San Pellegrino’s recipe for a sparkling sensation: Quality control from a trusted partner

In order to remain a market leader in the mineral water market, San Pellegrino requires fast, reliable and simple quality control. METTLER TOLEDO instruments can be automated, are used both in process control and in the laboratory and assure appropriate acidity and sweetness of the drinks. Signore Barcheta, lab manager, is very satisfied with the performance of titrators, refractometers and balances.

Increased productivity due to titration automation

METTLER TOLEDO instruments are omnipresent in the calm, well organized laboratory of San Pellegrino. A DL50 titrator with a Rondolino sample changer determines alkalinity in mineral water, acid number in soft drinks and concentration of alkaline cleaning fluid. Signore Barchetta comments:”

We are particularly fond of Rondolino, the little turn-table sample changer. When we prepare a series, we load nine samples onto the tray, press run and ‘presto’ results appear in the LabX database on the computer. We gain a lot of time we can use for method development, administration or house keeping”.

The simple operation of the DL50 titrator means that a second instrument can be used in production, next to a very busy bottling line. Production operatives perform easy process checks on it using exactly the same methods as are run in the lab, which ensures comparability of results. A second advantage of two identical instruments is availability of a back-up system. Both titration systems are connected to METTLER TOLEDO balances for easy and error free weight transfer.

Signore Barchetta smiles:”

We have had one of the balances for more than 20 years. But since it still performed beautifully, we decided to link it to the brand new titration system and it is still going strong”.

Greater flexibility due to simplified Brix measurement

Brix, or sugar concentration is a crucial measurement for soft drinks quality and has to be analysed frequently for many different products. San Pellegrino staff appreciates the simplicity and robustness of the METTLER TOLEDO RA510 refractometer employed for this purpose. The operator puts a drop of sample onto the prism, presses one key to start the measurement and a few moments later the sugar content of Aranciata soft drink is printed-out. It is so easy to use, that all the staff at the San Pellegrino Lab can use it, which greatly enhances planning and staffing flexibility.

Satisfaction with a strong partnership

Signore Barchetta is satisfied with METTLER TOLEDO instrumentation for three main reasons: “Firstly, the instruments allow us to save time and improve our productivity. We can transfer methods from one machine to the other, train new operators very quickly and automate whole series of samples. Secondly the instruments last a long time, which safeguards our investment and thirdly, the relationship with local representatives in the METTLER TOLEDO Milano office is straight forward, honest and fast, which improves instrument up-time and hence the quality of our beverages”.

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