Gels and hydrocolloids such as agar, gelatin, xanthan and guar gum, etc. are widely used in the food, cosmetics/personal care, and medical/pharmaceutical industries.

In the food industry, gels are frequently used as a binding agent, whipping agent, thickening, stabilizer and adhesive. In the cosmetics and personal care industry gels are used in products such as shower & shaving gels, face creams, shampoos & conditioners, foundations, toothpastes, and sunscreens. They are also key ingredients in the manufacture of medical and pharmaceutical products e.g. ointments & lubricants, contact lenses, gel capsules, wound dressings and suppositories. Hydrogel polymers are even used in coronary stents because their consistency resembles living tissue.

Mecmesin force and torque testing systems are used to precisely quantify textural characteristics such as gel strength, elasticity and rupture force, which are all key to controlling the function and quality of these ingredients. For example, gelatin manufacturers and end-users use texture analyzers to measure gel strength, a key indicator of quality. The industry-standard test method is 'Bloom strength' and is used to grade the gel concentration, from which the product price is often set based on this grading.

Mecmesin has a dedicated range of texture analysis fixtures, designed exclusively for gel and hydrocolloid testing, conforming to key standards such as ISO 9665, GME and AOAC 1985.