PULLMAN, WASH. — AQUALAB by Addium, a provider of moisture content analysis, isotherm generators, drying software, formulation software, sensory analysis and other solutions, introduced SKALA Dry, an advanced drying software solution, on Nov. 5. SKALA Dry is designed to help significantly enhance the capabilities of spray dryers, continuous lines and other industrial dryers used in the human food and pet food industries. 

The new software seeks to address common challenges that can lead to over- or under-dried products using a preventative approach. SKALA Dry leverages PLC (programmable logic controller) temperature data to make set point adjustments before products leave the dryer, offering enhanced moisture control, reducing product variability and increasing profit, according to AQUALAB. 

“Without a way to measure what’s happening inside your dryer, all you can do is react to problems after they’ve happened — not respond to changes as they happen,” said Takuya Ohki, executive vice president at Addium.

AQUALAB's SKALA Dry softwareSource: AQUALAB

By optimizing dryer performance, SKALA Dry can lead to reduced energy consumption, improved yields and cost savings. According to AQUALAB, after setup and training, the software typically delivers a 2% to 3% gain in yield, which is equivalent to saving $100,000 to $7.2 million in drying losses annually.

Additionally, the software can reduce moisture variance by 30% or more when used with spray dryers. According to AQUALAB, the software helped a customer increase average moisture content by 0.24%, resulting in savings of $250,000 annually. 

SKALA Dry touts a minimal investment and quick setup, providing manufacturers with a return on investment in three to six months. The software can be used in the manufacturing of various food products, including dairy powders, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, dried meats, baked snacks, pet foods and more. SKALA Dry is compatible with a wide range of dryers, including belt, spray, fluidized-belt, rotary, flash, tenter, tumble, impingement, batch, ring, flotation and more. 

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