Volscan Profiler can be used to test cereal, baked products

STABLE Micro Systems has been granted approval of an AACCI standard method for the laser-based, non-contact instrument, Volscan Profiler.

The Volscan Profiler automatically measures the volume and dimensional profile of baked products, accurately and repeatably, according to the company. With the AACCI standard, the instrument can now be used by cereal scientists and bakers to evaluate their products.

The benchtop laser-based scanner offers more precision than water or seed displacement techniques. It delivers objective and precise 3-dimensional digitization (laser topography) for bread and baked products. It can show various styles of bread including tin loaves, round loaves, rolls (seeded and non-seeded) and baguettes, to muffins and cakes, with a maximum sample height of 60cm and width of 38cm.

“The method underwent a collaborative study with nine laboratories in the US, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, with each following the procedure for a range of eleven samples and reporting back on the results,” said Jo Smewing, applications manager, Stable Micro Systems. “Including measurements such as volume, product length, maximum height and maximum width, the standard method offers operators a comprehensive measurement scope, with a greater range of parameters and breadth of bakery samples than any similar method using competitive instrumentation.”

Features such as specific volume, volume yield, height at the maximum width, width at the maximum height and aspect ratios can also be determined by the Volscan Profiler. These additional parameters, however, were not investigated in the study.

Stable Micro Systems has developed additional features within the Volscan Profiler program software that allow the instrument to create bespoke solutions for more specialist applications. For example, the calculation of surface area, circumference and minimum enclosing circle have been added to help manufacturers quantify the product’s suitability to fit into the chosen packaging without difficulty. 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.

According to Jo Smewing, these calculations extend the applications of Volscan Profiler and in fact, make the instrument the most comprehensive dimensional analysis available in this field. “Provision of these automatically determined parameters provides manufacturing decision tools not offered by any alternative or historically available measuring method. In a fast moving bakery industry, rapid product measurement is key to manufacturing intelligence and success.”

Stable Micro Systems received the approval during the 100^th American Association of Cereal Chemists Conference held from October 18-21 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.