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Industrial materials inline moisture measurement
Material Library

15 materials.
Which sensor fits?

Moisture range, density, typical hurdles — and the measurement system we recommend. From 30 years of practice.

Wood-based panels

Wood-based panels

MDF fiber mat (pre-press)

MoistureScan XT

Classic 2-PMR application. Web material after dryer, before press. Hot fiber stream with strongly varying bulk density.

Moisture
6–14 % H₂O
Density
40–160 kg/m³
Temp max
100–140 °C

Typical hurdles

  • High product temperature > 100 °C
  • Dust
  • Density varies 3× across web width
Industry details

OSB strands

MoistureScan XT

Coarse strands, high in-mat heterogeneity. Density-independent measurement essential — otherwise error > 1 %.

Moisture
3–8 % H₂O
Density
120–280 kg/m³
Temp max
100 °C

Typical hurdles

  • Coarse texture
  • High bulk-density variation
  • Glued — sticky surfaces
Industry details

Particleboard particles

MoistureScan XT

Measure core and surface layer separately — different blends, different setpoints.

Moisture
4–12 % H₂O
Density
150–300 kg/m³
Temp max
100 °C

Typical hurdles

  • Multi-layer particle mats
  • Frequent grade changes
  • Adhesive shifts microwave response slightly
Industry details
Solid wood

Solid wood

Solid wood boards (post-dryer)

MoistureScan XT

Wood species matters (oak vs. spruce = different calibration). Single-pass on linear transport or in sorting table.

Moisture
6–18 % H₂O
Density
350–800 kg/m³ (holzartabhängig)
Temp max
80 °C

Typical hurdles

  • Wide density range
  • Knot edges shift local moisture
  • Mixed species in one batch
Industry details
Biofuels

Biofuels

ATEX-22 required (dust atmosphere). Measurement typically after conditioner, before press — or directly in pellet stream.

Moisture
6–12 % H₂O
Density
600–700 kg/m³
Temp max
60 °C

Typical hurdles

  • ATEX zone 22 mandatory
  • Heavy dust
  • Raw material switching (sawdust / shavings / bark)
Industry details

Very wide moisture range — inlet vs. outlet measurement at dryer. Standard for heating-plant inlet control.

Moisture
15–55 % H₂O
Density
200–400 kg/m³
Temp max
60 °C

Typical hurdles

  • Very wide moisture span (15–55 %)
  • Coarse geometry
  • Ice/snow adhesion in winter
Industry details
Animal feed

Animal feed

Feed pellets

MoistureScan XT

After conditioner and press, before cooler. Hygienic design optional. Frequent recipe changes — fast calibration in setup.

Moisture
10–16 % H₂O
Density
550–650 kg/m³
Temp max
85 °C

Typical hurdles

  • Frequent recipe changes
  • Hygienic requirements
  • Fat/oil deposits on sensor
Industry details
Food

Food

Milk powder / Skim milk powder

TriScan

Hygienic design + EHEDG-compliant stainless variant. Measurement typically after spray dryer. Tight moisture band 3.5–4.5 %.

Moisture
2–6 % H₂O
Density
400–600 kg/m³
Temp max
60 °C

Typical hurdles

  • EHEDG requirement
  • Stickiness at high moisture
  • Powder flow behavior
Industry details

Wheat flour

MoistureScan XT

ATEX-22 due to dust. Measurement in pneumatic line or bulk-material discharge. NIR drift due to flour type irrelevant with microwave.

Moisture
12–16 % H₂O
Density
450–650 kg/m³
Temp max
40 °C

Typical hurdles

  • ATEX zone 22
  • Variable particle sizes (type 405 vs. 1050)
  • Dust adhesion
Industry details

Green coffee beans

MoistureScan XT

Inbound goods control crucial for price negotiation. NIR measures only surface → error-prone with husk residue. Microwave measures volume moisture.

Moisture
8–14 % H₂O
Density
650–750 kg/m³
Temp max
40 °C

Typical hurdles

  • Husk residue corrupts NIR
  • Variety variability (Robusta/Arabica)
  • High accuracy < 0.3 % required
Industry details

Tobacco (cut filler)

MoistureScan XT

Very sensitive material. Inline after conditioner critical — too dry = breakage, too wet = microbiology.

Moisture
10–16 % H₂O
Density
150–280 kg/m³
Temp max
70 °C

Typical hurdles

  • Sensitive to over-drying
  • High web speed
  • Volatile aromas must not affect sensor
Industry details
Chemicals

Chemicals

Polymer pellets (PA, PBT, PET)

MoistureScan XT

Lowest moisture range — compounding application. After drying, before extruder. Over-drying = expensive energy, under-drying = polymer hydrolysis.

Moisture
0,02–0,3 % H₂O
Density
550–900 kg/m³
Temp max
120 °C

Typical hurdles

  • Very low absolute moisture
  • High temperatures
  • Frequent grade changes
Industry details

Fertilizer granules (NPK)

TriScan

Corrosion-resistant stainless build mandatory. Inline after dryer, before coater. Density measurement also for granule size.

Moisture
0,5–2,5 % H₂O
Density
900–1200 kg/m³
Temp max
90 °C

Typical hurdles

  • Corrosive atmosphere
  • High density → strong resonance damping
  • Hygroscopic
Industry details

Alumina / Bauxite

TriScan

Heavy bulk, abrasive. Measurement point after dryer, before kiln. Density component in 2-PMR stabilizes moisture reading.

Moisture
0,5–8 % H₂O
Density
950–1400 kg/m³
Temp max
150 °C

Typical hurdles

  • High density > 1200 kg/m³
  • Sensor abrasion
  • Temperature > 120 °C
Industry details
Web material

Web material

Paper / tissue web

GrammageScan

Web widths up to 8 m, multiple sensors arrayed for cross-profile. Combined moisture + grammage from one measurement.

Moisture
3–8 % H₂O
Density
Flächengewicht 15–250 g/m²
Temp max
100 °C

Typical hurdles

  • Web width > 4 m → sensor array
  • High web speed
  • Cross-profile variation
Industry details

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