The best HunterLab solution for measuring the color of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) is ColorFlex® L2. Designed for grain-based ingredients and powder applications, ColorFlex® L2 uses industry-standard 45°/0° geometry to provide excellent correlation to visual appearance while delivering fast, objective, and repeatable measurements. It helps ethanol producers detect heat damage, monitor drying performance, verify product consistency, and maximize DDGS quality and market value.
How Much Does ColorFlex® L2 Cost?
ColorFlex® L2 starts at approximately $13,340.
What Is the Typical ROI for ColorFlex® L2?
Though exact numbers vary significantly by production volume and facility size, DDGS producers commonly achieve savings through:
- Reduced off-spec production
- Earlier detection of heat damage
- Improved drying consistency
- Reduced product rework
- Increased product value
- Reduced customer complaints
- Improved process control
- Standardized supplier quality
- Reduced visual inspection variability
- Over-drying
- Under-drying
- Heat damage
- Solubles addition variability
- Variable grain quality
- Batch-to-batch inconsistency
Many ethanol producers find that preventing a single off-spec production lot or customer rejection can justify the investment in objective color measurement.
What Sets ColorFlex® L2 Apart?
Within a single platform designed for routine production quality control, ColorFlex® L2 combines:
- Industry-standard 45°/0° annular geometry
- Excellent correlation to visual appearance
- Sealed enclosure and optics for dusty grain processing environments
- Integrated camera for accurate sample positioning
- Fast, repeatable color measurements
- Measures CIELAB (L*, a*, b*), ΔE, Hunter Lab, XYZ, Yellowness Index, Whiteness Index, and other industry-standard color scales
- Integrated touchscreen interface
- On-board EasyMatch® Essentials L2 Color QC Software
- Optional PC-based EasyMatch® Quality Central Enterprise Color QC Software
Together, these features provide objective, repeatable measurements that improve process consistency, reduce waste, and maximize DDGS product quality and value.
What Grain and Feed Applications Are Ideal for ColorFlex® L2?
ColorFlex® L2 is ideally suited for measuring the color of:
- Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)
- High-Protein DDGS
- Corn Gluten Meal
- Corn Gluten Feed
- Distillers Corn Oil By-Products
- Fermentation Co-Products
- Grain-Based Feed Ingredients
- Ethanol Co-Products
- Animal Nutrition Ingredients
- Agricultural Feed Ingredients
Why Measure the Color of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)?
Color is one of the most important quality indicators for DDGS because it reflects processing conditions and product quality. Customers associate consistent color with:
- Proper drying
- Minimal heat damage
- Consistent nutritional quality
- Reliable supplier performance
- Higher product value
- Over-drying
- Under-drying
- Heat damage
- Variable grain quality
- Solubles concentration changes
- Process variation
Objective color measurement enables producers to detect process changes before shipment, reducing waste, improving consistency, and increasing customer confidence.
Are There Any Special Considerations for Measuring Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)?
DDGS Color Reflects Processing Performance
Although DDGS appears relatively uniform, its color is affected by multiple manufacturing variables, including:
- Drying temperature
- Residence time
- Moisture content
- Solubles concentration
- Raw grain variability
- Heat-induced browning
- Fine particle content
Small color changes often indicate significant changes in processing conditions and final product quality.
Designed for Grain Processing Environments
ColorFlex® L2 is specifically designed for demanding production environments. Its sealed enclosure and optical system help protect the instrument from:
- Grain dust
- Powders
- Airborne contaminants
while maintaining long-term measurement stability and repeatability in ethanol plants and grain processing facilities.
What Are the Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)?
- Use a consistent sample cup and preparation procedure.
- Fill the sample cup uniformly without excessive packing.
- Measure representative production samples.
- Establish objective color standards and tolerances.
- Trend color data throughout production to identify drying process variation.
- Monitor color during drying and solubles addition.
- Standardize measurement methods across all production facilities using EasyMatch® Essentials L2 and EasyMatch® Quality Central.
Consistent measurement procedures improve repeatability while enabling earlier detection of process variation and protecting product quality.
Key Takeaway
For DDGS producers, ColorFlex® L2 provides fast, objective, and repeatable color measurements that help monitor drying performance, detect heat damage, verify product consistency, and maximize product value. Its industry-standard 45°/0° geometry, sealed optical system, integrated camera, and modern quality control software help producers reduce waste, replace subjective visual inspection, standardize quality across facilities, and deliver every lot with confidence.
Access our free HunterLab Color Quality Business Case Calculator™ – Professional Edition, a practical decision-support tool designed to help manufacturers quantify the financial value of objective color quality control: HunterLab Color Quality Business Case Calculator™
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To learn more about Color and Color Science in industrial QC applications, click here: Fundamentals of Color and Appearance