SECURE YOUR INFORMATION IN EXPONENT SOFTWARE - April 2004
t-TEST INCLUDED IN EXPONENT SOFTWARE - April 2004
NEW HEAVY DUTY TEXTURE ANALYSER SPEEDS TO MARKET
SMS DEMONSTRATES TA.XTplus WITH NEW UPGRADE PATH AT FiE 2003
VISUALISE THE BENEFITS OF TEXTURE ANALYSIS
PATENT GRANTED FOR SMS POWDER FLOW ANALYSER ~ BLADE PRINCIPLE
SMS LAUNCHES POWDER FLOW ANALYSER
NEW POWDER FLOW ANALYZER
SOUND ADVICE FROM STABLE MICRO SYSTEMS
SMS ENDS TESTING TIMES FOR ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURERS
A PLUS FOR TEXTURE ANALYSIS
ARE BAKERS FULL OF HOT AIR?
SMS PUMPS UP QA STANDARDS
EASY ADHESION ASSESSMENT
KEEPING CEREALS CRISPY
TOUGH TORTILLAS?
STABLE MICRO SYSTEMS SCOOPS GOLD AWARD
KEEPING CONTROL IN CONTROLLED RELEASE TABLETS


SECURE YOUR INFORMATION IN EXPONENT SOFTWARE Developed in accordance with the FDA CFR21 Part 11 guidelines, the EXP/ESM Enhanced Security Module for Exponent software - the dedicated software for use with the TA.XTplus and TA.HDplus Texture Analysers - has been introduced to provide electronic record and signature management. It offers the user features to improve the security of their and their customers' information, as well as facilitating continuous monitoring and tracking of results and records. Features include an encrypted log-on password of at least seven characters, combined with password protection for validation of calibration checks. In addition, multipe hierarchical levels of user profiles are available and electronic signatures can be used for record certification. Another important feature is the ability to copy and print out audit trails, allowing clear visibility to trace results and records. The module also provides protective security measures to detect and notify any attempt at unauthorised use of passwords and/or identity codes during the audit. Main Features: Strict password checking option Lock program after predefined amount of inactivity Send messages to a specified user or computer on detection of tampering. Advanced logging of actions such as logging in/out, changing options, performing calibrations, etc. Policies to create common security rights for groups of users. Define the number of login attempts before being locked out Specify lockout time if required Specify password validity Specify any unique passwords required before reuse Option to force user to change password when they next login Ability to display a custom reminder if the password is forgotten Option to prevent user from changing their password Option to disable a user account or temporarily prevent it from being used Option to give individual users rights to verify actions such as calibrations Ability to log Check Force results with independent user verification.
T-Test INCLUDED IN EXPONENT SOFTWARE Over the years several customers have indicated how beneficial it would be to have the addition of the t-test within our results files. The t-test analysis assesses whether the means of two groups are statistically different from each other. This statistical calculation has now been incorporated into Exponent (versions 2.0.0.4 and higher) and will come as a particular delight to all of those users who have until now had to perform this calculation within Excel. This feature highlights the constant evolution of our products from customer suggestion to broaden certain areas and enhance the software functionality.
NEW HEAVY DUTY TEXTURE ANALYSER SPEEDS TO MARKET A new high-speed, high force, heavy duty texture analyser - the TA.HDplus - has been launched by Stable Micro Systems, one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of texture analysis equipment. With a maximum force capacity of 1000kg (10kN), the TA.HDplus is the most powerful and flexible texture analyser available for the food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and adhesives industries. The high resolution functionality of the established heavy duty texture analyser has been enhanced in the TA.HDplus to allow for minimum speeds of 0.01mm/second. Higher test speeds - up to 20mm/second - can also now be achieved with the new model. Its high speed capabilities will be of particular interest when matching specific operational conditions or imitating real life situations. Speeds can also vary in proportion to the height of the sample, so products can be tested at a constant strain rate in compression or tension. For improved functionality, a number of other design features have been incorporated into the TA.HDplus texture analyser. A simple keypad is integrated into the main body of the analyser to save desk space. In addition, peripheral instruments can now be plugged into the instrument for multi-channel data acquisition. This enables other measurement devices, such as temperature and humidity monitors or acoustic envelope modules, to be used in conjunction with the TA.HDplus so that data can be simultaneously collected. Increased flexibility can be achieved through the multi-stage test programming facilities as the user can now define individual arm movement sequences at various speeds and distances. This unique feature allows the most complex test protocols to be established. In addition, the texture analyser is no longer limited to fixed library tests. The new TA.HDplus texture analyser uses a fully integrated fourth generation Exponent 32-bit software to provide consistently accurate and quantifiable textural data. This has a number of advantages: Thumbnails: allow the user to preview the file before it is opened Long file name support: make files easier to locate and understand Dockable and customisable toolbars: allow the user to configure their own shortcuts and tools menu Graphs: windows are tabulated so that all information relating to the graphs, such as test settings, parameters and results, are filed together in a user-friendly, accessible manner Projects, results and macros have all been enhanced Reports have been redesigned to use a more familiar word processing environment Multi-language change facility: user-definable translation system.
SMS DEMONSTRATES TA.XTplus WITH NEW UPGRADE PATH AT FiE 2003 Stable Micro Systems, one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of texture analysis equipment, is presenting its state of the art TA.XTplus texture analyser which boasts its new-generation 32-bit software, Texture Exponent. By upgrading to the TA.XTplus, existing TA.XT2i customers can benefit from the improved electronics and mechanics of the new texture analyser, as well as the additional features offered by the innovative software package. Benefits include higher operating speeds and reduced maintenance costs, combined with more advanced and totally flexible test options for food texture analysis. With the innovative TA.XTplus and Texture Exponent software, more precise product analysis can be achieved at a range of speeds (between 0.01mm/s and 20mm/s), due to additional technical specifications. The high-resolution functionality from the established TA.XT2i model has been incorporated into the new instrument as standard. Another feature of the TA.XTplus is the ability for operators to develop and write their own unique test procedure or 'sequence'. Using a Sequence Wizard, the 32-bit software offers user-friendly navigation to produce custom-specific test methods. The number of sequences and their complexity is limitless, as they are not restricted to standard library tests. Improved electronics and mechanics within the TA.XTplus, coupled with the software package, facilitate reduced maintenance costs for users through accurate reporting of errors and the ability to update the firmware via flash upgrading from the internet. With continuous modifications and improvements to the software, free updates are available by downloading from www.stablemicrosystems.com. Extra features available in Texture Exponent include the provision of extended file names, enhanced calibration procedures and improved application help files. In addition, more defined layout and report options provide enhanced presentation of graphics and analysed results. On show at Stable Micro Systems' stand is the TA.XTplus texture analyser with Texture Exponent, as well as the recently launched Powder Flow Analyser. The company is also showcasing a range of accessories for all sectors of the food industry. Technical staff are on hand to demonstrate all the tests and discuss texture analysis methods for the food manufacturing industry.
VISUALISE THE BENEFITS OF TEXTURE ANALYSIS Stable Micro Systems, one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of materials testing equipment, has launched its revolutionary Video Playback Indicator. Attached to the TA.XTplus texture analyser, the new technology synchronises video recordings captured during a texture analysis experiment with the corresponding force-distance-time data. Ideal for testing crispy and crunchy foods, such as biscuits, breakfast cereals and fruit and vegetables, the new device helps manufacturers achieve a more accurate and detailed analysis of their products. Visual elements of an experiment can be easily missed by the human eye due to the rapid speed of the test or to the complex breaking pattern of the sample. It can also prove difficult to interpret video recordings of an experiment after the test has taken place if they are not correlated with the graphical information collected during the test. The Video Playback Indicator enables manufacturers to play back each frame of a video recording with the corresponding point on the force-distance-time graph, so a more accurate interpretation of the test can be achieved. The new device also helps manufacturers identify inconsistencies or irregularities in a test, as it may be difficult to recognise unusual or one-off factors by viewing force-distance-time or visual data alone. Testing the product at a later date, to iron out these inconsistencies, is often unfeasible due to the sample not being available or time limitations. Synchronising visual and graphical data using the Video Playback Indicator helps identify irregularities in test results without the need for re-evaluation, so misleading information could be eliminated from findings. The Video Playback Indicator is attached to Stable Micro Systems' TA.XTPlus texture analyser. As the TA.XTPlus begins collecting data, a signal is transmitted to the Video Playback Indicator, prompting an LED light source. The display of this light is captured on the video recording of the test so, when replayed later, it indicates the beginning of the data capture. The video recording and graphical data are viewed by the Texture Exponent software supplied with the texture analyser. The frame showing the display of light can thus be matched electronically to the beginning of the force-distance-time curve, so enabling frame by frame synchronisation with the graphical data captured during the test.
PATENT GRANTED FOR SMS POWDER FLOW ANALYSER -BLADE PRINCIPLE Stable Micro Systems has been granted full US Patents for its innovative blade design that is incorporated into the recently-launched Powder Flow Analyser accessory for the TA.XT2i and TA.XTplus Texture Analysers. The patented blade is a true helix and can be mathematically described, unlike the blades fitted to other powder measuring devices on the market. The helical blade naturally cuts through the column of powder being tested and negates the need for complex torque measuring systems. Repeatably manufactured by CNC machining, it allows Stable Micro Systems to achieve very reproducible, and highly discriminating results from a reliable, simple and lost cost accessory. Commenting on the patent, Jim Walker, technical director at Stable Micro Systems, said: "The design of the blade is the single most important factor in achieving repeatable powder flow measurements. The non-helical blade used on other instruments is bent from a flat sheet and presents a large flat central area to the powder being tested. It effectively compresses a column of powder beneath the blade during its travel path through the sample. As a consequence, any axial force readings being taken are corrupted and these instruments are forced to rely on torque measurements because of the inadequacies of blade design." Patents have also been applied for the rest of the world.
STABLE MICRO SYSTEMS ENDS TESTING TIMES FOR ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURERS Stable Micro Systems, stand 3112, Hall 3, Interplas/Nepcon, NEC, Birmingham, UK, 30 September - 4 October 2002 Stable Micro Systems, one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of scientific physical test instrumentation, will be launching its innovative Resistance Conversion Unit at the NEC in September. The unit allows manufacturers to test the electrical resistance of a wide range of conductive materials when subjected to physical deformation. The performance of electronic switches can also be investigated, making the Resistance Conversion Unit suitable for a wide number of uses. Also on show will be the TA.HDi and TA.XTPlus instruments which can test the compressive and tensile characteristics of plastics, rubbers and sealants. The Resistance Conversion Unit will be extremely valuable for manufacturers of polymers, adhesives, gaskets, coatings and other conductive products. It can measure electrical resistance between 0 and 2 ohms or between 0 and 20 ohms. Attached to Stable Micro Systems' TA.XTPlus instrument, it gathers data at 500 measurements per second, making it one of the fastest and most accurate testing methods available. The results of the test are plotted in real time as graphs (force/resistance or distance/resistance) and can be analysed by proprietary software or exported for external analysis. The data acquired gives a useful indication of the performance of conductive products in electronic applications. Stable Micro Systems' TA.HDi and TA.XTPlus instruments can be fitted with various attachments to enable plastics, sealant and rubber manufacturers to test the physical properties of samples. In addition to compression and tensile tests, the instruments can measure the flexibility of samples undergoing deformation on three or four point bend rigs. All tests can be carried out within temperature-controlled environments, allowing manufacturers to assess the impact of temperature on the performance of their products.
New Powder Flow Analyzer Stable Micro Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of materials testing instrumentation, is launching its revolutionary Powder Flow Analyzer at Powtech-Technopharm this year. The Powder Flow Analyzer is being hailed as industry's most accurate and reliable method of measuring the flow characteristics of dry and wet powders. It will help manufacturers avoid typical problems such as batch and source variation of ingredients, caking during storage, bridging in hoppers and sticking during production. The Powder Flow Analyzer can be used to assess any product capable of flow - not just free-flowing powders. Samples are conditioned at the beginning to eliminate any variations in loading, and the precision-engineered, patented blade is then rotated through the sample, causing "controlled flow". Sophisticated mixing and testing cycles enable users to test their products in realistic conditions. During a caking test, for instance, compaction of the sample forms a cake-like layer of powder which can then be analyzed, giving a good indication of how the sample may flow out of a silo after prolonged storage.
Stable Micro Systems' Powder Flow Analyzer is supplied with library tests so manufacturers can start testing quickly and conveniently after straightforward installation and calibration. Users can, however, fully program the instrument to carry out slicing, shearing, compressing, compacting, mixing and aerating cycles in any combination, and in any sequence. Test sequences can be repeated ad infinitum to maximize accuracy and repeatability. Testing is possible with very small sample volumes, minimizing both disruption and expense. These samples are placed in a borosilicate glass sample vessel; allowing users to monitor what is happening to the powder as the sample is displaced. During the test, axial force, time and distance are measured by a sensitive transducer and data is displayed and analyzed in real time by 16 or 32 bit software. This allows manufacturers to test characteristics such as mixing kinetics, granule surface friction, resistance to compression and particle cohesion after compaction. The results from different samples can be ranked and compared to assess the impact of external conditions including batch or source variation, humidity and moisture content, surface properties, electrostatic charge and particle or granule size, shape and distribution. The Powder Flow Analyzer is supplied with a renowned texture analyzer from Stable Micro Systems. The TA.XT2i and TA.XTplus instruments are already used in over 4000 laboratories worldwide for various texture analysis tests in food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, personal care, paints and coatings and other manufacturing industries. By simply changing the attachments on the instrument, manufacturers can test semi-finished and finished products.
SOUND ADVICE FROM STABLE MICRO SYSTEMS In response to demand from universities and commercial research departments, Stable Micro Systems, one of the world's leading providers of texture analysis equipment, has designed and launched its new Acoustic Envelope Detector. Used with the TA.XTPlus texture analyser, the new instrument offers manufacturers a quick and easy method of collecting and analysing the noise released by crispy products as they are deformed. Together with an instrument designed to measure force, distance and time, this innovation adds a new dimension to texture analysis and quality control. An indicator of freshness and high quality, crispness is a pivotal factor in determining the appeal of crunchy and crispy products such as biscuits, cereals, crisps and hard varieties of fruit and vegetables. One of the most prominent characteristics of crunchy and crispy foods is the acoustic energy emitted upon their disintegration during chewing or mechanical testing. For many years, academic institutes have attempted to analyse acoustic emissions to test product texture. Methods of analysis, however, have proven complicated and lengthy as data has been collected on huge files up to 2 megabytes in size. Using the new Acoustic Envelope Detector, acoustic data can now be analysed quickly and easily using small and manageable files in the region of 20KB per test. Various other design features make the Acoustic Envelope Detector ideal for testing brittle products. A highly sensitive directional microphone, mounted close to the sample product, picks up only relevant high frequencies emitted by crispy foods and filters out those emitted by the texture analyser itself. Force, distance, time and acoustic data can be acquired at very high speeds of up to 500pps (data points per second) - an important feature when testing crispy products that break quickly. Acoustic and force curves can be viewed at the same time so that relationships between acoustic and force events can be easily identified.
STABLE MICRO SYSTEMS PUMPS UP QA STANDARDS Stable Micro Systems, one of the world's leading providers of texture analysis equipment, has announced the launch of an Annular Pumping Rig. The new rig measures the relative proportions of viscous behaviour and elastic behaviour in visco-elastic materials. Welcomed by food manufacturers using ingredients such as gelatine and pectin, the new addition to Stable Micro Systems' range allows existing users of TA.XT2i and TA.XTPlus texture analysers to perform a well-established test, without the expense of purchasing a traditional rotational rheometer. Visco-elastic materials exhibit both elastic (spring-like) and viscous (liquid-like) behaviours when subjected to stress or strain. Stable Micro Systems' new rig is ideal for studying the melting, setting and curing phenomena of these materials, such as gels and non-self-supporting materials. It works by measuring changes in force as a ribbed cylindrical probe follows a sinusoidally oscillating path through the sample held in a vessel. The "frequency" (speed) of the oscillations plays an essential role in the test. Lower frequencies tend to favour viscous behaviour, as the sample is given time to flow past the probe, whereas high frequencies cause samples to behave more like solids. Similarly, temperature needs to be controlled and accurately measured, as it has a significant impact on the material's internal structure and mechanical properties. The temperature of the Annular Pumping Rig can be controlled by circulating water through the walls of the sample vessel. Unlike traditional rheometers, temperature can be measured both on the outer surface of the ribbed probe and on the inner surface of the vessel, giving important information on the temperature gradient within the gap.
ARE BAKERS FULL OF HOT AIR? At Food & Bake, Stable Micro Systems, the designer and manufacturer of world-leading texture analysis equipment for the food industry, will be demonstrating innovative new technology that allows manufacturers to optimise the structure and volume of baked goods. The new Constant Strain Inflation Rate test is performed on the TA.XTPlus using the existing Dough Inflation System attachment, one of many to be used in the baking industry - including the Tortilla/Pastry Burst Rig, the Chen-Hoseney Dough Stickiness Cell, and the Kieffer Dough & Gluten Extensibility Rig. The new Constant Strain Inflation Rate test enhances the functionality of the Dough Inflation System. Whereas previous tests have been limited to a set rate of inflation, the new facility enables the user to alter the inflation rate of the dough bubble as its volume changes. Evaluation of the dough bubble's large deformation extensional properties provides vital information on the stability of gas cells and gas retention during proving and baking - key factors in the structure and volume of the final product. The test is run at a constant temperature of 50°C, close to that achieved during the proving process of bread, which produces a more realistic indication of the dough's real baking performance. The Constant Strain Rate Inflation function on the TA.XTPlus texture analyser has already been employed as a major component of a recent LINK project (supported by HAFF / DEFRA under the Agro-Food Quality LINK programme). This project sought to determine the physical mechanisms responsible for the loss in gas retention in bread doughs at the end of baking, and their relationship to baking performance. Several academic institutions and key manufacturers in the baking industry were involved including Pillsbury, Unilever and United Biscuits . Stable Micro Systems' technical and application staff will be available at the exhibition to discuss potential applications for the Constant Strain Inflation Rate facility and the company's wide range of fixtures and probes for the baking industry. (The organisations involved in the LINK project were: the University of Reading - School of Food Biosciences, the University of Nottingham - Division of Food Sciences, the Institute of Arable Crops Research - Long Ashton, Amylum, Danone, Griffith Laboratories, Heygates, Pillsbury, Unilever, United Biscuits, Weston Research Laboratories and Stable Micro Systems.)


A PLUS FOR TEXTURE ANALYSIS

The speed range of the TA-XTPlus has also been extended. The high-resolution functionality from the established TA.XT2iHR model has been incorporated into the new instrument as standard, allowing for a minimum speed of 0.01mm/s. High speed testing is also possible as a maximum speed of 40mm/s can be reached using 5kg and 25kg load cells. Speed can also alter in proportion to the height of the sample, so products can be tested at a constant strain rate.

The TA-XTPlus uses a proprietary 32-bit software called Texture Exponent. This has several advantages:
Thumbnails: allow the user to preview the file before it is opened
Long file name support: make files easier to locate and understand
Dockable and customisable toolbars: allow the user to configure their own shortcuts and tools menu
Graphs: windows are tabulated so that all information relating to the graphs, such as test settings, parameters and results, are filed together in a user-friendly, accessible manner
Projects, results and macros have all been enhanced
Reports have been redesigned to use a more familiar word processing environment
Multi-language change facility: user-definable translation system.

Stable Micro Systems' technical and application staff will be available at the exhibition to discuss potential applications for the TA-XTPlus. A range of other instruments and accessories for texture analysis in the food industry will also be on display. It will include the ManUmit Powder Rheometer - Stable Micro Systems' revolutionary new instrument for accurately measuring the flow properties of powders, granules and wet mixes throughout the food industry.

EASY ADHESION ASSESSMENT

Adhesiveness (often referred to by consumers as 'stickiness') is key to perceived product quality, performance and effectiveness. Stable Micro Systems has optimised test procedures and equipment to ensure repeatability - adhesiveness can be influenced by many factors, including temperature, liner material, moisture level and repeated use. By matching adhesive performance to functional and consumer requirements, manufacturers can identify the ideal adhesive composition.

Tack, the most important determinant of the success of an adhesive bond, is assessed with a loop tack test or a probe tack test, using a stainless steel ball probe. In these tack tests, the "debonding strength" of the adhesive is determined by the force required to pull away the adhesive and the length of time this takes.

A number of common and established adhesive tests can be carried out using Stable Micro Systems' TA.XT2i texture analyser. A 180 degree peel test, usually used for packaging applications, can be performed using the recently-launched Peel Strength Test Rig. Other fixtures can be attached to the TA.XT2i to carry out 90 degree peel, "T" peel and drum peel tests. An adhesive indexing system has also been launched to allow multiple testing of one sample, highlighting variations within it, and giving an indication of its likely performance.

Data captured during the tests is presented as real-time graphs and allows detailed analysis of the compressive and tensile stress-strain behaviour of the adhesive. Users can obtain information about properties such as shear performance, the adhesive's molecular structure and the effects of temperature.