Engineering and technological products distributor BEP Bestobell South Africa is installing eight NDC 710e series moisture gauge systems at a local snack manufacturer’s facilities in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

The R5-million project started in November 2013 and three units had been installed as of August 1.

BEP Bestobell South Africa instrumentation product specialist Marius Cramer tells Engineering News that a staged approach is being followed for the project, which is scheduled for completion in late 2016.

He adds that snack manufacturer Simba is also using the NDC 710e series system at its factories, which are located in Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Further, Cramer points out that many tobacco product manufacturers have installed the system at several of their factories in the past five years, including British American Tobacco, Tobacco Processors Zimbabwe, Mozambique Leaf Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International.

This system is also in use at paper and packaging group Sappi Southern Africa’s Saicor paper mill, in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal.

Cramer explains that the NDC 710e series continues to be well received by industry, particularly by the food processing, tobacco, minerals processing and the paper and pulp industries, owing to its ability to ensure the production of better quality products, more energy savings and improved overall process control.

He notes that significantly more energy is used during the drying, baking or frying processes than during almost any other stage of the industrial manufacturing process.

“Poor control of the drying, baking or frying processes results in wasted energy, higher production costs and low-quality products,” states Cramer.

The NDC 710e series industrial moisture gauge is designed to help manufacturers of certain powders, coarse or fine particles, concentrates, slurries, pastes, flakes, granules and similar product formats to improve their process by providing real-time moisture measurements.

“These measurements can be used to control the process, monitor product quality and warn operators if the process is moving out of specification, thereby increasing yield and improving and maintaining quality,” he says.

The efficiency improvements can result in substantial cost reductions, with return on investment achieved in six months to three years depending on the plant’s manufacturing costs.

Cramer notes that the NDC 710e series uses “precision” near-infrared (NIR) technology to achieve continuous noncontacting measurement of the moisture content.

“While accurate to laboratory standards, the NDC 710e series is also robust enough to survive in an industrial processing environment,” he asserts.

Measurement Principle

The NDC 710e series system works on the principle that moisture (water) discretely absorbs certain wavelengths of infrared light.

By emitting light at these wavelengths onto the product and then capturing and measuring the reflected unabsorbed light on a light-sensitive detector, the system computes the moisture level in the product.

Using high-speed signal processing, the system’s patented “light engine” delivers the high resolution on-line NIR measurements and is unaffected by changes in process conditions such as variations in particle size, product height and product temperature, as well as changes in ambient lighting and relative humidity.

Place in the Process

Cramer points out that the NDC 710e series is typically located over a conveyor belt at a key point in the process, such as just after the drying, baking or frying process, where the product can be measured to give meaningful feedback for process and quality control.

“The NDC 710e series can be incorporated conveniently into closed-loop control systems using its digital or analog connectivity options, while data can be displayed locally for operators using the 710e operator workstation or human-machine interface.”

Further, Cramer states that the NDC 710e series system is used in conjunction with one or more NDC 710e series peripheral devices to facilitate data display, networking and process connectivity.

“Gauges and devices are Ethernet enabled and connect to each other through . . . (standard) Cat5E cable and they operate on 24 V direct current power,” he adds.

Cramer highlights that the 710e series range can be used in continuous manufacturing processes to measure other key parameters, including the content of fat or oil, protein, tobacco nicotine or sugars as well as coating thickness or coat weight.