Electron Machine Corporation: Innovating Industrial Process Control Since 1946

Electron Machine Corporation (EMC), based in Umatilla, Florida, has pioneered industrial instrumentation since 1946. Founded by Carl A. Vossberg Jr., the company introduced the first inline process refractometer to meet the needs of the burgeoning citrus industry. Today, EMC's rugged refractometers are integral to the pulp and paper, food and beverage, and chemical processing industries.

Product Lineup

EMC offers a range of precision instruments designed for various industrial applications:

MPR E-Scan™ Inline Process Refractometer: A robust device providing continuous, real-time measurements of liquid concentrations, ensuring optimal process control.

MDS Pulp & Paper Inline Process Refractometer: This system, tailored for the pulp and paper sector, monitors black liquor solids, enhancing recovery boiler safety and efficiency.

DSA E-Scan™ Dissolved Solids Analyzer: A bench-top refractometer with a temperature-controlled sample chamber that delivers accurate readings for quality control in various industries.

Industry Trends

The process analyzer market is experiencing significant growth, projected to expand from $7.37 billion in 2024 to $7.79 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 5.7%. This surge is driven by the increasing complexity of industrial processes and the need for real-time data to optimize operations. Advancements in automation and the integration of process analyzers into digital systems are enhancing operational efficiency and precision. Additionally, the rising demand for wastewater treatment and stringent environmental regulations are propelling the adoption of process analyzers across various industries. 

In North America, process manufacturing is evolving rapidly, influenced by emerging technologies, regulatory changes, and global geopolitics. Companies are rethinking supply chain strategies, shifting towards more agile, regionally focused networks to mitigate unpredictability. Investments in strengthened supplier relationships and the integration of cutting-edge technologies are becoming essential to navigate the industry's challenges and opportunities. 

Commitment to Innovation

EMC remains dedicated to innovation, continuously enhancing its product offerings to meet the evolving needs of modern industries. The company's global network of technical distributors ensures comprehensive support and service to its clients worldwide. As the industrial landscape advances, EMC's expertise and commitment position it as a trusted process optimization and control partner. 

Electron Machine Corporation
https://electronmachine.com
+1 352-669-3101

Electron Machine Corporation: Pioneering Industrial Refractometers

The refractometer, an instrument that measures the refractive index of a substance, has long been a staple in labs across various scientific fields. However, the transition of this tool from its conventional lab-bound limitations to vast industrial applications was driven mainly by the innovative efforts of the Electron Machine Corporation under the leadership of its founder, Carl Vossberg, Jr.

Electron Machine Corporation takes immense pride in its distinguished history and entrenched presence in the electronic instrumentation industry. Carl Vossberg, Jr., the brain behind Electron Machine Corporation, pursued electronics at City College of New York, Columbia University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During WWII, he collaborated with the U.S. Office of Strategic Service (now the CIA), contributing to creating remote radio transponders, artillery tracking systems, weapon fire detection controllers, and video transmission.

Post-war, Carl Vossberg Jr. endeavored to harness his electronics expertise for industrial purposes. He established Electron Machine Corporation in 1946, initially operating out of a radiator repair shop in New York. The company birthed and licensed innovative instruments, such as the first commercial x-ray thickness gauge, optical cable diameter gauges, and an industrial process control computer.

By 1952, Electron Machine Corporation relocated to Umatilla, Florida, where it operates today. Recognizing a gap in the burgeoning concentrated Citrus industry, the company developed the first in-line process refractometer. 

Subsequently, they constructed a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, maintaining their roots in Umatilla. In 1977, the mantle passed to Carl Vossberg III, who amplified the refractometer's applications worldwide across the food, chemical, and pulp/paper sectors. With the integration of microprocessor technology, the instruments saw marked enhancements in accuracy and reliability. 

Today, under continued third-generation C.A. Vossberg's leadership, the corporation thrives as a vertically integrated manufacturer, ensuring unparalleled service and support by efficiently controlling its manufacturing timeline, leading innovation, maintaining high-quality standards, and fostering partnerships for community engagement.

The company achieves exceptional quality control by integrating contemporary technology and methodologies with foundational designs. Modern advancements at the company encompass in-house microprocessor and DSP software design, surface-mount PC card design and assembly, 3D CAD/CAM design, CNC machining, and MIG/TIG welding. Moreover, the founder's pioneering spirit remains alive and influential, guiding the company's ongoing research and product development endeavors.

Electron Machine Corporation
https://electronmachine.com
+1 352-669-3101

The Crucial Role of Inline Process Refractometers in Manufacturing Industries

Industrial refractometers are an indispensable component of process automation because they contribute to maintaining product quality and uniformity, reducing waste, and enhancing output. A substance's refractive index can be determined using a refractometer, which assesses the degree to which a sample causes light to bend as it travels through the process media. This measurement provides helpful information regarding the composition and concentration of a solution, both of which are essential in a wide variety of industrial processes. 

Industries That Commonly Use Inline Process Refractometers:

• Inline process refractometers are used in pulp and paper manufacturing to determine the percent of dissolved solids present during various stages of the production process. These phases include the pulping process, the bleaching process, and the paper coating process. 
• Inline process refractometers are commonly used in the food and beverage sector to determine the percentage of sugar occurring in various goods like juices, jams, and other condiments. This measurement contributes to ensuring that the products have a consistent flavor and texture across the line and meet all regulatory criteria. 
• In the pharmaceutical sector, process refractometers measure the concentration of active pharmaceutical substances, an essential step in ensuring the product is effective and safe. 
• In the production of semiconductors, inline process refractometers measure the concentration of chemical solutions utilized in various production processes. These processes include cleaning, etching, and chemical mechanical planarization. 
• Process refractometers assist in producing industrial chemicals to measure the concentration of dissolved solids such as salts, acids, and other compounds at various points throughout the production process. 

Industrial refractometers offer real-time, precise, and dependable measurements by automating the process of measuring refractive index, thus eliminating the need for manual testing. This automation minimizes errors, enhances process efficiency, and reduces labor costs that result from manual testing. Additionally, automated refractometers supply data to distributed control systems and PLCs, enabling continuous monitoring and regulation of essential process parameters.

In general, industrial refractometers play an essential part in the automation of processes. They contribute to the maintenance of product quality and consistency, as well as to the enhancement of efficiency and productivity, as well as to the reduction of waste and expenses. As automation technology progresses, refractometers and other process monitoring devices may take on an even more significant role in industrial settings.

Electron Machine Corporation
https://electronmachine.com
+1 352-669-3101

Inline Refractometers for Quality Control and Monitoring in the Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverage, and Chemical Industries

The Inline Process Refractometer is a measurement device used to determine concentration levels in the process media. The combined hardware and software continuously monitor the process in real-time and provide output signals that assist in monitoring and controlling the process.

Inline Process Refractometers accurately measure solids concentration, density, and purity levels. Industries such as sugar, food & beverage, chemical, paper, and pharmaceuticals commonly apply refractometers to their manufacturing processes.

Refractometers measure the amount of light that passes through a sample and then measure its refractive index to determine its concentration or composition. Their primary uses are quality control, product development, process optimization, and research. 

Pharmaceutical Industry

The process refractometer is used in pharmaceutical industries to measure the concentration of solids in a solution for quality control, such as checking the purity of water or other liquids. They are used to measure the makeup of solutions containing active ingredients to ensure that they meet predetermined specifications.

Food and Beverage Industry

Industrial refractometers provide a variety of benefits in the food industry. Since the primary function of an Inline Process Refractometer is to measure the concentration of dissolved solids in a liquid, in food processing, they measure sugar content, alcohol content, or water concentration by calibration to measure some specific solute or solutes. These solutes can be either sugars or salts, depending on the application.   Companies use Inline process refractometers to produce fruit juices, tomato products, dairy products, sweeteners, jams, and jellies, to determine the sugar content.

Chemical Industry

The chemical industry uses Inline Process Refractometers for the chemical analysis of liquids. They determine the magnitude of dissolved solids in a liquid solution by measuring the angle at which light passes through, assisting in deciding concentrations, and identifying chemical compounds.

Electron Machine Corporation
https://electronmachine.com
+1 352-669-3101

Inline Process Refractometers for Industry

Refractometry is the ideal method for efficiently, reliably, and accurately determining substance concentration, identification, or purity. Inline process refractometers are especially helpful as they supplement laboratory research and contribute to product improvement. These process analyzers deliver results within fractions of a second, allowing real-time monitoring and automatic control of processes.

Process refractometers offer the end-user a tool that can be relied upon consistently. They provide a consistent final product, which is essential for various reasons that vary depending on the business that utilizes this equipment. In the pulp and paper industry, managing the process to their desired level enables them to enhance and simplify the whole Kraft process, allowing them to operate at optimum energy efficiency, which is essential given the competitive global market. 

The same applies to chemical, food, dairy, and sugar-producing businesses. However, quality control is very crucial. Creating and sustaining brand loyalty is vital, and quality control guarantees quality. Product uniformity each time your client's purchase will help you earn and maintain market share. Not to mention saving money via waste reduction.

The benefits of using inline refractometers are apparent. Manual sampling and laboratory analysis are time-consuming and labor-intensive, making them less efficient and reproducible. The inline process refractometer is the more efficient and dependable option. These instruments provide real-time, inline continuous concentration monitoring and cross-contamination prevention. Furthermore, operators may utilize their time to do other vital tasks, allowing for further time savings and quality improvements.

Electron Machine Corporation
https://electronmachine.com
+1 352-669-3101

The MPR E-Scan™

The MPR E-Scan™ is a rugged, industrialized, in-line process refractometer. It directly measures the refractive index of process fluids and then displays the reading in any number of customer-desired units (Brix, Percent Solids, Dissolved Solids, SGU, R.I., etc.). This reading may be used as an error indicator or part of a complete process control system. A high-resolution color display and a 4-20mA output is standard. HART® protocol, RS-232, and RS-422 outputs are available. Each sensing head is custom tailored and calibrated specifically for the desired process application to ensure the most accurate and useful reading. A simple 0-10Vdc signal is used to transmit the reading from the sensing head to the electronics console, ensuring a robust reading that has a minimal chance of being effected by interference. The entire package is NEMA 4X rated and designed and manufactured with the best materials for each application to provide years of trouble-free service with a minimum amount of maintenance.

Learn more at https://electronmachine.com or call 352-669-3101.