Amulti-million-pound investment increases capacity in efficient way

Prepared fresh vegetable supplier Fenmarc has enjoyed the benefits of additional throughput and efficiency at its Wisbech factory since installing new weighing and packaging lines, allowing it to expand its range with both new and existing customers. The new lines feature multihead weighing technology along with four GIC3100 high speed vertical form, fill and seal (VFFS) packaging machines, which now give Fenmarc higher speeds, greater accuracy and a lower cost of ownership.

Head of engineering Terry Holland

“The previous three lines had been running 18 hours a day, seven days a week since 2015,” explains Terry Holland, head of engineering at Fenmarc. “The lines were showing their age and needed more frequent expensive maintenance; some parts had become obsolete and were no longer supported; and new machinery offered better accuracy and performance.”

Phase one of the project was completed in 2020 and proved to be so much more flexible, faster and more accurate than the previous set-up. “That’s why we decided to commission an additional two lines, which were installed in August last year,” says Holland.

T 01427 611885

W www.gic.uk.net

New machinery for food manufacturers

Foodex Manufacturing Solutions took place at the NEC in April and saw a number of PPMA member companies demonstrate the latest processing options and packaging machinery that are all designed to make food manufacturers’ sites more efficient and profitable. Here, we highlight just some of the equipment on show…

Process control options give recipe and energy savings

Promtek demonstrated how its process control solutions for smart recipe handling and monitoring real-time power consumption can potentially transform a business at this year’s Foodex Manufacturing Solutions. Its StoraWeigh control system and Condor technology was demonstrated to visitors which can provide a strategic overview into all aspects of production, including ingredient reformulations, climate impact and energy costs.

Condor’s all in one platform uses predefined algorithms to accurately calculate energy efficiency. A web-based modular integration with rigorous user specific security properties, Condor provides customised batch reports with key information by connecting to multiple systems such as process control, ERP or PLC/SCADA.

As well as energy usage, Condor also allows security management and monitoring of raw material parameters.

Promtek’s system provides traceability and tracking of materials for recipes, with real-time monitoring of lot information. An integrated platform with StoraWeigh enables all the information to be collected and managed in one place This can be customised to suit changing needs.

T 01782 375600

W www.promtek.com