The company operates a fully accredited QA laboratory, enabling complete control of all incoming raw materials. In 2004, a decision was made to automate acid and salt titrations. QA Manager Simon Hewitt explains: “We had a throughput of 50-70 samples per day that was very time consuming. Autotitration was an obvious solution which, in addition to timesaving, could provide us with a greater degree of accuracy and repeatability.”

Lion Foods invited five companies to tender. They opted for a TitraLab 855 Volumetric pH/End Point Titration Workstation that could perform a one-pot analysis for both acid and salt determination. According to Simon: “Radiometer Analytical stood head and shoulders above the competition. They offered an after-sales service package including training that the other companies couldn’t match.”

“The TitraLab 855 was slightly more expensive, but the overall value was greatest.” He added: “The technical specialist advised us to consider both aqueous and non-aqueous reagents for our samples. We trialled the recommended procedures with success. This gave me confidence in the standard of technical support.”

Which features were important to the QA lab?
“We required an accurate one-pot analysis. The 18,000-step precision burette ensured accuracy. The embedded
software enabled us to create a coupled method to perform both analyses in one pot with one sample. We were also able to create on-screen notification for nitric acid addition. This meant error-free analysis providing operators followed the simple on-screen instructions.”

So operators found the system easy to use?
“Yes, the TitraLab 855 was by far the most user-friendly system. All operators participated in in-house training and were soon comfortable with the operation. I have even decided to send new members of our QA team on the pH and titration training courses.”

And since then? “We have maintained a good level of contact with the Radiometer Analytical specialist. We have set up standing orders for consumables (buffers/electrodes) that have proved economical and have also purchased some pH measuring equipment. Our sample rate is demanding owing to manufacturing requirements. The Radiometer Analytical equipment meets our needs. There is a possibility for expansion of auto-titration within Lion Foods in the near future and Radiometer Analytical will be at the top of our list.”

To find out more about our TitraLab range of Titration Workstations, please click here.