Nutech Analytical, Inc.


grain grader
SPY Grain Grader
what's new page
What's New
Nutech logo
Company
home image
Home Page

Introducing the SPX Speck Expert

Dark specks in milled or spray-dried material adversely affect the appearance of the finished product and therefore have a negative impact on the value of the raw ingredient. Specks are commonly determined by a manual counting process where the observer visually identifies the number of specks within a defined area of flattened material. Manual counts are highly subjective and unreliable as a measure of product quality, are tedious, inconsistent and cannot be standardized.

Digital Speck Counting Speck counts in semolina

  • SPX Bran Index in flour
  • Speck counts in corn grits
  • Speck counts in corn starch
  • Impurity counts in surimi

    Using proprietary digital technology, the SPX provides objective, rapid, repeatable, automated speck counting 24 hours/day. The SPX is calibrated to the primary method - the expert human counter.

  • Using ScanPro Xpert software, specks are defined by grey level and particle size.
  • Colored overlays highlight the counted specks for quick calibration and easy validation.
  • Calibrations are transferrable and are password protected.
  • Black and brown specks are counted objectively in less than 1 minute.
  • Counts can be added or averaged per holder or calculated as specks per area.
  • Reference disk for counts and Standardizing disk for illumination are used for traceability.
  • The SPX is a desktop unit that plugs into a Pentium PC and runs on Windows 95/98/2000/XP.

    • Sample Measurement Sample holder loading is fast and simple - pour, press and scrape off excess.

  • Sample compression is exact every time - lock lid quickly and easily.
  • Sample presentation to CCD array is operator independent - place in drawer, close and count.
  • Sample results are recorded in spreadsheet, database or Certificate of Analysis software.
  • Image archiving and printing (for future reference) are optional.

    • The SPX was officially launched at the 1997 Association of Operative Millers (AOM) Technical Conference and Trade Show. Industry response was overwhelming - millers were impressed with the accuracy, repeatability, simplicity and price of the SPX. Since then, the SPX has become the bench-top method of choice for durum millers and pasta manufacturers. Applications now include flour, corn starch, corn grits, and farina. SPX Bran Index for flour has been correlated with to baking performance and is currently used in the UK by miller and baker alike. To receive information about the SPX contact Nutech.

    new SPX instrument