MU May / June 2015

50 MACHINERY UPDATE MAY/JUNE 2015 www.machineryupdate.co.uk
Feature: Confectionery
Yamato Scale has
boosted speed and
operational gains
Big Bear Confectionery,
a subsidiary of Raisio
Group, has boosted its
new packaging line’s
production by 7000
packs per shift by investing
in a multihead weigher and
checkweigher from Yamato Scale
Dataweigh UK.
By boosting not only its speeds,
but also the operational flexibility
of the line in question, Big Bear
Confectionery has achieved
considerable improvements in
its weighing and checking of
its chocolate and sugar coated
products. It produces more than
1,000 products for the branded
and RPL confectionery markets
both in the UK and abroad, selling
to large supermarket chains such
as Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s,
Morrisons and Aldi.
After identifying inefficiencies in
its previous solution, as well as
requiring a layout change to resolve
congestion issues, the confectioner
contacted Yamato for new weighing
machinery. Factory space was at a
premium and the company wanted
to both expand its capabilities
while also streamlining the
product handling process. In the
end, purchasing the weigher and
checkweigher combination allowed
two lines to be merged in to one.
The older packaging line was
still performing well, but the site
project team was aware that recent
equipment breakthroughs would
significantly increase output, and
this became the driving factor in
the need to upgrade. The accuracy
that Yamato’s new weighing
machines could offer Big Bear
meant that it could offer flexibility
to its clients, as the machinery
could be easily adjusted to suit
the different weights and pack
sizes required.
Big Bear’s continued investment
in technology at its Blackburn site
means that it can continue to be
at the forefront of its industry by
being able to respond to consumer
demand, and an increase in output
Flexible and
fast advance
Chocolate and
sugar coated
products are
produced by
Big Bear
Confectionery
in Blackburn
to suit the wide-ranging needs
of its clients.
This undertaking marks a new
level of aspirational investment
by Big Bear. “It looks fantastic,
and will provide an exceptional
standard of packing for our
clients,” says Sandra Fawcett,
operations manager at Big
Bear’s Blackburn site. “The new
Yamato weighing and packing
line is a professional and modern
solution that gives us world class
capabilities.”
For portioning and feeding to
the bagging machine, an Omega
Equipment handles retail
and also bulk sized packs on
one new streamlined line
multihead weigher was installed.
This 14-head machine with 6 litre
capacity can reach speeds of up to
110 packs a minute on retail packs
of Big Bear products, and 12 packs a
minute on the larger 4.5kg packs.
Additionally, an end of line
I Series checkweigher was supplied,
which has a maximum pack
weight of 6kg, allowing Big Bear
additional flexibility with future
operations and processes.
This I Series checkweigher also
features a Ceia metal detector
and diverter arm.
“Yamato is proactive, and offers
excellent customer service,”
continues Fawcett, “and our
engineers were keen to continue
working with the company
as a result of years of positive
experiences.”
T 0113 322 1546
W www.yamatoscale.co.uk