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www.us-tech.com Production
Optimizing Material Processing with Smart Moisture Measurement
By Del Williams O
n the production floor, “smart” means the ability to continually monitor conditions, such as moisture content, in real time to op- timize quality. Assessing proper moisture level in products and
processes is essential for many reasons, including meeting regulations, ensuring proper chemical reactions and maximizing shelf life. “Smart inline technology can enable the rapid, automatic meas-
uring of moisture in 100 percent of product or inputs, along with the ability to immediately fine-tune the process,” says John Bogart, man- aging director of Kett U.S., a manufacturer of moisture and organic composition analyzers. This technology is smart, because all the calculations are per-
formed inside the sensor and measurements are sent on a 24/7 basis to smartphones, PCs and other devices, without having to be connected. If desired, these instruments can prompt operators and managers
with alerts as needed. Bogart notes that smart technology en- ables taking multiple precise moisture measurements each second, sorted within integrated software. This enables not only real-time analysis and error de- tection, but also more accurate results in products subject to variable, fast-changing condi- tions and processes.
24/7 Monitoring Continuous moisture monitoring, which is available for about
“Smart inline technology can enable the rapid, automatic measuring of moisture in 100 percent of product or inputs, along with the ability to immediately fine-tune the process.”
$10 per month when leased, also allows the tracking of historical per- formance trends, cyclical rhythms, and periodic failures, so corrective adjustments can be made to enhance production. Traditional data collection is usually too slow, cumbersome, and
hindered by cords and cables. Manufacturing floors are already crowded with equipment and dealing bulky cords and connections to PCs, keypads and external switches to transfer data can be restric- tive.
Kett offers near-infrared (NIR) inline sensing systems that can
take moisture measurements multiple times per second. NIR light provides a highly accurate noncontact measurements of solids, liq- uids and slurries with no need for sample preparation. “NIR moisture and organic composition meters follow the princi-
ple that water and other organics absorb certain wavelengths of light,” says Bogart. “The meter reflects light off the sample, measures how much light has been absorbed, and the result is automatically converted into a moisture (or organic component) content reading.” An example of this kind of smart technology is the Kett KB30 in-
line NIR moisture meter system. The device, which utilizes smart sensor design and is approximately the size of a car battery, enables measurement without connection to controllers, PCs or other cum- bersome I/O devices. Its connections enable local process control and remote integration, and converters are available for wireless, IP, De- viceNet and other interconnection and communications protocols. Its quick response time enables faster production line rates with
superior moisture measurement. It has been used in various indus- trial production lines to test pharmaceuticals, chemicals, foods, tex- tiles, minerals, lubricants, pulp/paper goods, and personal care prod- ucts. When its monitoring capabilities are integrated with accompa- nying Kett Tracker™ data collection and analysis software, improved error detection, defect analysis, and product quality are the result. “Ultimately, smart moisture measurement technology translates
into superior process control, quality, and production without the in- herent drawbacks of slower, labor-intensive lab or batch testing,”
says Bogart. Contact: Kett, 17853 Santiago Boulevard, Suite 107, Villa Park,
CA 92861 % 714-974-8837 E-mail:
support@kett.com Web:
www.kett.com r
May, 2021
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