From the history of creating of ultrasonic milk analyzers

In the 1980s both on the Soviet Union area and in the foreign countries, expensive and complicated analyzers were used to control the quality of milk (Fat, Protein, SNF, and other measuring parameters of milk quality). In fact there was no alternative to the IR method of milk analysis and IR milk analyzers and at the time of Soviet Union only large laboratories could purchase such expensive milk analyzers. Small agricultural enterprises and farms were forced to do everything "the old way" to control the quality of milk: labor-intensive and time-consuming arbitration research methods with the use of chemical reagents, the involvement of highly qualified personnel.

Back in those years from the very beginning of establishing of Sibagropribor our goal was creating an inexpensive milk analyzer that every farmer could afford.

The project was successfully implemented and in the mid-eighties a unique ultrasonic measuring cell was developed, which was the basis for a low-cost/ economical milk analyzer model for the mass consumer.

(patent number 1341582, priority of the invention July 11, 1984)

(patent No. 1741055, priority of the invention November 21, 1989)

Mass production

Given the huge demand in the domestic and international market the developed model was put into production.

More than a thousand pieces of ultrasonic milk analyzers under the brand name of LAKTAN were coming off the assembly line of the enterprise every month. Several large plants participated in Laktan milk analyzers production program, the general assembly, adjustment and calibration was carried out at the enterprise.

Regional agricultural services purchased our milk analyzers in large quantities (300-500 units). Since the new product had a number of unique characteristics and advantages (the accuracy of the rapid/ express analysis of milk by the ultrasonic method is comparable with the accuracy of chemical analysis) there was a great demand for this product not only in our domestic market, but also in the markets of the CIS countries.

While in the post-Soviet space the milk analyzer “Laktan” was gradually taking over the market, our colleagues from foreign countries showed only cautious interest. Sibagropribor had to carry out a lot of work for introduction and familiarizing the consumers from the Baltic states, Bulgaria, Romania, and the former Yugoslavia with a new product. After the successful certification of the analyzer in these countries procurement process began immediately in these countries.

Besides positive results of testing of ultrasonic milk analyzers Laktan were received in Denmark, Germany and the UK.

Mass copying

In the period of 90-s difficult and unstable for Russia uncontrolled “copying” of our product was started by several companies.

The first was a subsidiary of Sibagropribor - INFRASPEC, which was subsequently re-registered as an independent enterprise, and started production of ultrasonic milk analyzers.

The next was a Bulgarian company Milkotronic which introduced in the market their milk analyzer Lactoscan. Later the second Bulgarian company “Bultech-2000” (EON Trading) that separated from Milkoronic was established, and “Master LLC” that separated from EON Trading.

Today a large number of different models and brands of ultrasonic milk analyzers of various manufacturers are present in the Russian and foreign markets, however, it should be noted that all analyzers are made on the technology developed by Sibagropribor company.

To date a large number of various models and brands of ultrasonic milk analyzers of various manufacturers are present in the Russian and foreign markets, however, it should be noted that all ultrasonic milk analyzers are manufactured using the technology developed by Sibagropribor.

Over the last 30 year hundreds of thousands of ultrasonic milk analyzers have been sold worldwide which proves the high utility of the our development. The largest number of milk analyzers were sold in the Indian market (India is the world’s largest producer of milk).

The technical solutions applied in the ultrasonic milk analyzer proved/ turned out to be so successful that they made it possible to create one of the most long-lived and popular/ widely-used products.

As any other product, the ultrasonic milk analyzer has both strengths: low price, easy to use, no need to use chemical. reagents, and weak points: limited lifetime of ultrasonic cell, the need to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the measuring path, the lowest speed of measurement (the limit is of 40-50 seconds).

As any other product, the ultrasonic milk analyzer has its strong points (low price, usability, simple and easy operation, no need to use chemical Reagents)
and weak points: limited service life of the ultrasonic cell, the requirement to carefully monitor and maintain the cleanness of the analyzer’s measuring channel, low measurement speed (the actual limit is 40-50 seconds).

To increase the speed of measurement, attempts have been made to produce milk analyzers with two measuring cells, that reduces the measurement time, but increases the cost of analyzers and significantly reduces reliability.

A number of companies are actively working to increase the measurement speed using a single measuring cell, but at present, ultrasonic analyzers with a measurement time of less than 30 seconds have not yet been created.

Innovative technology

In the most near future ultrasonic milk analyzers are going to be replaced by superfast and ultra low-cost IR analyzers of milk and dairy products "Laktan 900" with unmatched measurement speed of less than 5 sec. per sample, autonomous power during the day without recharging, the use of special cuvettes which allow to avoid the need to wash the measuring tract.

Laktan 900 IR Superfast Milk analyzer is a unique new product developed by Sibagropribor.

Currently the work for registration and entering of Laktan 900 IR into the State Register Of Measuring Devices of the Russian Federation is carried out. New model will be available for sales already in early 2019 and will open a new era in the analysis of the quality of milk using the modern infrared method.

Vladimir G. Khlystun                         Director of Sibagropribor Ltd.