The Diamond Standard in Industrial Humidity Sensors
Why MoistTech moisture applications? With over 40 years in the moisture management industry, MoistTech moisture sensors can be found in thousands of applications all over the world. Our moisture meters save manufacturers a large amount of time and money by quickly detecting variables in the manufacturing process and allowing corrections to be made in real time. In addition to measuring moisture, our moisture sensors can also measure and control: coating thickness, oil, resin content, protein,fat, sugar, seasonings, nicotine, plastic film thickness, and many other constituents. We are unsurpassed in performance and accuracy for NIR moisture measurement technology for instant on-line, off-line, and laboratory moisture instrumentation.

Snack Food Moisture Applications
Moisture, Oil, & Fat/Protein Measurement to Create Instant Quality Control.
- teksAlmonds/Nuts
- Cookies
- Corn Chips
- Crackers
- Extruded Snacks
- Popcorn
- Potato Chips
- Pretzels
- Tiger Nuts
- Tortilla

The Importance of Moisture Measurement During Snack Food Production
The moisture content requirements in snackfood production dictate many of the product outcomes: taste, consistency, quality, and shelf life. Utilizing an experienced moisture management system will allow the user to have full control over the snack food manufacturing process to create a reduction in waste and downtime, improve plant efficiency and product quality, save energy through proper dryer control and allow for full product inspection.

Snack foods play a significant role in the global food market, generating billions of dollars in revenue each year.
- Potato Chips or Crisps
- Tortilla Chips
- Nuts
- Dried Fruits
- Granola
- Hand or Batch Cooked Chips or Crisps
- Corn Dough
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Puffed Corn
- Baked Potato Based Snacks
- Crackers
- Breadsticks

Ensuring consistent product quality and implementing efficient production methods are essential for the success of snackfood products. Utilizing NIR and food moisture sensors ensures the product quality is correct.

MoistTech offers multiple moisture sensor options to suit your specific application needs including the standard IR3000 series and IR-3000-F series that is Nickel Plated to specifically allow for food environments where frequent wash downs occur and protects against corrosion and abrasion. The food grade sensor includes a Kel-F window in place of our standard glass.

Benefits of Proper Food Moisture Analysis
Our sensor calibrations, measurement wavelengths, algorithms and sensor optical requirements are pre-set at the factory. With impeccable accuracy and consistency, there are a multitude of benefits that are immediately seen with a proper moisture measurement system from MoistTech:
- Typical accuracy is about ±0.1% moisture
- Typical analog range is 0-10% moisture
- The outputs can be adjusted to optimize PLC or recording requirements
- Little to Zero Maintenance
- No need for re-calibration or yearly maintenance
- Can be installed anywhere on the line - even at an angle
- Made for harsh environments near ovens and sprayers
- RS232 and Ethernet compatible for realtime control
- Thousands of measurements per second

Utilizing NIR Moisture Sensors in Snack Food Production
By utilizing NIR analysis at the oven exit, plant operators can receive immediate feedback, allowing them to make necessary adjustments to the oven temperatures and optimize moisture levels, typically within a 0.5% range. This results in a more consistent product quality, reduced energy and ingredient costs, and a decrease in out-of-specification products. In fact, in many manufacturing plants, focusing solely on moisture control can lead to a payback period of less than 6 months when using a MoistTech analyzer.

Incoming rawingredients, such as flour, corn, wheat, and rice, can vary significandy in composition and quality. Surprisingly, many manufacturers do not implement proper quality control measures for these critical ingredients. By analyzing key parameters like protein, moisture, and cthers, manufacturers can ensure consistent quality from their raw materials. Implementing quality monitoring for raw ingredients during snack food production results in more consistent products and reduces the need for rework and discarding.

Many snack foods undergo additional processes, such as the application of oil, cheese, or other coatings, after leaving the oven. NIRtechnology can be effectively utilized to ensure the consistent and uniform application of these coatings. This further enhances the overall quality of the final product.

Food Moisture Analysis Production Points
Some of the process points in a snackfood plant where quality measurements can help control the process, save money and improve consistency and quality include:
- Raw material testing to verify supplier integrity and ingredient quality
- Monitoring dough or masa for consistency
- Monitoring moisture and fat levels atfryer or oven exit
- Monitoring and controlling oils, cheese or other ingredients sprayed on the product NIR analysis is a proven technique that provides simultaneous results for moisture, protein, fat and other parameters instanty.

Constant Return on Investment
Snackfood production applications encompass the examination of both the initial components and the final product, facilitating the enhancement of the entire process. The rapid analysis speed enables a comprehensive measurement of all incoming ingredients and finished products, ensuring utmost precision. By verifying the suppliers of raw ingredients, the provision of high-quality materials can be ensured, thereby guaranteeing consistent production and product quality while minimizing the need for re-work.

The primary focus in analyzing snack foods is typically at the oven exit. It is crucial to control the moisture levels in the final products to maintain their quality. Excessive moisture can negatively impact the texture, mouthfeel, and even the microbiological and product stability aspects if left
uncontrolled. On the other hand, over-drying the product can affectits palatability and lead to higher drying and ingredient expenses.

Snack Food Moisture Sensor Application
#MoistureSensors #SnackFoodIndustry