Seminar on the Methods and Techniques for Food Testing
SciMed Seminar
Wed 18th June 2025
Join us at this food testing venue to hear presentations on the latest methods, techniques and instruments used for many of the common testing requirements for food and drinks products and ingredients.
Topics will include the below techniques:
- Rheology and Tribology
- Calorimetry
- Thermal Analysis
- TOC, ICP-MS and ICP-OES, AAS
- Elemental analysis
- Supercritical Fluid Extraction
- Polarimetry and Refractometry
- Powder flow
- XRF
Countdown to event
What will I learn at the food testing seminar?
Attending this seminar on methods and techniques for food testing will provide you with valuable insights into advanced food analysis practices. Here’s what you’ll gain on the day:
1. A broad range of Analytical Techniques
Explore the latest methods in food analysis, including advanced technologies for detecting contaminants, verifying authenticity, and ensuring food safety.
Learn about the practical applications of techniques such as spectroscopy, thermal methods, molecular analysis and supercritical CO2 proecessing.
2. Real-World Applications
Gain insights from industry case studies demonstrating how to best address food testing challenges.
Understand how to implement these techniques in your own laboratory or workplace for improved results.
3. Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance as well as Research and Development
Discover best practices for staying compliant with global food safety regulations.
Learn how robust testing methods can help you meet industry standards and deliver consistent product quality.
4.Networking and Knowledge Exchange
Connect with like-minded professionals and industry leaders to share insights and experiences.
Participate in interactive sessions designed to enhance your understanding and application of food testing technologies.
5. Tour of the RSSL laboratory facilities.
Join the tour of the RSSL laboratory facilities. Reading Scientific Services Limited, is a leading contract testing facility for the food Industry. A full tour of all the various departments will take place at the end of the seminar day.
This seminar is your opportunity to deepen your knowledge, engage with industry experts, and stay at the forefront of food testing innovation. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to food analysis, you’ll leave equipped with the tools and knowledge to excel.
Register today to secure your place!
Event agenda:
09:30-09:45: Registration / Coffee
09:45-10:00: Welcome and overview of SciMed – Paul Vanden Branden, SciMed
10:00-10:20: RSSL introduction and overview
10:20-10:50: Food for Thought – The uses and applications for Near Infrared Spectroscopy in the food industry – Darren Machen, SciMed
10:50-11:20: Challenges and solutions in elemental analysis of foods; how we overcome the issues of measuring trace, minor and macro elements in foods from sample prep to analysis – Jay Fairchild, RSSL Metals Laboratory
Coffee break
11:45-12:15: EDXRF in Agriculture – Dr Tom Knott, SciMed
12:15-12:45: A rheological toolbox for understanding food – Kevin Barber, Thermo Fisher Scientific
12:45 -13:15: Supercritical fluid applications in food industry – Dr Rob McElroy, University of Lincoln
Lunch
14:00-14:30: Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry for characterising Food Products – Dr David Dale, SciMed
14:30-15:00 Powder Flow Testing: latest developments and test methods for Ring Shear Testers and Hopper Design – Paul Vanden Branden, SciMed
15:00-15:30: Analysis of foodstuffs using Schmidt & Haensch instruments – Bronwen Steadman, SciMed
15:30-16:00: Tour of RSSL facilities
16:00 until end: Discussions, networking and instrument demonstrations.
Talk Abstracts
Food for Thought – The uses and applications for Near Infrared Spectroscopy in the food industry
NIR analysers and spectrometers are often seen and used in food quality control and product development laboratories. Advances in technology, portability and miniaturisation now open other opportunities. We can apply this technology with the production area or literally in the field. We will discuss common applications for offline and at-line uses for NIR such as raw material identification, blend uniformity and product release.
Challenges and solutions in elemental analysis of foods – Jay Fairchild Scientist, Metals Laboratory
How we overcome the issues of measuring trace, minor and macro elements in foods from sample prep to analysis
Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry for characterising Food Products- David Dale, SciMed.
Thermal Analysis (DSC, TGA, Calorimetry) allows the study of physical and chemical effects related to temperature changes that occur during the normal food processing cycle and can assist in many areas of food research, processing and production including analysis of raw food, oils, fats, carbohydrates, dairy products, and proteins. In this presentation we will show examples of thermal analysis techniques covering these areas of food research, and present data showing the results of such analytical studies that can help aid process understanding in the food industry.
Advanced Propulsion Lab
James Robinson
Dr Rob Sommerville is an Assistant Professor in Minerals Processing at the University of Birmingham. Rob is based in the Schools of Metallurgy & Materials and Chemical Engineering.
His research focuses on the application of physical and chemical processes in the extraction and recycling of strategic elements and critical materials. Prior to his recent promotion to Assistant Professor, Rob has been working on several Li-ion Battery recycling projects, including the ReLiB project, funded by the the Faraday Institution.
SciMed
Paul Vanden Branden - Company Director
Paul studied in France and has a Masters in Physics from the University of Lille as well as an Engineering Degree in Scientific Instrumentation from Polytech School of Engineering.
Paul has been working with the scientific community all his career starting off as an XRF Application Specialist. Over the years he has worked on many laboratory techniques such as ICP-OES, Spark OES , Gas Detection and many others. He joined SciMed in early 2005 as a product manager and eventually became a director of the company.
SCIMED
Darren Machen - Product Manager
Darren Machen has been working in chemistry and analytical sciences since 2002 in various contract testing and start up companies. During this time he completed his MSc with distinction at the University of Huddersfield
He joined SciMed in 2015 to front the NIR and RAMAN product line. He has also been responsible for the XRD product range. Since 2023, Darren looks after the Parr Pressure Reactors for the north of the UK along with the NIR and RAMAN systems nationally.
RSSL Metals Laboratory
Jay Fairchild
Jay has worked at RSSL for over 5 years after previously studying for his MChem degree in Chemistry at the University of Reading.
After starting in the Wet Chemistry team, he has moved into his current role in the trace metals laboratory, where he is mainly responsible for technical support, non-routine and routine analysis for RSSLs Atomic Absorption Spectrometers.
Jay is also involved with analysing samples for ICP-MS.
Scimed
DR. Tom Knott - Product Manager
With a background in academia, Tom brings extensive experience in identifying and developing analytical methods to achieve successful research outcomes.
At SciMed, he has supported numerous companies in meeting their critical requirements by providing tailored advice and solutions in collaboration with maintenance and engineering teams.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Kevin Barber - Northern Regional Sales Account Manager
Kevin Barber studied Environmental Chemistry at the University of Sussex and graduated in 1984.
He Joined Fisons Instruments in 1985 and had sales support, technical support and marketing roles before having his first commercial responsibilities for HAAKE products in 1989. Since then he has had an ongoing commercial responsibility for the Thermo Scientific HAAKE viscometer and rheometer products within the UK. He has also covered Ireland and the Nordic Countries.
He also represents the HAAKE laboratory extrusion products. In his current position he supports SciMed Ltd in their distributor role for the Thermo Scientific HAAKE viscometer and rheometer products.
University of Lincoln
Dr Rob McElroy
With a background in academia, Tom brings extensive experience in identifying and developing analytical methods to achieve successful research outcomes.
At SciMed, he has supported numerous companies in meeting their critical requirements by providing tailored advice and solutions in collaboration with maintenance and engineering teams.
SCIMED
David Dale - Product Manager
Dave has worked with thermal analysis and process safety equipment for over 35 years many of which were spent in the pharmaceutical industry as a global lead of process safety.
Dave joined SciMed in 2011 as the thermal analysis and process safety product manager supporting product ranges from Fauske and Associates, Navas and Setaram.
SCIMED
Bronwen Steadman - Product Manager
Bronwen has over 20 years experience with analytical instrumentation working with a variety of techniques and industries during that period.
She joined SciMed in 2022 and looks after instruments from Koehler and AD Systems for Lubricants Testing, the InfraCal for Oils and Greases measurements, the Sherwood range of instruments for elemental analysis and the Schmidt and Haensch range for polarimetry, refractometry and density.
Location
Event Details
Date: Wed 18th June 2025
Time: 09:30 – 16:00 (UK time)
Cost: Free of charge
Location: Reading Scientific Services Ltd. Meadow Suite, Park House, University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Reading, RG6 6UR.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Want to attend?
About Scimed
SciMed is a leading supplier of scientific instrumentation in the UK and Ireland, specialising in supplying analytical instrumentation and process equipment from industry-leading manufacturers.
The company has been in operation for 40 years and caters to various industries ranging from academic institutions, large-scale industry and contract testing laboratories to start-ups and SMEs.
SciMed takes pride in helping scientists, engineers and technicians solve their analytical and process challenges, providing effective aftersales care for the lifetime of their customers’ investments.