Refractometers

Bellingham + Stanley offers one of the largest choices of digital refractometers in the world today. All refractometers are made and tested to the highest standards using Bellingham + Stanley's 100 years of experience in the field of refractometry. Whether you require a high-end digital touchscreen refractometer for measuring chemicals in a lab, or a handheld refractometer for measuring honey at a beehive you can feel confident you have the right instrument for the job.

Bellingham + Stanley's digital refractometers cover many different applications. Specification varies from customer to customer which is why a selection of refractometers have been designed, offering a wide measuring range up to 1.70 RI with touchscreen interface on the highest spec model.

With a team of experts and manufacturing expertise, Bellingham + Stanley offers peace of mind as well as accurate, repeatable results. Take a look below to view our range of refractometers, or contact us today for more information, a demonstration or a quote.

Benchtop Refractometers | Handheld Refractometers | Abbe Refractometers | Refractometer Calibration and Verification | Refractometer Workflow Accessories 

Touchscreen Digital Refractometers

Touchscreen Digital Refractometers

RFM-T Series Refractometers. Digital touchscreen refractometers for laboratory of factory use. 

Touchscreen Digital Refractometers

Keypad Digital Refractometers

Keypad Digital Refractometers

RFM-M Series Refractometers. Digital refractometers with tactile keypad for factory or laboratory use. 

Keypad Digital Refractometers

OPTi Digital Handheld Refractometers

OPTi Digital Handheld Refractometers

Portable, digital and easy to use refractometers ideal for measurements anywhere you are. 

OPTi Digital Handheld Refractometers

Common Features across RFM Series

Whilst ranges and applications may differ, build quality remains consistently high amongst Bellingham + Stanley’s RFM range. Our instrumentation stands out from the crowd with its ocean-blue durable plastic casing, reminiscent of Xylem’s water values, and being IP65 rated, are hardy enough to withstand the rigors of a busy laboratory or factory. All RFM Refractometers feature a flat, easy-clean prism dish for samples, allowing for fast and accurate readings as well as facilitating simple daily maintenance between measurements.

Bellingham + Stanley prides itself on easy-to-use instrumentation with intuitive software. This harmonious design language can be seen throughout the range of instrumentation offering customers a consistent look and feel.  This joined-up thinking means that the RFM Series of refractometers sport a great touchscreen (on T-Series models), as well as fast networking abilities, RFID clearance,  USB functionality for optional mouse/keyboard support and exporting of data (via PDF/.CSV) to USB drives, and direct to print option. Large capacity memory means room for over 100,000 readings without the need to purchase costly storage. 

Results are displayed in less than 15 seconds, depending on mode selected. Smart temperature stabilization is activated prior to reading to give the most accurate results in super-fast time. 

RFM Refractometers are designed with international standards, including FDA regulation 21 CFR part 11, in mind. On-board data protection, and compliance without an intermediate PC, electronic signatures including multi-verification, full audit trail and print to secure PDF feature as standard.

The RFM Methods System

At the heart of all Bellingham + Stanley digital benchtop instrumentation is the Method System. A Method is a predetermined, named set of measurement criteria that can be accessed at the touch of a button, allowing customers to access their desired settings instantly and consistently. A single Method includes all the settings necessary for the instrument to take and check a particular sample, including: scale, temperature compensation type, temperature set point, stability type, limit check and more.
If a workflow requires a number of products with different reading requirements, then a Method can be added for each of them. For example, in the food and beverage industry a range of individual soft drinks could be regularly measured, and the display can show whether each product is within its set tolerance. Alternatively, within pharmaceutical, Methods may be created to fulfil different Pharmacopoeia requirements or Monographs.

RFM Refractometers come fully equipped with a library of commonly used Methods but for those that need to refine a Method or create a completely new Method for regular use, this is also possible. User created Methods (along with other settings) can be copied to other RFM Refractometers via USB stick.

RFM-T Series – Touchscreen Digital Refractometers

The RFM-T Series digital refractometers have been designed by experts with the world’s food, beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical and industrial industries in mind.

Each digital refractometer in the RFM-T Series is fitted with a Peltier temperature control system and wide beam optics. Inherent to the design of the RFM-T Series digital refractometers is a high definition, capacitive touchscreen display that facilitates operation in laboratory and factory environments, even when operated whilst wearing PPE gloves. The 7” display allows for great visibility of measurement data as well as instant access to colour coded buttons including Read, Zero, Menu and more.  Discover the RFM-T Series digital refractometers here

RFM-M Series – Digital Refractometers With Keypad Interface

The RFM-M Series refractometers are robust, fully automatic digital refractometers defined by the presence of a tactile keypad for instrument control and data input. Subdivided between the 700-Series and 300-Series, these instruments offer variety and great value allowing you to choose depending on your application. The entry level instrument, the “half Brix” RFM712 digital refractometer, is especially suited for use within fruit processing plants commonly found in the wine, tomato and sugar industry. The RFM742 and RFM330-M digital refractometers offer higher accuracy at 2-decimal places and are ideal for use in beverage manufacturing, dairy, and confectionery. 
The RFM340-M takes measurement to the next level by offering reading accuracy to 0.01 Brix with exceptional reproducibility. The 330 and 340 variants are also available as touchscreen models. Visit the RFM-M Series collection here.

Refractometer Workflow Accessories 

Flowcell accessories from Bellingham + Stanley provide your refractometer processes with a means of semi or fully automated sample application and prism washing, creating more efficient workflows for your laboratory or factory. Funnel flowcells offer semi-automated sample application in the sugar industry whereas businesses that regularly measure volatile samples, RFM Refractometers with flowcell accessories can reduce waste, and minimize exposure by eliminating evaporation from the measuring process.

Bellingham + Stanley’s flowcell accessories offer inline multi-instrument configuration, useful within flavours, fragrances and essences applications. They can also provide connectivity to an auto-sampler for efficient automation of processes such as in a soft drinks audit laboratory.

To find out if your RFM Refractometer is suitable for flowcell accessories or to enquire about a complete flow-through system you can contact us today.

View All Refractometers

View All Refractometers

Explore the complete range of digital refractometers from Bellingham + Stanley. 

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Refractometers For Your Factory

Refractometers For Your Factory

Robust and simple to use refractometers for your workflow. 

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Refractometer Calibration

Refractometer Calibration

Verify and calibrate your refractometer with our calibration materials. 

Calibrate Now

The Abbe 5 – Optical Refractometer

The Abbe 5 optical refractometer is an affordable bench-top instrument perfectly suited for users requiring a wide measurement range of Refractive Index. Customers that use an Abbe 5 are often based in smaller contract laboratories or use them for applications where sample throughput is relatively low.  The instrument is also perfect for practical demonstrations and experiments in chemistry and physics laboratories of schools, colleges and universities.

Traditional Abbe refractometers have both Transmission and Reflection modes of illumination.

Transmission Mode of Illumination
As the name implies, refractometers adopting the transmission mode of illumination allow the light to pass THROUGH the sample. The light source is either incorporated as part of the refractometer or is generated by a sodium or spectral lamp outfit.

Reflection Mode of Illumination
This method of illumination works from the principle that the angle of reflected light equals that of the transmitted light. As such, the light reaches the interface of prism/sample, most of the light is transmitted out of the instrument in the normal way, however, some light is reflected. This reflected light is far less brilliant than the transmitted light, but it does equal the same angle and as such may be used to interpret the Refractive Index.

Reflective mode is particularly useful for measuring samples with high optical density e.g. rubber and polymers. Click here to view specification or purchase the Abbe 5.

 

Calibration is the key to success

Production facilities throughout the world rely on refractometers and polarimeters for quantity and quality control. No matter what the make or type of instrument, results are only as good as the calibration regime behind the measurement. Good laboratory practice (GLP) dictates that instruments should be kept in good working order, with regular calibration using traceable standards, a key part of instrument maintenance.  

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Handheld Refractometers

There are two distinct handheld refractometer models available from Bellingham + Stanley. The OPTi Digital Handheld Refractometer and the Eclipse Optical Refractometer. Both offer valuable measurements of Brix/RI on-the-go.

OPTi Digital Refractometers

OPTi digital handheld refractometers from Bellingham + Stanley (pioneers of the handheld refractometer) are highly reliable, premium quality instruments used to control the dissolved solids or blend ratios of products ranging from fresh fruit to industrial chemicals.

The pocket-sized digital refractometer that’s ready when you are

Portable and simple to operate, the OPTi provides excellent “on-the-spot” concentration analysis with automatic temperature correction. Accurate one button measurement and a clear display presents reliable results, no matter who takes the reading.

Thanks to its compact design and clever marriage of smart software and ergonomic hardware, OPTi refractometers are perfect for taking measurements anywhere.

 

Portable. Reliable. Digital. OPTi.

The OPTi® Digital Handheld Refractometer is a truly portable instrument that fits in the palm of your hand and is capable of giving you over 10,000 readings on just 2xAAA batteries. It features a stainless steel prism dish which rapidly stabilises sample temperature, a durable IP65 rated body, and a clear LCD display.  

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Bellingham + Stanley gives you more from your refractometer

The OPTi revolutionises the way digital handheld refractometers are supplied and purchased. All of Bellingham + Stanley’s handheld refractometer scales are available in just one device – meaning you no longer need to pay extra for high brix models.

An onboard library of 50 common scales including Brix, Refractive Index, °Baumé, °Butyro, Colostrum Quality, Wort, Ethylene Glycol % and many more can be swapped and selected at any time, making the OPTi digital handheld refractometer one of the most versatile and valuable handheld refractometers available today.

The choice of scale is yours. With up to 3 scales readily available at the touch of a button, the OPTi is the most versatile and feature rich refractometer on the market. Need Brix for one application, and Alcohol Probable for the next? No problem! 

Switching scales only takes a moment, and with a read time of 2 seconds per sample, the OPTi is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to monitor and control your concentration on-the-go.

An OPTi® For All Occasions

The OPTi Digital Handheld Refractometer can be used for measuring fruit ripeness, fruit juices and concentrates, carbonated beverages, alcohol content and grape must, confectionery and jams, sugar and many other food applications. Industrial applications include the measurement of soluble oils, quenchants, glycols, antifreeze, air-conditioning and heat transfer fluids, aviation fuel inhibitors, aeroplane wing de-icing surfactants, starch, textile surfactants and more. To read more specification or to buy please click here


Eclipse Optical Handheld Refractometers

The Eclipse optical refractometer is recognised by many as one of the world’s most reliable and robust optical refractometers available today. Manufactured in Europe at Bellingham + Stanley’s well-equipped factory, Eclipse refractometers feature a bright field of view, a unique sample “dribble feed” and are sealed against moisture ingress.

Eclipse Handheld Optical Refractometers Key Features

  • Clear “easy-to-read” scales
  • Smooth eyepiece adjustment - Calibration adjustment
  • Well balanced in the hand
  • Durable rubber grip
  • Replaceable prism flap
  • IP65 water resistant

A selection of scale types covering a wide range of common applications including fruit ripeness and salinity within food and beverage, and glycol measurement in industrial are available from within the Eclipse range. The Eclipse also caters for zoologists and entomologists with a unique Low Volume Brix with the capability of measuring samples of less than 1-microlitre such as nectar. 

If you're looking for Eclipse optical refractometers for industrial use click here. To purchase Eclipse optical refractometers for the food and beverage industry click here

 

Experts In Refractometer Technology

With over 100 years experience, Bellingham + Stanley offers one of the largest choices of digital refractometers in the world today. All refractometers are made and tested to the highest standards and are supplied with a unique serial number ensuring every instrument you buy may be traced to NIST and ICUMSA standards.  

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