High-speed NIR analyzer enables 100% lot inspection of nutraceutical raw materials

The LabSpec Pro, a portable high-speed near-infrared (NIR) analyzer developed by Analytical Spectral Devices, Inc. (ASD) will be introduced to the burgeoning nutraceutical industry at SupplySide West booth #1478, November 28-30, 2001, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The LabSpec Pro is a laboratory-quality NIR spectrometer that allows dietary supplement, functional food and nutraceutical manufacturers to efficiently perform 100% lot inspections of raw materials instantly without costly sample preparation.

With the imminent regulation of the nutraceutical industry there is a virtual mandate for nutraceutical companies to standardize ingredients and ensure product purity. NIR instruments such as the LabSpec Pro will provide a cost-effective means to achieving this goal.

"LabSpec Pro is the ultimate tool for 100% lot inspection of incoming raw materials," said John Enterline, director of sales and marketing at ASD. "It ensures that materials meet specification without requiring tedious and time-consuming sample preparation. Most manufacturers don't have the time to do 100% inspection because it takes too long. With the LabSpec Pro you can test materials at the loading dock and release them to the warehouse within seconds."

The LabSpec Pro is not only fast (3,600 measurements per hour), but highly accurate, producing results similar to those found in a normal lab environment. The instrument is capable of a full range scan from 350 - 2500 nm in 0.1 seconds and produces a spectral resolution of 3 nm in the 350 nm - 1000 nm range and 10 nm in the 1000 nm - 2500 nm range. The LabSpec Pro also performs particularly well in the 2200 nm - 2500 nm range where many competitors perform poorly. Furthermore, the LabSpec Pro's high signal-to-noise ratio provides excellent repeatability, which minimizes sampling errors.

Moreover, the LabSpec Pro is the only truly portable, laboratory-quality spectrometer on the market today. Packaged in a sleek housing that includes a built-in handle for easy transportation, the LabSpec Pro measures just 13"L x 4.5"W x 16"H and weighs less than 20 pounds, so users can easily perform QC inspections on the loading docks, on the production line, or in the warehouse.

Founded in 1990, Analytical Spectral Devices is the only manufacturer of truly portable, laboratory-quality UV/Vis/NIR spectrometers, spectroradiometers, spectrophotometers and corresponding software. ASD's instruments perform well in a range of environmental conditions, in and outside of the laboratory, and have applications in analytical chemistry, remote sensing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, grain, mining, food & dairy, and pulp & paper industries. For more information, please contact John Enterline, Analytical Spectral Devices, 5335 Sterling Dr., Suite A, Boulder, CO, 80301; 303/444-6522, 303/444-6825 (fax); www.asdi.com

Source: ASD