The Kramer Shear Cell: The secret behind consistent bulk quality
One sample isn't enough: the challenge of bulk foods
In a quality control laboratory, measuring the hardness of a single tablet or an individual biscuit is straightforward. But how do you verify the texture of products that consumers never eat one by one? Consider a spoonful of cornflakes, a portion of cooked rice, reformed meat, or a handful of dried fruit. The natural variation between individual pieces is often too high to draw conclusions from testing just a single item. To accurately capture the actual mouthfeel and batch consistency of bulk goods, an advanced bulk-testing approach is required.
What is the Kramer Shear Cell and how does it work?
The Kramer Shear Cell by Stable Micro Systems is the modern, automated evolution of the classic Kramer Shear Press. Rather than testing a single piece, you fill a slotted chamber with a representative bulk sample. A fixture containing five parallel stainless steel blades then moves down through the product and through the slotted base plate at a controlled speed. During this motion, the batch undergoes a sequence of compression, shearing, and extrusion. The sensitive load cell measures the combined resistance of the entire sample, yielding a highly repeatable, averaged texture profile per test.
Bridging harvest, processing, and mouthfeel
What makes the Kramer Shear Cell so powerful is its direct correlation with human perception and established industry standards (such as ISO 11036). In the fruit and vegetable processing industry, it is widely used to determine the tenderness and maturity of corn or beans prior to canning or freezing. In meat and seafood processing, it serves as the benchmark for measuring the bite and binding quality of reformed meats, nuggets, or fish sticks. In essence, it replicates the combined physical sensation of chewing a full mouthful.
Maximum repeatability powered by advanced software
By measuring the resistance of a complete portion simultaneously, natural sample variations are smoothed out, resulting in a highly repeatable dataset. Stable Micro Systems’ Exponent Connect software analyzes peak forces and total ‘work done’ (area under the curve), converting raw data into parameters like firmness, tenderness, and toughness. Supported by SMS’s vast application database, lab technicians can seamlessly implement standardized test protocols, virtually eliminating operator bias.
From field to final packaging: securing batch quality
Whether monitoring crop maturity in the field, optimizing factory processing parameters, or ensuring consistent texture in reformed foods: the Kramer Shear Cell provides the empirical data required for confident quality decisions. It transforms variable raw materials into a predictable, controllable process. Ready to discover how bulk texture analysis can elevate your R&D or quality control workflows? Contact Fysica Benelux for tailored advice or a live demonstration.