The starting point
Industrial plant builders and system integrators for complex machinery and production lines in the food and beverage industry must reliably monitor product quality during production—not just afterward. This is why there is a growing demand for inline NIR analyzers that continuously measure moisture content and other quality-relevant parameters at multiple points in the process, thereby helping to maximize quality and throughput for their customers.
Various framework conditions shaped the project.
The manufacturer’s specialists were familiar with the products, the process steps, and the quality requirements. Calibration models, product configuration, brand management, and service were the areas they did not want to outsource. Therefore, the analyzer had to become part of the manufacturer’s own machine—mechanically integrated, connected to the plant control system, and presented to the end user as a single system, rather than standing alongside it as a standalone third-party device.
However, developing the optics, electronics, and process software that matched this expertise was a different line of business from the one in which they operated. Therefore, collaborating with a spectroscopy specialist was another important aspect. Taking full responsibility for this business aspect was another reason why the plant manufacturer wanted an OEM spectrometer and OEM sensor heads.
Another major aspect was the service and maintenance. To have the complete ownership for this business aspect was another aspect why the EPC wanted to have and OEM spectrometer and sensor heads.
What we built
We jointly defined the measurement concept: selection of suitable spectral specifications, position and number of measurement points, appropriate sensor heads, interfaces to the control system, and the conditions at the individual installation sites—dust, vibrations, and changing production conditions.
The spectrometer is located in a protected, non-critical area and is connected via fiber-optic cables to compact measurement heads in the immediate vicinity of the product stream. Several process steps take place on a single platform. The measured values are transmitted to the higher-level control system for visualization, documentation, and process control.
The manufacturer was granted the necessary software access to configure applications and maintain its own calibration models. The housing, user interface, and labeling are designed to match its product line.
The division of responsibilities was established at the outset: We supply and support the measurement technology. The manufacturer is responsible for the application, system integration, and the relationship with the end user.
What it delivered
- An in-line NIR measurement system under our own brand in our portfolio, without an in-house spectrometer development program
- A shorter, more predictable development path and lower technical risk
- Measurement hardware designed for the production environment rather than the laboratory
- Quality data in the same system that operators already use, so that deviations can be detected even while the batch is running
- Full control over branding, applications, and calibration models
- A technology partner for series production and long-term support
The process knowledge remained where it belonged. We provided the underlying NIR technology.
Your application knowledge. Our NIR technology.
Your application expertise. Our NIR technology.
We support equipment manufacturers and system providers in developing NIR analyzers for their own product portfolios—from the initial measurement concept and feasibility studies to custom hardware, software integration, series production, and support throughout the entire product lifecycle. To date, more than 3000 measurement points have been delivered as part of OEM projects.