Case Study: 2100 nm Narrow Band Pass

Details about the job:

Challenge: The customer supplies optical monitoring instruments into the food industry. Narrow band filters for the near (NIR) and short wave infra-red (SWIR) are used extensively for monitoring key parameters such as moisture, fat and protein content during manufacture of many foods such as cakes, protein shakes, biscuits and potato chips. In this particular instance the customer required a filter that was narrow but also highly stable with temperature due to the large almost hourly variation in temperature within the factory. All this with tight deadlines.

Vortex Approach: We presented 4 solutions to the customer and actively discussed the merits of each one, factoring in other considerations such as angular variation and agreed a custom solution. Prototypes were then provided to check the assumptions had been correctly assessed.

Outcome: The fast prototypes were supplied within 2 weeks and the first production batch of 100 filters a further 2 weeks later following feedback. With close communication and co-operation, the instrument was ready for fitting to the line during a scheduled maintenance.