Next Instruments CropScan 3000B whole grain analyser granted NMI pattern approval

Next Instruments manufactures a range of analysers and instruments for the agriculture and food industries. The CropScan analysers were developed for use by farmers, grain traders, grain buyers and grain processors to measure protein, moisture, oil and starch in wheat, barley, canola, corn, soybeans and many other commodities.

For users that require trade certified analysers, NMI (National Measurement Institute) pattern approval is needed. In August 2022, the CropScan 3000B whole grain analyser was granted the approval, which ensures that the analyser is suitable for trade purposes such as buying and selling wheat and barley based on protein.

The approval is a metrological evaluation of the device against electronic and environmental conditions. Temperature, humidity, electric discharge, voltage variation, short-term and long-term stability and reproducibility are tested under the pattern approval protocol.

The objective of these tests is to ensure that the analyser will operate and provide reliable results under the specified test conditions. The process then requires a registered verifier to run reference samples for low-, medium- and high-protein wheat and barley through the analyser and to verify that the analyser is performing within the NMI specifications.

The limits are ±0.4% protein for wheat and ±0.5% protein for barley. The verifier issues a certificate for the analyser and marks it as tested and verified. The NMI certification for protein measurement instruments only applies to protein in wheat and barley.

There is no current moisture measurement certification from the National Measurement Institute.