Accurate Moisture Measurement in Manufacturing – the Key to Product Quality
At Engelmann & Buckham, we work closely with manufacturers in a wide range of sectors, and one theme consistently emerges: moisture content has a direct impact on product quality, performance, and compliance.
Whether producing plastic or bioplastic components, food, animal feed, chemicals, or pharmaceutical products, even small variations in moisture can influence shelf life, consistency, and end-use performance. In many cases, moisture control isn’t just a quality concern — it’s a cost, efficiency, and waste-reduction issue as well.
The Real Value of Accurate Moisture Measurement
Reliable moisture data enables better control across both production and quality functions. When manufacturers have confidence in their measurements, they are better positioned to:
Maintain consistent product quality
Reduce waste and reprocessing
Improve process efficiency
Detect issues earlier in the production cycle
Support regulatory and quality requirements
Traditional methods such as oven drying are still widely used, but they are often slow, impractical, and potentially misleading where fast, precise results are required. As production environments become more time-critical, many businesses are reassessing how they measure and monitor moisture.
Ease of Use Is Critical
Accuracy alone isn’t enough. Even the most precise method delivers little value if it’s difficult to use day to day. Complex procedures, long test times, or reliance on specialist operators can all limit how often moisture checks are performed — and how consistent the results are.
Modern moisture analysers are designed to combine accuracy with simplicity, allowing moisture measurement to become part of routine production and quality workflows rather than a standalone laboratory task.
Applications Across Products and Industries
Moisture measurement plays a vital role across a wide range of materials, including:
Powders, pellets, and granulated products, including polymers and biopolymers
Food ingredients and finished food products
Animal feed and pet food
Chemical and specialty materials
Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products
As a result, moisture analysers are now used not only in laboratories, but directly within production and quality control environments across many sectors.
A Simple, Highly Accurate Solution
Engelmann & Buckham supply the Aboni HydroTracer moisture analyser, which uses a calcium hydride reagent to deliver fast, repeatable, and highly accurate moisture results. Its straightforward operation makes it well suited to both laboratory and production settings, particularly where regular checks are required without adding unnecessary complexity.
The HydroTracer is more cost-effective than many high-end alternatives, while offering significantly greater precision than low-cost, widely available methods.
Because the HydroTracer measures only water content and nothing else, it ensures that product integrity is not compromised and that manufacturers can be confident in product quality when going to market.
For businesses looking to move away from slow, manual techniques, the HydroTracer offers a practical and reliable way to gain tighter control over moisture content.
Better Data, Better Control
Ultimately, effective moisture measurement is about control. With accurate, timely data, manufacturers are better equipped to maintain standards, reduce inefficiencies, and respond quickly to changing conditions.
From our experience working with UK manufacturers, moisture measurement remains an area where relatively small improvements can deliver meaningful gains in quality and performance.
If you would like to discuss moisture analysis or the Aboni HydroTracer in more detail, please contact our resident expert Alex Magid, amagid@buckham.co.uk
