Seeking in-line or online measurement solutions for breadcrumb coated products to track particle size distribution and predict sensory attributes.

Nomad Foods is seeking innovative in-line or on-line measurement technologies for breadcrumb-coated products (e.g., fish fingers) to enable real-time monitoring and predictive quality control. Current production processes lack sufficient measurement of critical attributes during manufacturing, making it challenging to ensure consistent product quality.

Key Technical Requirements:
- Ability to measure particle size distribution across individual products and batches
- Capture surface area and topography of coated products
- Assess breadcrumb particle porosity and internal structure
- Enable predictive modelling of sensory-related texture attributes (e.g., crispiness, oiliness, hardness) based on measurement data
- Operate in high-speed, high-volume environments with minimal disruption to existing lines
- Deliver accurate, rapid, and scalable solutions suitable for frozen food manufacturing

Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be assessed based on:
- Technical Feasibility – Accuracy, reliability, and ability to measure specified attributes in real-time
- Integration Capability – Ease of implementation within existing production lines
- Scalability – Suitability for high-volume manufacturing environments
- Predictive Capability – Ability to link measurements to sensory outcomes
- Cost and ROI – Competitive cost structure and clear value proposition
- Innovation Level – Novelty and potential to deliver step-change improvements in quality control

Possible solution areas

- Imaging systems (e.g., 2D/3D vision, hyperspectral imaging) - Spectroscopy or other non-destructive analytical methods - AI-driven data analytics and predictive modelling tools - Integrated solutions combining hardware and software for real-time feedback

Requirements

• Interested in deliverable ideas although this could be at bench scale with a view to scale up and speed up.