In titrimetric procedures, the number of data points can be reduced when the analyte concentration is roughly known. This aspect is emphasised in automated titrations where a foresight of the analyte concentration can be fast and easily achieved by processing known amounts of sample and titrant, and evaluating the titrant excess. This prior assay permits a previous definition of the different titrant amounts to be further added. The feasibility of this strategy is demonstrated in designing a flow-batch titrator for spectrophotometric determination of iron in steels, iron ores and similar. The method involves titration of ferrous ions by permanganate performed inside a 400 μl reaction chamber assembled in the manifold. The proposed system handles about 20 samples per hour, requires 94 μg KMnO 4 per determination and yields precise results (R.S.D. ca. 1.5%, n=6) for 1.0–10×10 −3 mol l −1 Fe in the injectate. Accuracy was assessed by running a standard reference material and different samples already analysed by a manual titrimetric procedure.