Stable Micro Systems, an expert in texture analysis, has developed revolutionary testing methods for its non-contact laser-based volume measurement instrument, the Volscan Profiler. New features have been added to the Volscan Profiler, enabling bakers to carry out advanced calculations which will provide additional meaningful solutions in more specialist applications.
With the Volscan Profiler, they can now measure the dimensions of their products to quantify their suitability to fit into the chosen packaging without difficulty.
In a fast paced baking industry, rapid product measurement and the provision of automatically-calculated quality control pass or fail benchmarks are key to manufacturing intelligence and success. For the first time, manufacturers of sandwich loaves can verify whether their finished diagonally cut sandwiches will fit into the desired packaging, via determination of the bread’s maximum height and width. In doing so, the process ensures product volume and packaging are matched, helping bakers maintain cost efficiencies by reducing waste of both product and packaging material.
In addition, producers of specialist breads can carry out full dimensional analysis. Bakers of circular baguettes and artisan rolls, for example, can now measure the circumference of the section with the largest diameter to discover the minimum length of packaging material required to fit around the product to completely enclose it. A further calculation measures the minimum enclosing circle. The smallest circle that can encompass all of the data points of the largest scanned slice is virtually fitted to the finished scanned product. This enables bakers to estimate the diameter of packaging needed to contain the product without deformation.
The addition of these unique calculations extends the use of the Volscan Profiler by encompassing automatically-determined parameters and providing manufacturing decision tools, currently not offered by any alternative or historically available volume measuring method. Software which accompanies the Volscan Profiler allows flexible data reporting, displaying the finished test result as 2D and 3D profiles, as well as archiving all data to spreadsheet programmes for further assessment and comparison. The tests are also repeatable and applicable from one bakery to the next and maintain production efficiencies by obtaining results in under sixty seconds.
