CHANGING
TECHNOLOGY IN CHEESE!
Leading UK cheese processors and packers, Kerrygold,
have
seen many changes over the years, including shifting demand between variable
and fixed weight packaging.
Kerrygold’s Leek plant is the largest independent buyer of hard cheese in the UK, handling some 60,000 tonnes per year of block cheese for cutting, packing and processing over 1 million packs every year.
Although many leading retailers have specified fixed weight cheese packs over the last five years – largely thanks to its marketing, pricing and stockholding advantages – there is still a demand for variable weight packaging.
Even though more sophisticated computer-controlled cheese cutters are now available, cheese is a natural product that changes shape and size during the manufacturing process. As a result, a fixed weight operation will automatically involve some giveaway and associated increased costs for the retailer.
Today, Kerrygold operates both fixed weight and variable
weight packing lines.
Delford weigh price labellers were first installed at the site in the
early 1970s and achieved speeds of up to 70 packs/min.
Now, AEW Delford
Systems 8160 machines provide fast, efficient handling at up to 160 small
packs/min.
They operate on flow wrapping and vacuum packing lines handling 200 and 500g portions at speeds of up to 150 packs per minute. More similar machines are in the pipeline, including Delford’s new BL 8000 high speed intelligent base labeller.
Carl Ravenhall, Kerrygold’s Production Director said, “Speeds have increased from just 70 packs per minute on the early machines to more than 150 with the latest 8160s. It isn’t only about speed though,” he explains. “We are under pressure to get it right first time, every time, so developments that improve label placement and pack presentation are important. The latest Delfords are reliable and easier to maintain, with fewer mechanical elements and more ‘plug-in’ electronics.
We are also actively working together on new developments, such as weighing prior to wrapping and fully-automatic end of line packing.”
