This publication describes a constituent analyzer which uses a concave holographic grating for high‐energy throughput, a conjugate cam drive to allow up to ten spectral scans per second, a microprocessor for data gathering and system control, and a minicomputer for the complex statistical computations required in the interpretation of the spectral data gathered. The instrument was specifically developed for quantitative measurement of food constituents in food processing and quality control. However, as a general state‐of‐the‐art spectrophotometer it was found to be a valuable tool in other disciplines such as industrial, clinical, and medical applications.