11News

In the production of sun-dried tomatoes, the raw product is washed, sorted, cut and placed on redwood trays to dry naturally under the Californian sun. The sun-drying process removes water from the tomato, concentrating the flavor and nutrients within. In accordance with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, quality control personnel test the tomatoes throughout the full production process for quality attributes, such as pH, moisture, sulfite and salt concentration. They also perform analy-ses for yeast and mold.

The data challenge with moisture content determinationMoisture content was measured via the standard loss on drying reference method since the drying oven is able to

analyze many samples in a single batch. Tests are performed at each stage of pro-cessing on several samples.

The loss on drying procedure took time and the associated calculations and documentation were laborious and prone to human error. With the large volume of samples passing through the quality control lab, keeping track of all samples was a further challenge. The company sought an easier solution and discovered METTLER TOLEDO’s One Click™ Loss on Drying method, a solution provided by LabX laboratory software.

Automatic tracking via barcodesLabX was installed on the PC in the company’s quality control lab. This was connected to the XPE204 analytical

Getting the moisture content right is critical to the quality of sun-dried

tomatoes. One Californian manufacturer relies on the unique ‘loss

on drying’ procedure in LabX® software as an easy way to monitor and

ensure product quality.

Software Solution Assures Quality of Sun-dried Tomatoes

Food & Beverage

Analytical solutions in the laboratory

Publisher Mettler-Toledo GmbH Laboratory Division Im Langacher CH-8606 Greifensee, Switzerland

Production LAB Division MarketingGlobal MarCom Switzerlandwww.mt.com/lab-segmentnews

Subject to technical changes. © Mettler-Toledo GmbH 01/16 Printed in Switzerland.

2 METTLER TOLEDO Food & Beverage News 11

balance being used to weigh the samples. A label printer and barcode reader com-pleted the solution.

Accurate and efficient sodium content determinationStored methods can now be started from either the computer or the balance with just OneClick™; when a batch of sam-ples arrives at the lab, the lab technician simply selects the shortcut on the balance touchscreen and enters the Batch ID and number of samples. LabX automatically prints barcode labels with unique IDs. By scanning each barcode before weigh-ing the sample, LabX records the weight against the stored ID. Weighing results are automatically transferred from the balance to the computer for seamless data management and full compliance. LabX keeps track of it all.

After drying in the oven, the samples are reweighed. Again, LabX uses the scanned barcode to log the weight against the cor-rect sample ID and then calculates the moisture content for each sample. All data and results are stored securely and can be viewed or printed out in a report at any time.

No more writing by handThe whole process has become signifi-cantly easier and stress-free for the tech-nicians. Barcoding and automatic data capture saves a considerable amount of time and manual transcription is com-pletely eliminated.

Text: Julia SchenkSoftware Product Manager

www.mt.com/labx

Labo

rato

ry A

utom

atio

n

Using barcodes greatly simplifies data handling and sample tracking

Watch the video to see how easy it is with LabX

Visit our landing page featuring three common laboratory pro-cesses which are greatly simpli-fied with LabX:

• Standard Preparation • Loss on Drying • Sieve Analysis

} www.mt.com/labx-balances

3METTLER TOLEDO Food & Beverage News 11

Loss PreventionReduce Giveaway with Less Overfilling

Reducing waste and improving yield of fruits or crops through more efficient pro-cessing operations is a key issue in pro-duction. Food producers are looking at different areas in which savings by reduc-ing waste can be realized. One important aspect is losses of raw materials.

Reducing giveaway when filling Handling crop materials often termi-nates with a filling step. Materials are transferred within the company and fi-nally filled into containers of different sizes, such as drums, intermediate bulk containers or big bags. But many orga-nizations fear of falling foul of weights-and-measures approval and that leads to overfilling.

Volumetric vs. gravimetric fillingCommonly, filling machines use either volumetric or gravimetric methods to control fill quantity. Volumetric fillers, such as flow meters, are immune to ef-fects from tank agitation or allow simul-taneous multiple feeds, but can suffer from a number of problems with changes in material properties, such as viscosity or density. In comparison, filling by gravi-metric methods provides advantages that clearly help reduce the risk of overfilling. Those benefits include:

• It is more accurate and can oper-ate in a smaller tolerance band.

• A gravimetric filling machine traceably supports the net content legislation.

Optimal raw material exploitation depends on accurate and efficient filling systems.

Understanding the different volumetric and gravimetric filling technologies allows

food producers to optimize their yield.

A new filling guide that provides guidance to select the optimal filling solutions can be downloaded at:

www.mt.com/ind-fruit11

4 METTLER TOLEDO Food & Beverage News 11

Life in the FreezerThe Dropping Point of Ice Cream

The way an ice cream melts determines its smoothness, which is crucial for customer acceptance. However, as ice cream is not transparent, melting point temperature determination is not pos-sible; instead, dropping point is used for characterization and quality control. The lower the dropping point, the smoother the ice cream.

A perfect tool to measure at low temperatures The Excellence DP90 instrument is the perfect tool to determine the dropping point temperature of ice cream, allowing analysis to be performed at temperature as low as -20 °C. The separate measuring unit, including the furnace and the optical detection system, can be placed in a refrigerator or a deep freezer in order to achieve the required temperature, while the separate control unit sits comfortably outside (see figure 1).

Sample preparation made easyTypical sample preparation for the DP90 is easy and repeatable. However, ice cream requires careful thermal treatment in order that its dropping point character-istics are not affected. To avoid any pre-analysis melting, the samples should be prepared inside the freezer.

The unique sample preparation tool is used to fill the sample cups, which are placed, two at a time, in the sample hold-er (figure 2). The sample holder is then placed in the measuring unit and the measurement is started from the control unit outside the freezer in more com-fortable surroundings. All measurement information is available on the control unit and the easily accessible results support meaningful data comparison.The sample preparation technique and method execution described in the “AOCS Official Method Cc 18-80” are highly recommended for use with the Excellence DP90, which provides intuitive user guid-ance on the touchscreen.

Food samples that melt at ambient temperature, such as ice-cream,

need to be cooled down prior to determining its dropping point. The

Excellence DP90 simplifies sample preparation and measurements

to produce irresistible ice cream.

Dro

ppin

g Po

int D

eter

min

atio

n

Figure 1: The measuring unit is placed in a deep freezer while the separate control unit sits outside.

Figure 2: The sample cups are placed, two at a time, in the sample holder.

5METTLER TOLEDO Food & Beverage News 11

Not just for ice cream…Additional substances can be treated in the same way. For example, certain ed-ible oils and fats with melting points below ambient temperature, such as canola oil, or certain organic solvents, including long alkyl chain alcohols or alkanes, all need to be cooled or frozen prior to dropping point measurement. All these substances can be solidified in a freezer and measured in the same way as ice cream.

The Excellence DP90 is so easy to use that any operator can use without spe-cific training. The instrument provides a comprehensive and clever solution for the complete workflow, from crucial sample preparation to measurement and docu-mentation.

Text: Christian IserlandMPDP Business Area Manager

www.mt.com/MPDP

Insights into MPDP Sample Preparation

Further information regarding samples that require pre- measurement cooling can be found in section 6.2.9 of the METTLER TOLEDO guide Automated Melting and Dropping/Softening Point Determination.

Download the MPDP Guide now} www.mt.com/MPDP-automation-guide

DP90

Automated Melting & Dropping Point AnalysisA Comprehensive Textbook

Mel

ting

& D

ropp

ing

Poin

t

Melting PointDropping PointSoftening PointPerformance Verification

Guide_droping point_2014_f_CMYK_PRINT EUROSKALA iso_coated_v2_300eci..indd 1

05.09.14 15:17

6 METTLER TOLEDO Food & Beverage News 11

Ten Years Reliably TestingMoisture Content in Chicken Soup

Optimum moisture content is essential to granulated chicken bouillon quality and shelf-life. With five moisture analyz-ers in operation, and each test taking ten minutes, the test is carried out 500 times each day.

Under these strenuous conditions, METTLER TOLEDO HG63 moisture analyzers have provided quality manag-ers with high durability and repeatable performance for years. However, as their fleet of analyzers approached their 10th birthday, plant management had a desire to test the performance of these work-horses to ensure they were still function-ing reliably.

Testing for accuracyUnder the direction of Product Manager Claas Boerger, the company performed

A Chinese company tests the moisture content of its popular chicken bouillon powder

18 hours a day, six days a week. Five HG63 moisture analyzers have been operated

continuously in this tough environment for nearly 10 years. Recent tests, undertaken by the

company, confirm that the instruments continue to deliver highly reliable results.

an equipment trial so plant manag-ers could be sure about their analyzers’ performance. To gauge analyzer perfor-mance, quality managers were guided through a series of 30 tests, each com-prised of six measurements per machine. Comparing measurements given by the same instrument provided a measure of repeatability; comparing measurements across all five provided a measure of re-producibility.

Using the same batch of boullion, 8 g samples were placed on 10-minute cycles at a standard drying temperature of 102°C with moisture content values of ~0.8% declared as the target value. The repeatability values, with several samples measured under the same conditions on each instrument were all excellent at less than 0.03%. The overall mean moisture

Moi

stur

e D

eter

min

atio

n

content, measured with the same sample but on different instruments, was 0.797% with a standard deviation of 0.032 so clearly in line with the 0.8% target. After seeing these results, quality control man-agers had full confidence that they were meeting moisture content targets, thus ensuring their soup’s shelf life, consis-tency and flavor. Such solid performance is a testament to the durability and accu-racy of METTLER TOLEDO instruments over time. This carefully-guided analysis proved that all machines continue to pro-vide the reliable results necessary to keep the plant and quality managers happy.

Plans for the futureIn addition, METTLER TOLEDO recom-mended the use of their standard refer-ence test substance, SmartCal™, as part of the company’s ongoing quality man-

QC managers are satisfied with the perfor-mance of their moisture analyzers and SmartCal

Moisture analyzers in the QC lab are work-ing 24 hours a day, six days a week

Samples ready for processing

7METTLER TOLEDO Food & Beverage News 11

agement program. SmartCal contains a defined amount of moisture and, with a simple 10-minute drying program, can verify moisture analyzer performance. Logging SmartCal test results is an ideal way to monitor moisture analyzer performance over time and provides an early indication of whether performance may be drifting out-of-specification. With SmartCal samples in hand, qual-ity managers can test their machines at any time, giving them full confidence in their results.

Text: Claas BoergerMoisture Product Manager Visit our website for information on our new generation of hal-

ogen moisture analyzers – the same traditional build quality but with the newest technologies.

} www.mt.com/moisture

UV/V

IS S

pect

rosc

opy Speed Up Your UV/VIS Measurements

Accurate Results within Seconds

The new series of UV/VIS spectrophotometers from METTLER TOLEDO com-bines state-of-the-art optical technology with intuitive One Click™ user in-terface in a compact design to deliver accurate results within seconds. Itis the ideal partner for optimizing your spectroscopic workflows and datamanagement tasks to meet regulatory guidelines.

Increased efficiency

FastTrack™ technology enables instant instrument readiness and full spectrum scans within a second without jeopardizing accuracy.

Reliable results

FastTrack™ technology has been designed to meet your expectations regarding instrument performance. Be at ease that you get results you can trust.

Simple operation

Easy to learn and customizable to each user’s needs – the intuitive user interface guides you step by step and lets you start applications with only OneClick™.

Speed Up Your UV/VIS Measurements Accurate Results within Seconds

Plug & Play accessories

Select the right accessory for every application, from various sample holders to automation devices forincreased operation performance.

Methods library

Pre-defined METTLER TOLEDO methods are available and ready for use, or for adaptation to your specific application needs.

Automated performance verification

Compliance with regulations has never been easier. CertiRef™ automatically verifies all performance parameters and generates a comprehensive report.

Connectivity with LabX®

Combine all analytical instruments from METTLER TOLEDO with a single power-ful PC software, which allows full data and workflow management.

ABC of UV/VIS Spectroscopy Guide

A comprehensive 360° overview about UV/VIS theory, instrument technology and industry segment specific applica-tions. A valuable guide to enlighten your view on UV/VIS spectroscopy.

www.mt.com/sn-uvvis

10 METTLER TOLEDO Food & Beverage News 11

Prod

uct H

ighl

ight Modular Titration Excellence

Tailored to Your Needs

www.mt.com/titration

The new generation of Titration Excellence builds upon the proven

modular concept broadening the analyses offering with automated

sodium analysis and coulometric Karl Fischer titration. Titration

Excellence speeds up routine analyses by automating data transfer

and making operation more intuitive thanks to the high-resolution

touch screen. Start analyses with just OneClick™ and have confidence

in your analytical results.

Karl Fischer modularityPerform coulometric KF titration on all Titration Excellence instruments. The new coulometric module improves Bromine Index determination and re-quires no extra bench space.

Secure routine operationStatusLight™, the interplay of light and sound, supports routine operation with visual and acoustic signaling. Stay in touch with your titration from any-where in the lab!

Direct sodium determinationThe standard addition technique for direct sodium determination is an integral part of the new Titration Excellence. Automated direct sodium determination can now be carried out on a whole sample series.

11METTLER TOLEDO Food & Beverage News 11

Convenient and simple operationThe large color touchscreen is easy to use and drying methods are directly accessed with OneClick on an icon. The intuitive interface is available in multiple languages.

Trusted Moisture ResultsStart with OneClick™

Routine moisture determination is made easier with the new HC103

halogen moisture analyzer. It combines proven METTLER TOLEDO

weighing technology and fast halogen heating. The compact design saves

space and the robust components guarantee a long instrument lifetime

even in busy laboratories and harsh production environments. Intuitive

to operate and easy to clean, the HC103 brings a new level of comfort to

daily moisture analyzing tasks.

Ensured trusted resultsGraphical guidance ensures the process is carried out correctly and progress is monitored by a real-time drying curve. Print out results or save PDF/CSV reports to eliminate transcription errors.

Long lifetime The solid metal housing is tough enough to withstand the harshest of working en-vironments and cleaning is easy thanks to the smooth surfaces. Benefit further from reliable halogen technology.

www.mt.com/moisture

www.mt.comFor more information

Mettler-Toledo GmbHLaboratory DivisionIm LangacherCH-8606 Greifensee, Switzerland

Local contact: www.mt.com/contacts

Effective Right Awaywith METTLER TOLEDO Service

METTLER TOLEDO Service

Take the stress-free route to instantly meet your productivity, quality and regulatory requirements. Rely on METTLER TOLEDO’s trained experts when it comes to professional installation and operator instructions.

METTLER TOLEDO Service offers competence and expertise in the following four areas:

Calibration and Certificates• Easily understandable and audit-proof

certificates

• Internationally approved procedures

• Selected according to your requirements

Installation Pacs • Professional installation and

configuration

• User familiarization

• Equipment qualification

User Training • Tailored to your needs

• Trained by the expert of the

manufacturer

Extended Care• Extended warranty

• Preventive maintenance

• Priority technical assistance

www.mt.com/service