Developed by Bartosz Kawa, Ph.D., Eng.
CASE STUDY
Identification of adhesive raw materials in seconds – mobile incoming goods inspection with Spectrally
At an adhesive manufacturing plant, we implemented a mobile analyzer from the Spectrally family for rapid identification of raw materials at the goods receipt stage—without opening transparent packaging. The quality team receives a „conform/non-conform” decision based on spectral libraries, which shortens material qualification time and reduces the risk of errors and exposure to reactive substances.
Introduction and Project Context
In adhesive production, key raw materials—acrylic monomers, solvents, and isocyanates—arrive at the warehouse in various packaging types and from different suppliers. In practice, this necessitates quick verification of whether the exact ordered material is present on the pallet and whether its purity meets the formulation requirements.
The traditional receipt model relies on labels, supplier documentation, and—in case of doubt—sampling for laboratory analysis. This delays the release of materials for production, and for reactive or irritating substances, increases the risk of employee exposure to vapors. As part of the project, we implemented on-site spectral analysis with a simple „conform/non-conform” decision and the capability to expand libraries as the raw material portfolio grows.
Business Challenge
- Risk of raw material mix-up at receipt due to similar trade names, comparable packaging, and different concentrations.
- Extended release time for deliveries when laboratory confirmation is required.
- Difficulty in verifying materials stored in transparent packaging without opening them.
- Additional occupational health and safety risks when handling isocyanates and volatile solvents.
- Lack of a unified, digital „conform/non-conform” procedure based on comparison with a reference spectral standard.
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Project Objectives
- Reduce raw material qualification time at receipt to the level of an on-site decision.
- Introduce a simple conform/non-conform assessment based on spectral libraries for key raw material groups.
- Minimize the need to open packaging when identifying reactive and volatile substances.
- Standardize the identification procedure across shifts and operators.
- Ensure the ability to expand libraries and qualification rules along with changes in suppliers and formulations.
Applied Solution and Project Approach
The implementation was carried out using a mobile analyzer from the Spectrally family, designed for rapid substance identification in warehouse and goods receipt conditions. The device compares the sample with a library of standards and returns a clear „conform/non-conform” decision for defined materials.
A key element of the project was building and organizing spectral libraries to distinguish not only different raw material names but also materials with similar structures. The project included an application workshop, collection of representative standards, creation of reference records, through-packaging identification tests, validation on actual deliveries, operator training, and establishment of a library maintenance cycle.
Results and Benefits
- Delivery qualification takes place at the point of receipt instead of after delayed laboratory verification.
- The unified conform/non-conform mode reduces errors resulting from label and document interpretation.
- We reduced the number of situations requiring the opening of packaging containing isocyanates and volatile solvents, which improves workplace safety.
- Measurement results and decisions are collected in an organized manner, supporting traceability, audits, and incident analysis.
- Spectral libraries can be expanded with new raw materials and suppliers without overhauling the entire control process.
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Contact
Aleksandra Łukasiewicz
If you are facing a similar challenge in chemical process control, quality stabilization, or real-time reaction monitoring, let's discuss a solution tailored to your technological conditions.
- a.lukasiewicz@gekkophotonics.com
- +48 786 867 071