Company: KPM Analytics

Website: kpmanalytics.com

Technology Snapshot: KPM Analytics has announced a new version of its CHOPIN Technologies Alveolab functional and rheological dough analyzer used by bakeries, milling companies, wheat breeders, and grain storage facilities. The new Alveolab is the first Alveograph instrument able to analyze whole wheat doughs for all rheological characteristics: tenacity, extensibility, elasticity, and baking strength.

Bread and baked snack producers are increasing their use of whole wheat flours to meet growing consumer demand for healthier products. Formulations that include whole wheat and other wheat flours include bran, with various sizes, which can negatively affect product quality. Rather than using guesswork and repeated baking trials, bakers can use the Alveolab to understand their doughs, enabling them to evaluate the quality of incoming whole wheat flours, quickly test new recipes, and quickly adjust processes to provide brand-consistent products.

“Prior to this innovation, traditional alveographs, which blow an air bubble into dough to perform measurements according to industry standards, simply did not work with whole wheat doughs,” said Lionel Bernard, general manager CHOPIN Technologies, a product line of KPM Analytics. “This is because bran particles tend to break the protein network, thus preventing bubble formation. After a long period of research, our experts perfected new protocols that enable the Alveolab to do what used to be impossible,” he said.

In addition to having unique capabilities for whole wheat doughs, the new Alveolab includes upgrades in hardware and software for improved user experience. Also, now it can export data to users’ LIMS (laboratory information management systems), allowing users to integrate results with data from other systems.

The new Alveolab instrument is easy to use and requires little training. It is self-controlled with its own cooling system, automatic water injection, and automatic positioning, crushing, and blowing of the dough patties.

Existing customers may contact KPM Analytics regarding the possibility of upgrading existing Alveolab models.