We all like to treat ourselves, be it to a deliciously soft, fluffy sponge cake, a chewy caramel slice or a crusty croissant. Today, even the more health conscious consumer can choose from and enjoy a wide range of baked confectionery products. As palates and tastes have evolved, so too has the range of products on offer including gluten-free, and today the baked confectionery market is as diverse as it is competitive.

However, one thing that has remained constant is the consumer’s desire for quality. The essence of quality does not just relate to flavour and taste, but is also about texture. It is therefore essential that manufacturers invest in thorough physical product testing during the earlier stages of development and production to ensure efficiency, optimised recipes and most importantly, consumer satisfaction.

A wide range of BAKERY PRODUCT test methods (including AACC and AIB Standards) is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Firmness / Softness / Staling
• Extensibility
• Crispness / Fracturability
• Adhesiveness / Stickiness
• Baked loaf volume / quality
• Crumb texture / crust effects
• Compressibility
• Rate of proving
• Toughness
• Tensile Strength
• Springiness / Rate of Recovery / Elasticity
• Consistency
• Work softening

As attendees at each annual AACC, ICC and IFT meeting, as well as being members of Campden BRI's Cereals, Milling & Baking Panel, we are sure to be abreast of the requirements of the industry and our customers. Over the years we’ve worked with top scientists and companies in the field to develop such fixtures as the Kieffer Dough & Gluten Extensibility Rigand the Warburtons Dough Stickiness Rig.

No one knows more about the texture analysis of bakery products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say

The need for convenience as well as on-the-go meal alternatives, such as cereal bars, has been propelling the processed food industry, which includes breakfast cereals. Developed nations already have breakfast cereals as part of their regular course of meals, while increasing income in developing countries and changing food habits is giving the industry a new dimension. Special emphasis on healthy living has prompted market players to introduce new products, which suit all age groups and lifestyles. International players in the breakfast cereals market are also focusing on reformulating their products by replacing harmful hydrogenated fat and oils with healthier ingredients such as fibre and fruits. Demand for gluten-free cereals has increased in the market, especially in North America and Europe. There also has been an increase in demand for whole-grain cereals worldwide.

Texture analysis is a key part of product development in this sector. Crispness and bowl life in particular are vital to consumer acceptance as well as firmness, consistency and stickiness of semi-solid cereal products such as porridge, oatmeal and couscous.

A wide range of CEREAL PRODUCT test methods (including AACC and AIB Standards) is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Crispness / Fracturability / Brittleness
• Compressive Strength / Hardness / Firmness
• Consistency
• Rupture Force
• Toughness
• Elasticity / Modulus
• Stress Relaxation behaviour
• Breaking Strength
• Stickiness / Adhesiveness
• Bowl Life
• Starch Gel Strength

As attendees at each annual AACC, ICC and IFT meeting, as well as being members of Campden BRI's Cereals, Milling & Baking Panel, we are sure to be abreast of the requirements of the industry and our customers.

No one knows more about the texture analysis of cereal products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

Whether it's pillowy fondant, sticky caramel, gooey chocolate spread or glossy glazes, today’s consumers of confectionery want it all, demanding products that deliver on taste and texture alike. Extra crunchy, super crispy – texture descriptions on new products have become more elaborate over the last couple of years, along with the increasing use of superlatives to convey the ultimate texture experience.

It’s not just the words that are getting more elaborate. Visual texture descriptions are also receiving more prominence on packaging, while the size of the texture-evoking words is also increasing. Texture has become more dominant due to bigger inclusions such as chunks, clusters and nuggets, more innovative shapes have evolved to help achieve extra crunch or improved taste and the idea of providing a multitude of textures all at once, such as chewy, smooth and crunchy.

The myriad of ingredients available to formulate such texturally amazing products is endless. Once designed, however, the texture will need to be quantified because, after it’s bought and favoured, any new confectionery product will then survive only as long as the manufacturer is able to provide it at consistent quality to meet the consumer’s expectations.

A wide range of CONFECTIONERY PRODUCT test methods is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Firmness / Hardness
• Stickiness
• Stringiness
• Tensile Strength
• Coating Crispness
• Break Strength / Snapping Force
• Flexibility
• Gel Strength
• Fracturability
• Springiness

Over the years, we’ve worked with top scientists and companies in the field to develop such fixtures as the Flexible Substrate Clamp for measuring sweet wrapper release and the Acoustic Envelope Detector for the extra dimension of sound measurement.

No one knows more about the texture analysis of confectionery products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

As consumer tastes become increasingly sophisticated, supermarkets are displaying a wider variety of dairy products in an attempt to supply consumers with the choice they desire, whether it's creamier yoghurt, stretchier mozzarella, a more spreadable spread or softer scooping ice cream.

One way manufacturers can survive in this competitive environment, and retain consumer satisfaction and market share, is to invest in the quality of their existing products as well as new product development and innovation. Texture analysis is a key element in the production of high quality foods. Consumer surveys have demonstrated that product texture is closely linked to its popularity. The softness or hardness of a cheese, for example, could have a lasting influence on brand loyalty. Equally, consumers may be disappointed if a yoghurt has an unpleasant mouthfeel.

Meeting market demand, however, isn’t easy. Production methods, processing parameters, the need for ‘dairy-free’ and potential ingredient substitution will all need to be considered as to their contribution to change in finished product texture. The market is exciting and playful but loyalty is key and quick to change so you’ll want to make sure that the product quality is optimally measured and monitored to minimise failure.

A wide range of DAIRY PRODUCT test methods is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Firmness / Hardness
• Consistency
• Fracturability
• Spreadability
• Extensibility / Elasticity / Stretchability
• Flexibility
• Wire Cutting Force
• Shell Strength
• Foam Stability
• Work Softening

When a test solution doesn’t exist, we go ahead and develop it – the Cheese Extensibility Rigand Cheese Grating Rig are classic examples of our Community Registered Designs.

No one knows more about the texture analysis of dairy products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

The market for fruit and vegetables, especially in many industrial countries, is constantly changing and evolving. Every year new crops are being offered for sale in markets and this stimulates innovation in handling methods and studies of quality factors.

Texture is one of the most important quality attributes affecting the acceptability of both fresh and processed foods. Fruit and vegetable quality is a concept based on several criteria which depend on the objective. Firmness is an important factor to take into account since most, if not all, fruit and vegetables exhibit a substantial change in firmness during the process of ripening.

Because the ripening process itself varies from fruit to fruit, a large variation in firmness may be found among individual pieces in the same containers or harvested at the same time. This difference in appearance may considerably influence the consumer acceptance of the product as it is related to the ‘eating maturity’ and the product texture.

A wide range of FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCT test methods is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Ripeness
• Firmness
• Skin Rupture Force ('Bioyield Point')
• Crust Crispness
• Flexibility / Rigidity
• Consistency
• Stickiness
• Bruising Potential

Over the years we’ve worked with top scientists and companies in the field to develop fixtures for the AACCI Standard Method 56-36.01 for determining firmness of cooked pulses, the Multiple Puncture Probe for measurement of variable textures and the Acoustic Envelope Detector for the extra dimension of sound measurement.

No one knows more about the texture analysis of these products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

For the consumer’s acceptability and perception of quality of meat and fish products, texture is crucial. Whole tissue and processed meats are often investigated to assess ideal combinations of ingredients, evaluate contribution of processing methods/times and highlight quality inconsistencies.

The measurement issues are, however, different for each type of meat. Deli-style meats need to balance the binders and texturising ingredients to obtain perfect firmness, cohesiveness and low adhesiveness so that they can be easily cut. Formed meats need to balance moderate firmness with strong cohesion since these products are usually handled roughly but must remain whole. Many formed meats are often breaded so crispness is also a major textural attribute.

For fish and fish products the issues of firmness, gaping, and the creation of surimi products with an authentic shell-fish texture that are barely distinguishable from the real thing present challenges. At each stage in surimi product development, production and quality control, food manufacturers can quantify textural parameters such as toughness, elasticity and gel strength using the TA.XTplus Texture Analyser. The effects of gel moisture content, salt concentration, cooking temperature and length of time heat is applied during processing are typical assessments which cut out the guess-work.

A wide range of MEAT AND FISH PRODUCT test methods is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Firmness / Toughness
• Stiffness
• Cutting Strength
• Surimi Gel Strength
• Toughness
• Tensile Strength

Over the years we’ve worked with top scientists and companies in the field to develop such fixtures as the Meullenet-Owens Razor Shear Blade for poultry tenderness measurement and the USDA Standard Warner-Bratzler blade for meat testing.

No one knows more about the texture analysis of meat and fish products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

The pasta industry faces many innovative challenges driven by increasing consumer demand for premium products, health properties and an interest in more adventurous food. The development of wholegrain, gluten-free and fortified pasta in a multitude of shapes and sizes holds the potential to increase market share.

Quality control methods with objective test equipment, such as the TA.XTplus Texture Analyser, are available to monitor the effect of ingredient quality and processing methods on cooked and uncooked product texture. We have developed a wide range of texture evaluation methods for use in near-line production or in R&D. The break strength and flexure of dried pasta and the tensile strength, firmness and stickiness of cooked pasta are typical examples of tests that have been developed for use as practical, fast and cost-effective quality control tools.

Meanwhile, the almost universal usage of rice as a staple food makes it an obvious area for texture analysis testing, and the development of the Rice Extrusion Rig has been a typical response. This rig allows the determination of rice kernel resistance to extrusion after cooking according to ISO 11747.

A wide range of PASTA AND RICE PRODUCT test methods (including AACC and ISO Standards) is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• AACC Standard Method 66-50.01
• ISO 11747 Rice Kernel Resistance
• Firmness
• Pasta/Rice Stickiness
• Tensile Strength
• Extensibility
• Flexure

When a test solution doesn’t exist we go ahead and develop it – the Triple Ring Cutting System, the Rice Extrusion Rig and Noodle Loop Tensile Rig are classic examples of our Community Registered Designs that provide new ways to measure pasta or rice texture.

No one knows more about the texture analysis of pasta and rice products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

Snack foods such as tortilla chips, potato crisps, corn puffs and prawn crackers have many features in common, both in their manufacturing processes, their raw ingredients and in their product characteristics. Although the final products are distinctly different in their appearance, they all tend to have low residual moisture contents and similar brittle crispy textures.

Snack foods tend to be eaten in the dry form, so that they feel brittle and crunchy in the mouth, but incorrect processing, change of ingredients/formulation and bad control of moisture control both during and after processing (e.g. during storage) will affect the product texture and may subsequently result in a loss of those sensory qualities in snack foods which consumers find to be desirable.

Texture is becoming a leading driver for taste perception in food, particularly snack products. Creating an amazing texture in your snack food will provide enormous interest to the consumer but one thing is for sure, if you’ve created a signature texture in your product you’ll want to make sure that it remains consistent.

A wide range of SNACK PRODUCT test methods is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Crispness / Fracturability
• Spreadability
• Toughness / Tensile Strength
• Firmness
• Extensibility/Elasticity
• Hinge Strength
• Consistency

Over the years we’ve worked with top scientists and companies in the field to develop such fixtures as the Ice Cream Cone Support Rig, the Pizza Tensile Rig and the Acoustic Envelope Detector for the extra dimension of sound measurement.

No one knows more about the texture analysis of snack products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

Profits are tight and competition is intense for animal feed manufacturers, so it’s now more important than ever that feed mixers and compounders focus on optimising their products and differentiating their offering from that of their competitors. Simply starting to use a new, expensive ingredient is not a decision that can be made quickly, and may not be possible at all in today’s economic climate. Improving economies of scale is valuable but challenging as competitors fiercely protect their own market share. The key lies in improving existing products and / or ascertaining the best ways to modify them.

Animal feed must be carefully formulated to optimise both nutritional content and palatability – taste, smell and texture. The use of high quality ingredients is pointless if animals reject the feed. As a result, leading manufacturers already invest significant resources in determining the right combination of ingredients and processing techniques to develop their products. Sensory testing is a common element of this process – just as it is in foods for human consumption.

Complementing this with objective instrumental analysis provides a comprehensive insight into feed palatability and therefore the likely commercial success of the product.

A wide range of PETFOOD PRODUCT test methods is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Firmness/Hardness
• Compressibility / Crush Force
• Tensile Strength
• Crispness
• Break Strength / Snapping Force
• Flexibility
• Consistency

Whether it's wet or dry catfood, dogfood or aquaculture feed, our instruments are extensively used in R&D and Quality Control environments.

We are totally dedicated to help you develop the best tests for your product – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

The stability of a pharmaceutical product is paramount to the consumer's acceptance of it, as well as to its subsequent efficacy and safety. Development of new excipients and drug delivery systems can be challenging as effectiveness, and perhaps cost, benefits can be mitigated when quality control problems arise during manufacturing.

It is vital, therefore, that manufacturers scientifically assess any potential changes in the structure or character of their products throughout formulation, processing and distribution. That is where texture analysis plays a role in providing repeatable and actional test data on the effects on physical quality of active ingredients, inactive ingredients and finished products such as packaging for sterile products, tablets and tablet coatings, gels and transdermal delivery systems.

Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine research, meanwhile, relies upon the mechanical function of engineered tissues as a primary endpoint for the successful regeneration of many biological tissues. This needs to be characterised and compared to initial benchmark function to determine quality control standards for the next generation of health care.

As the pharmaceutical industry innovates, so our materials analysis evolves, developing and adapting to provide new test solutions and methodologies for emerging requirements. When a test solution doesn’t exist we go ahead and develop it – the Tablet Disintegration Rig, Capsule/Loop Tensile Rig and Granule Compaction Rig are classic examples of our Community Registered Designs.

A wide range of PHARMACEUTICAL & MEDICAL PRODUCT test methods is built into ExponentTextureAnalyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Powder compaction force
• Granule compressibility / fracture strength
• Hardness
• Mechanical / tensile strength
• Bilayer separation force
• Disintegration rates
• Swelling behaviour
• Burst strength
• Peeling characteristics
• Extrudability
• Gel strength
• Mucoadhesion

No one knows more about the texture analysis of pharmaceutical and medical products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

Texture analysis, which has long been used by the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries, is increasingly used to evaluate properties of medical devices. Texture analysis refers to such properties as firmness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, tackiness and swelling as well as fatigue and relaxation behaviour or products.

For many of these tests, standard methods lag behind product development. Typical measurements for the TA.XTplus Texture Analyser include the actuation force of an inhaler, the compressive strength of stents and contact lenses, the strength of medical adhesives and the firmness of breast implants. Regulatory agencies, including the FDA, have used the TA.XTplus Texture Analyser to evaluate medical devices.

In addition, the patent literature increasingly relies on texture analysis as a quantitative tool to validate claims. The Texture Analyser by Stable Micro Systems is flexible and accurate with an easy calibration process for high precision measurements of single tests or cyclic testing of active implants such as diaphragms, pumps and switches.

A wide range of MEDICAL DEVICE test methods is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Needle Sharpness
• Extrusion Force
• Metering Valve Performance
• Material Strength
• Tensile Strength
• Compression Fatigue
• Bond Strength
• Puncture Resistance
• Syringeability
• Surface Tack
• Flexibility / Rigidity

Over the years we’ve worked with top scientists and companies in the field to develop such fixtures as the Metered Dose Inhaler. When the test solution didn’t exist we went ahead and developed it – the Universal Syringe Rig is a classic example of our Community Registered Designs.

We are totally dedicated to the physical property measurement of medical devices – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

The global beauty industry in which the combination of good marketing and product quality must be compelling to gain shelf space, consumer attention and repeat purchase. The quality and appeal of a cosmetic product is decided by factors such as its texture, appearance, odour and performance. Increased attention has been focused on the objective evaluation of cosmetics to improve their performance and to fulfil the requirements in legislation demanding proof of certain product claims.

This information can be obtained by the use of texture analysis, which can play a pivotal role in measuring product conformity and compliance with standards as well as analysing and controlling the desired textural features of any new or existing product for the market.

Analysis of the way in which different types of cosmetics respond to the tests provide the manufacturer with vital information: which combination of ingredients is the ideal for a particular product; which processing methods/times produce the best results; and whether the quality is consistent and stable.

A wide range of COSMETIC AND SKINCARE PRODUCT test methods is built into ExponentTextureAnalyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Hardness
• Break Strength
• Consistency
• Compaction Strength
• Container Lid Opening Force
• Actuation Force
• Friction
• Spreadability
• Stickiness
• Curing Time
• Combability
• Bending Strength
• Sachet Content Removal Force

As attendees at In-Cosmetics and IFSCC conferences we are sure to be abreast of the requirements of the industry and our customers. When new test solutions are required we go ahead and developed them – the Nail Polish Adhesion Rig is a classic example of one of our Community Registered Designs.

We are totally dedicated to optimising the physical property measurements of your cosmetics. But don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

Personal care products must be nothing short of perfect in today’s competitive market. To maintain their share of consumers, leading brands must ensure consistent quality and excellent new properties in any novel products released. Additionally, the performance of personal care packaging is critical to both the quality and safety of products, but is also a vital factor in user-friendliness. An enormous range of properties can be measured from the hardness and stickiness of soap and deodorants to cream spreadability or the force to peel back lids, actuate a hairspray or remove the contents of a sachet or tube. Of more recent interest is the friction of a body cream between two sheets of artificial skin, suggesting that sensory properties and product feel are very much part of a product’s appeal and success.

A wide range of PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT test methods is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Consistency
• Adhesive Strength
• Hardness
• Foam Stability
• Friction
• Actuation Force
• Sachet / Tube Content Removal Force
• Spreadability

Keeping abreast of the test requirements of the industry and our customers is extremely important to us. Over the years we’ve worked with top scientists and companies in the field to develop such fixtures as the cream spreadability rig. When the test solution didn’t exist we went ahead and developed it – the Sachet/Tube Extrusion rig is a classic example of one of our own developments whilst the Acoustic Envelope Detector collects the all important audible characteristics of a bath bomb.

No one knows more about the physical property measurement of personal care products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

In a world full of mirrors and selfie sticks, we put a lot of stock in the way we look, with hair appearance often coming top of the list. It is no surprise, then, that haircare products take up an enormous part of the beauty industry. If they are to make the grade, today’s manufacturers have to achieve product consistency and high standards as well as novelty value and noticeable results that will keep consumers coming back for more.

The science of texture analysis has numerous applications in the manufacture of haircare products. The TA.XTplus Texture Analyser, with its wide range of compressive and tensile capabilities, can apply specifically-designed test methods to assess an unrivalled array of physical properties. Not only do these test methods allow refinement of formulations and assessment of suitability of proposed packaging materials but they can also be used to validate claims about product performance by quantitatively testing the effects on hair itself.

A wide range of HAIR AND HAIR PRODUCT test methods is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Fixative Film Tackiness
• Dynamic Hairspray Analysis
• Polymer Stiffness / Flexibility
• Aerosol Actuation Force
• Extrudability
• Consistency
• Combability
• Content Removal Force

Over the years we’ve worked with top scientists and companies in the field to develop such fixtures as the Film Support Rig for the assessment of polymer film characteristics or the Sachet/Tube Extrusion Rig for measurement of the force to remove contents from their packaging. When the test solution didn’t exist we went ahead and developed it – the Hair Combing Rig is a classic example of one of our Community Registered Designs. We are totally dedicated to the physical property measurement of your hair and hair products – but don’t just

We are totally dedicated to the physical property measurement of your hair and hair products – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

Adhesiveness (often referred to by consumers as ‘stickiness’ or ‘tackiness’) is key to perceived product quality, performance and effectiveness of such products as sealing tapes, curing glues, resins, waxes, adhesive plasters and labels used in the pharmaceutical, food, medical and packaging sectors. It can be influenced by many factors, including temperature, moisture level and repeated use. By matching adhesive performance to functional and consumer requirements, manufacturers can identify the ideal adhesive composition.

However, a measurement principle needs to be adopted so that these properties can be monitored either during the development stage or at the point of quality control. Measurements allow the viewing of subtle differences between different formulas, materials, chemical ingredients, and manufacturing processes. For QC/QA production, verification of batch conformity to an existing standard can be checked and a comparison of consistency between batches, shifts and different manufacturing facilities can be made.

Typical measurements include:

• Adhesiveness/Stickiness
• “Quick Stick”
• Tackiness
• Cohesiveness
• Shear Strength
• Stringiness / Tailing / Legginess
• Extensibility
• Peel strength
• Hardness
• Sealant extrudability
• Elongation
• Breaking strength
• T peel
• Drum peel
• 180 degree peel

A number of common and established standard adhesive methods methods (including ASTM, ISO, FINAT, AFERA and PSTC Standards) can be carried out using Stable Micro Systems’ TA.XTplus texture analyser to provide detailed analysis of the compressive and tensile stress-strain behaviour of the adhesive product. These test methods are built into Exponent software and will automatically load at the click of a button.

When you don’t need to ‘stick’ to the standard testing approach, we have a wide range of additional fixtures which provide parameters that are not otherwise quantifiable with alternative equipment. When test solutions don’t exist we go ahead and develop them – classic examples are shown below.

We are completely dedicated to finding the optimum test solution for your product characterisation – but don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

Materials testing is a wide-ranging field from the tension of a shoelace to the crush resistance of cardboard packaging, the actuation force of switches to the measurement of friction between two materials. At their most simplistic form, these tests all have one of two things in common – a test in either tension or compression.

The TA.XTplus / TA.HDplus is an expert in all of these applications and many more, with ASTM Standard tests built into the software. High accuracy and reliability are the instrument’s forte, with forces of up to 750kgf and distance resolutions of half a micron available. Testing is easy and repeatable as test settings are automatically loaded and additional data such as audio and visual can be recorded to help with analysis, such as in the event of a fracture.

Perhaps most importantly, the recording of sample dimensions for stress and strain analysis could not be easier with the option of user prompts before each test or standardised measurements when samples are all uniform. No matter how desirable or valuable a product, if it fails physically, it may become unfit for purpose, impossible to handle and store, or even completely unusable and unsellable. Poor physical performance can not only damage the product but also the reputation and profitability of the company that supplied it.

A wide range of MATERIALS test methods (including ASTM and ISO Standards) is built into Exponent Texture Analyser software and will automatically load at the click of a button. We help make your testing quicker to access and the analysis of your product properties already prepared for you.

Typical measurements include:

• Fracturability / Brittleness
• Compressive Strength / Hardness / Firmness
• Rupture Force
• Toughness
• Elongation
• Stress Relaxation behaviour
• Yield Strength
• Breaking Strength
• Stickiness / Adhesiveness
• Coefficient of Sliding Friction
• Actuation Force
• Tensile Strength
• Peel Strength
• Crush Resistance
• Puncture/Burst strength
• Abrasion • Seal Strength

We are totally dedicated to optimising the physical property measurements of your materials. But don’t just take our word for it, read an example of what our customers have to say.

Any of the texture analyser range can be used for the product tests listed.

A selection of special attachments and typical measurements which are commonly used in this application area are shown, although this does not necessarily include the complete range available for the testing of packaging. Test procedures include: compression, puncture / penetration, tension, fracture / bending, extrusion, cutting / shearing.

Typical measurements include:

• Seal Strength
• Friction
• Peel Strength
• Puncture
• Tensile Strength
• Resilience
• Sachet / Tube Content Removal Force
• Crush Resistance
• Burst Strength

The Texture Analyser range is capable of quantifying a wide variety of properties of such products as:

• Cartons
• Tubs
• Sachets
• Tubes
• Plastic bottles
• Cans
• Films