AELAB FHT-15 Fruit Hardness Tester | Precision Penetrometer for Ripeness Evaluation

The AELAB FHT-15 Fruit Hardness Tester is a handheld digital penetrometer designed for precise hardness and ripeness measurement across a wide range of fruits. It quantifies penetration force to support picking-time decisions, fruit grading, and storage softening evaluation. With an intuitive interface and stable measurement system, the instrument is optimized for both field and laboratory agricultural testing.

The FHT Series enables growers and researchers to analyze pulp firmness by measuring the force required to penetrate fruit tissue. This supports ripeness inference, harvest planning, and post-harvest quality monitoring. USB/RS-232 data output and optional Bluetooth connectivity streamline data capture and reporting.

⚙️ Design & Construction

The AELAB FHT-15 is engineered as a compact, handheld hardness tester incorporating a 3.5mm stainless probe tip and a 10mm controlled pressing depth to stabilize penetration force measurements. The unit uses a digital load-cell system capable of displaying readings in kgf/cm², lbf/cm², N/cm², and Pa for multi-standard agricultural evaluation. A durable ABS housing and ergonomic grip enhance field usability, while the included carrying case ensures secure transport.

🔬 Working Principle / Testing Method

The instrument quantifies fruit firmness by detecting the penetration force required to drive the 3.5mm probe into the pulp at a fixed 10mm depth. The load-cell converts mechanical force into digital output with selectable resolution (0.01/0.1/1). The tester interprets softening or ripening behavior through changes in force values, enabling growers to evaluate picking times, maturity stages, and post-harvest degradation. Data output via USB/RS-232 or optional Bluetooth supports GLP-style digital records.

💡 Key Advantages

• High-precision penetration force measurement for ripeness and firmness assessment
• Multi-unit output (kgf/cm², lbf/cm², N/cm², Pa) for cross-standard agricultural testing
• Stable load-cell design improves repeatability in field and storage monitoring
• Selectable resolution options support both coarse and fine measurement modes
• USB/RS-232 and optional Bluetooth enable rapid digital data export
• Lightweight 230g structure improves operator comfort during large sample batches
• Designed for fruit classification testing including small, soft, firm, and hard fruit varieties

🔗 Connectivity & Integration

The AELAB FHT-15 supports RS-232C and USB communication for PC data transfer and report generation. Optional Bluetooth data transmission enables wireless collection into compatible software platforms, supporting laboratory information management, trend tracking, and GLP documentation requirements.

🧠 Model Insight

🧪 Testing Applications

The AELAB FHT-15 is suitable for agricultural quality control, ripeness determination, breeding programs, post-harvest storage assessment, research sampling, and grower field evaluation. It supports measurements for strawberries, cherries, grapes, berries, peaches, bananas, apricots, plums, melons, citrus, persimmons, pears, nectarines, kiwifruit, and avocados.

Compliance & Quality Assurance

The AELAB FHT-15 adheres to agricultural quality assessment standards and undergoes factory calibration and performance verification. All components follow ISO-aligned manufacturing and GLP-compatible measurement protocols to ensure accurate, traceable firmness evaluation.