AlveoPC are capable of working with all types of hard and soft wheats. The Alveolab can also measure whole wheat dough properties.
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Can I Use the Alveolab and AlveoPC in Any Lab Environment?
If your lab is temperature and hygrometry control, you can use the AlveoPC. Otherwise, the Alveolab provides automatic regulation of temperature and hygrometry, meaning the results are independent of environmental conditions.
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Do I need additional equipment to perform the tests with the Alveolab or AlveoPC?
No, everything you need for preparation of the dough and to perform the test is integrated into the Alveolab and AlveoPC.
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Can the Mixolab 2 provide Farinograph values?
Yes, The Mixolab 2 has been equipped with the Simulator, a specific tool that allows you to obtain data in all points equivalent (values and units) to the Farinograph®. This allows you to compare the data with partners or to have a first assessment of the wheat quality with a small sample size.
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Do I Have to Use Peanut Oil for an Alveograph Test or Can Other Types of Oil be Used?
Paraffin oil and Sunflower oil can be substituted for peanut oil universally. Other oil types can be used, depending on the wheat used.
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Is Starch Damage Normal for All Flours?
Yes, the milling process always causes a degree of damage to starch, but it is important to understand the level of damage and how it will affect the final product.
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What are the effects of glutenins, damaged starch and pentosans on the final products?
The glutenins affect the extensibility and elasticity of the dough, the damaged starch affects its stickiness, and the pentosans have a significant effect on dough viscosity. All of them have a major impact on the flour water absorption potential.
Read MoreWater & Soil Analysis
Which Wet Chemistry Analysis Methods Do You Offer?
The SmartChem® Series wet chemistry analyzers use direct read photometry, utilizing a true discrete, direct read measurement system. The Futura segmented flow analysis platform uses inline distillation, inline digestion, & inline extraction methods.
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What Makes the SmartChem® Analyzers a Walk-Away Solution?
The SmartChem® analyzers use reusable cuvettes and are equipped with built-in cuvette washing stations, eliminating the need for scientists to load, wash and reload any consumables during the analysis. Additionally, special wash rules can be programmed for specific methods.
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Can the SmartChem® Analyze Various Types of Soil?
Yes, soil properties vary significantly from region to region. Some areas of the world may have a moister, clay soil; others may have a dryer silt-base, or more rocky, dense characteristics. The SmartChem® Discrete Analyzers offer multiple matrices and parameters relating to soil quality to assist researchers, agricultural labs, and regulatory agencies with better and faster environmental analysis.
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Can the SmartChem be used to Analyze Fertilizers
Yes, multiple fertilizer parameters can be tested.
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Do You Also Supply Reagents for Discrete Analyzers?
Yes, we offer a full range of enzymatic and colorimetric reagents dedicated to our SmartChem® range of discrete analyzers.
Read MoreVision Inspection & Rejection
What Types of Defects Can Vision Inspection Systems Detect?
Vision inspection systems can detect a variety of defects, including discoloration, foreign objects, missing pieces, and misshapen products.
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Can Vision Inspection Systems Provide Productivity Data as Well as Quality Measurements?
Yes, when measuring 100% of all products, a wealth of key production and productivity data such as: throughput/capacity %, defects % , uptime/downtime %, and changeover time.
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Do you Offer Multiple Rejection Methods With Your Vision Inspection Systems?
Yes, we can customize the system based on your line configuration, the type of product you are producing, etc.
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Space in Our Plant is Very Limited. Can we Still Deploy a Vision Inspection System?
Yes, in most cases we can customize an Over-Line or In-Line system to work with your existing configuration. To be sure, reach out and discuss your ideas with our specialists using the form on our contact page.
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Can we Connect Our Vision System to Our Existing MES/SCADA System?
Yes, we have interfaced to a variety of systems for real-time data collection and reporting. We also offer real-time process monitoring dashboards.
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Can We Monitor our Vision Systems on Multiple Lines Simultaneously?
Yes, you can install multiple dashboards to monitor lines in real-time. All data from multiple lines and locations can be collected and packed together into detailed reports for enhanced production insights and compliance visibility.
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What is Vision Inspection for Food Manufacturers?
Vision inspection is a food safety and quality system that uses cameras and computer algorithms to detect defects, contaminants, and other quality issues in food products.
Read MoreRF Analysis
How will I know if an RF or NIR sensor is right for my application?
The choice truly depends on the product because a Radio Frequency (RF) sensor penetrates a product to measure moisture, while a near-infrared (NIR) sensor measures moisture from the surface of the product. RF is recommended for products such as boards and gypsum, for example, whereas, NIR is recommended for measuring oil/fat or moisture in food, paper, and pet food.
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Can ambient temperature affect the RF measurement?
Not typically. However, the presence of carbon black can create a problem. The high dielectric value of TiO2 can also affect measurement.
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Can I install an RF sensor to look through a window?
Yes, but the window should be non-metallic, stable in moisture, and have an overall thickness of not more than 3mm (.125 in.)
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Does density change the effect of the measurement?
Yes, it can. It is best to stick to constant volume products, if possible, for best accuracy and repeatability. It is possible to measure density and bring an input to the sensor for compensation.
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What is the life of an RF sensor?
There are no moving parts so the sensor is very robust and reliable. You can expect many years of routine service.
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What factors can affect the reading of my ST-3300 low-temp sensor?
First, the distance from the product. The maximum air gap (distance the antenna surface is from the product) is 6.4mm (.25 in.). The second would be maintaining that distance as product passes over the antenna. Any variation in air gap will affect the reading. Avoid an install at the exit of radio frequency ovens/dryers, as this would interfere with the reading.
Read MoreNIR Analysis
What is an NIR Analyzer and How Does it Work in Food Manufacturing?
NIR stands for Near Infrared, which is a non-destructive analytical technique that uses light to determine the composition of food products. NIR analyzers use this technology to analyze food products for various properties such as moisture, protein, and fat content.
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What pre-programmed product calibrations are available for the SpectraStar™ XT Analyzers?
Users can select from several pre-programmed calibrations ranging from raw ingredients to processed, complex compositions. Additionally, the SpectraStar XT-R is available with industry-leading Ingot calibrations from Aunir® for a wide variety of sample types and constituents
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Are calibrations transferrable to additional benchtop units for use at different production sites?
Yes! This also applies to custom calibrations. Although certain products have different requirements for this transfer. Please check with your KPM Sales Representative for instructions for your instrument.
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Do benchtop NIR analyzers require routine factory recalibration?
No, if you have a primary reference method, you can calibrate your unit quickly and easily.
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How many product codes/calibrations can I have on a single QuikCheck unit?
Each QuikCheck can store up to 100 different product calibrations. These calibrations are also transferrable to additional QuikCheck units after performing a bias offset. Please contact a KPM Sales Representative for more information on this process.
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How can I save QuikCheck analysis data?
All QuikCheck data can be collected into a USB storage device or datalogger (via the Windows®-based ViewerSuite software add-on) for export to CSV and other useful file formats.
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How do I know if I am presenting my sample correctly on the instrument?
There are several sample cups available for the SpectraStar™ XT Series Analyzers, each offering specific characteristics to measure solids, liquids, or film samples. Additionally, the top window configuration of the SpectraStar™ XT also offers the flexibility of presenting samples in plastic bags, in plastic petri dishes, in clear (flat bottom) glass vials, or simply placing the sample directly on the window “as-is.” Click the Read More button for some helpful guidelines to determine which sample method or sampling cup variety may be best for your product(s).
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How much product-to-sensor clearance is required for in-process NIR sensors?
For belt conveyor installations, MCT460 series sensors are ideally mounted about 250mm (10 in.) from the product flow to allow bed depth variation from the conveyor.
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What if my application is subject to airborne particles. Will these affect sensor performance over time?
Yes, if your application is subject to airborne particles (dust, atomized oil from ingredients, etc.), an air purge integrated into the light tube assembly will be necessary to avoid contaminating the sensor window. Users should periodically check and clean the window surface using a common glass cleaner. We recommend bagging the sensor and operating interface before process cleaning operations occur.
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What Benefits do NIR Analyzers Offer to Food Manufacturers?
NIR analyzers offer several benefits to food manufacturers, including increased efficiency, cost savings, improved quality control, and better compliance with regulations.
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