RHEOLOGY Solutions will develop and manufacture an on-line rheometer (OLR) with CSIRO.
The OLR is used in an in-line or on-line processing line to measure the viscoelastic properties of a fluid in real-time, allowing immediate improvements in product quality and reducing processing costs.
Traditionally, when more detailed knowledge of the viscoelastic properties of a fluid was needed, test volumes had to be removed from the stream and measured using off-line laboratory equipment.
This procedure was time-consuming, and would sometimes require the entire handling line to be shut down until the results arrived, or risk the potential loss of a whole batch of product if the results did come in negative.
The OLR is designed with a patent multi-frequency squeezing flow technique which allows the viscoelastic flow properties of the material to be measured quickly.
According to the company, the OLR would reduce wastage, save time, money and benefit the environment. It is said to have a simple design and stainless steel construction for ease of use and fast cleaning.
CSIRO released an Expression of Interest in 2007 to seven international companies and Rheology Solutions was chosen as the partner to develop the OLR. It has built a manufacturing facility in Bacchus Marsh employing 20 skilled technical and engineering staff.
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