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The Thermoray Moisture Balance is a rugged and reliable mechanical instrument with infrared lamp drying: it is the natural replacement for older Foss and Ohaus mechanical models now no longer available. The unit is ideal for both drier mouth tea moisture monitoring and for quality control checks during tea blending and packing. The Thermoray is exceptionally good value for money and offers features found in instruments sold at double the price. It is of European Union manufacture (CE marked) and the fully tested design measures sample moisture in a fixed time (10 minutes) or to a constant weight. It requires only ten grams of tea for a moisture measurement and the moisture content is directly displayed as a percentage on the large easy to read scale marked 0 to 20% mc. Higher moisture contents can be measured, if required, by simple adjustment. It is also suitable for withered leaf or dhool moisture measurement, which takes 25 minutes to constant weight.
The original clockwork timer, as used on the Thermoray since its launch many years ago, has now been replaced with an integral electric timer. This is powered by a synchronous AC motor and offers enhanced timing accuracy, from 1 minute to 60 minutes. The new electric timer is also available for simple retro-fitting into existing Thermorays.
The Thermoray is exceptionally easy to operate, and comes pre-calibrated and complete with full operating manual and operator’s quick-check wall chart. The instrument is supplied as standard with one spare IR lamp, loading spatula, 10 disposable aluminium weighing trays, and a set of weights.
Teacraft has recently provided Thermorays to customers in Cameroon, Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda: many of these being repeat orders. In Kenya, we have units operating with Brooke Bond, African Highlands, KTDA, George Williamson, LAB International and Cargill. We are proud that the KTDA have, so far, specified the Teacraft Thermoray moisture meter for 21 of their tea factories.

An interview with Nigel Melican, Teacraft Ltd Managing Director

“We started in 1990,” recalls Nigel Melican, “two ex Unilever Research scientists who thought the tea industry needed a more technological approach. We commenced by developing and selling the Teacraft ECM System for tea mini-manufacture – the ‘tea factory in a box’. Now principal tea research institutes and forward looking tea companies around the world all have a line – they like our claim ‘developed by tea scientists for the use of tea scientists’ – the unique award winning Teacraft ECM is known for precision, consistency and durability”. Over the years Teacraft has added moisture meters, process control equipment, quality control instruments, tea sensory equipment, and provision of tea and herbal consultancy advice to clients around the world. “We have worked in 26 tea countries” Nigel declares “and I have processed tea on six of the seven continents.”

Twenty five years of trading allows a company to settle into what it does best – being able to back up good advice with good equipment. “One of our first business decisions was never to sell a piece of equipment that we had not field tested ourselves. Africa is a big market for us and we knew how tough the working condition are there. Supplying durable equipment does not result in selling many spare parts – but it does enhance the reputation of the Teacraft brand” Nigel explains: “we hear about some of our first moisture meters we sold 20 years ago and they are still working well. It gives me enormous pride to hear the respect that the Teacraft brand has in the tea industry”.

Teacraft is a family business ably co-directed by Nigel’s wife Helga Warzecha particularly during Nigel’s frequent global travels. Continuing the family aspect, all Teacraft equipment sales have since 2012 been handled through specialty tea company Nothing But Tea Ltd, managed by Nigel’s entrepreneurial daughter Quinnan Stone who, it is confidently anticipated, will take the Teacraft company forward another 25 successful years.

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