Food processors chasing zero-defect production now have a dedicated in-line sensing tool: KPM Analytics has released the MCT700 Series NIR (near-infrared) sensors, purpose-built for continuous measurement of moisture, fat/oil, product color, and product temperature directly on the production line. All three models in the series — the MCT700, MCT750, and MCT790 — are available for order immediately.
The sensors mount non-contact over conveyors, augers, and chutes, making them applicable to baked and fried snacks, doughs, crackers, breakfast cereals, and food ingredients. At up to 100 readings per second, the high measurement speed is particularly useful for segmented products like cookies and crackers, where rapid sampling of individual pieces is critical for process feedback.
Three Models, One Platform
The flagship MCT790 is the only model in the series to add product color measurement alongside moisture, fat/oil, and temperature — a capability that feeds real-time data to ovens and sprayers for manual or automatic process correction. Its stainless-steel housing carries an IP69K rating, meaning it can withstand washdown with the harsh cleaning solutions typical of food-grade environments. An internal fan handles thermal management inside the sensor, and the rugged external display is rated IP67. The MCT750 shares the IP69K rating and adds advanced cooling features plus a sapphire sensor window for particularly demanding locations. The MCT700 is the entry-level option, rated IP67 with a standard Kel-F sensor window, for applications where color measurement and extreme-environment protection are not required.
All three models use a proprietary temperature-controlled detector for measurement stability, are fully modular with field-replaceable components, and feature on-board diagnostics to simplify troubleshooting. KPM emphasizes that the platform is designed to standardize across multiple production lines — a practical consideration for large-scale food processing and prep-and-storage operations where consistent baseline calibration across sites matters.
Process Control Implications
The MCT700 Series reflects a broader shift in food manufacturing away from periodic at-line sampling toward fully in-line, closed-loop process control. Traditionally, a line worker would pull product samples at intervals and test them with a benchtop instrument; the new sensors replace that workflow with continuous data that can trigger automatic equipment adjustments before a batch goes out of spec. "Continuous measurement enables rapid response to production issues, which supports the business objectives of increasing productivity and decreasing waste," said Chris Pike, Senior Director of Product Management at KPM Analytics.
For conveyor applications, each MCT700 Series sensor can integrate with a traversing frame to scan the full belt width. A move-and-park feature allows operators to analyze individual product lanes — a capability KPM highlights for industrial ovens with multiple heating zones, where cross-belt variation in moisture or color can indicate uneven heat distribution. That kind of granular, spatial data ties directly into energy-and-sustainability goals by reducing over-processing and the energy waste associated with product rework or disposal.
Operators in snack, bakery, and cereal segments evaluating capital investments in process instrumentation should note that the MCT700 Series is positioned as a production-line asset rather than a lab instrument — its washdown ratings, modular serviceability, and multi-line standardization features are squarely aimed at reducing total cost of ownership over a facility's lifecycle.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
