NDC Infrared Engineering, UK- and US-based manufacturer of process measurement systems, has announced the launch of its new InfraLab e-Series multi-component at-line tobacco analyzer. Suitable for green leaf threshing, incoming bales/cases, primary, expanded tobacco, reconstituted sheet tobacco, treated stern, chewing tobacco/snuff, final blend, roll-your-own, pipe tobacco and cigar filler, the analyzer uses non-contacting multi-wavelength NIR technology to measure the key parameters of moisture, nicotine and sugars. Calibrated to the process plant’s primary reference methods, the InfraLab provides measurements right beside the production line - to laboratory accuracy.

With a measurement period of less than 10 seconds, minimum sample preparation and no special user skills requirement, the InfraLab e-Series can be used to make fast, accurate measurements of samples of tobacco from all stages in the GLT, primary and other processes. InfraLab’s consistent and accurate measurements are completely independent of product and ambient changes in the process area such as: temperature, relative humidity and factory lighting. Key benefits offered by the InfraLab include improved in-pack moisture, reduced operator dependency, reduced off line testing and improved product quality. 

Recognizing that tobacco producers use a variety of primary reference methods, either in-house or externally, the InfraLab’s linear factory calibrations are easily adjusted to provide equivalent measurements, saving on analysis costs and laboratory overhead and delivering considerable time advantages. Each measurement is pre-loaded into the InfraLab and can be selected from the drop-down menu within the intuitive touchscreen user interface.

Connectivity via ethernet to Management Information Systems, LIMS laboratory networks or to a PC, as well as extensive integral memory capacity, enable the display or storage of vital quality data wherever it is needed – both locally and centrally.