NEWS // #foodnews
Cheshire Farm installs n-ice metal detector Award-winning ice cream producer Cheshire Farm continues to invest in its modern factory with the recent installation of a metal detector and conveyor system from Lock Inspection Systems. The family-run business produces over 2,000litres of ice cream per hour, in more than 30 different flavours and a range of tub sizes from 110ml to 5litres. The chosen end-of-line Lock system, which replaces an outdated metal detector, meets the challenges of this very specific manufacturing environment. “Accurate inspection of ice cream can be difficult because the conductive signal varies according to the temperature of the product - even slight changes during production will make a difference. With temperatures of around -6°C at inspection, any unexpected rise or fall in ambient temperature may change the temperature of the ice cream and alter the conductive signal that it generates. Our sophisticated technology can track these fluctuations and make the necessary fine adjustments to ensure a consistently high level of contaminant sensitivity,” explains Rob Gray, UK Sales at Lock Inspection Systems. Installed to inspect the filled tubs, the Lock metal detector and conveyor system also benefits from user-friendly data software which can store and recall over 100 product settings; allowing it to efficiently adapt to the range of different sizes. “We needed to update our detection system and chose Lock’s bespoke system based on its reputation for outstanding performance, reliability and understanding of specific manufacturing issues. It is now a key part of our factory,” comments Graeme Fell, Production Manager at Cheshire Farm. Cheshire Farm’s Real Dairy Ice Cream is made using fresh whole milk and cream which is produced on the farm. Established in 1986, the business was developed as a way to create added value from the milk produced in excess of the farm’s quota restriction. Contact Lock Inspection on tel 0161 624 0333 or visit www.lockinspection.com
366
06. 2 0 13
Increased packing capacity at Ardo UK A new bulk packing line has brought increased flexibility to frozen fruit and vegetable specialist Ardo UK. The facility at the company’s factory and cold store in Charing, near Ashford, is able to handle up to 400 cases/hr, packing 10kg or 15kg boxes for industrial customers. “We have an ongoing investment programme to ensure we operate as efficiently as possible and are able to meet the needs of our customers,” said Ardo UK Operations Director, Jim Everest. “This new bulk packing line complements the work we do for our retail customers and is able to handle any of our frozen fruit and vegetable ranges, whether single products such as British peas or vegetable and fruit mixes. “It makes for a more efficient use of space in the factory and will help us provide a broader offering to ready-meal manufacturers and other industrial customers. “The new facility also contributes to our environmental performance as it means product can be brought direct to us for packing rather than via a third party, thus reducing road miles.” A £15m investment saw Ardo UK consolidate its operations onto a single site at Charing in 2009 with the opening of a new state-of-the art food processing plant. The company’s success in reducing waste and energy consumption saw it win the Business Commitment to the Environment Category in the 2012 Kent Excellence in Business Awards. Contact Ardo UK on tel 01233 714714 or visit www.ardouk.com
Quality assurance is Paramount Paramount 21 a South-Devon family owned frozen food manufacturer, has installed an end of line Loma IQ3 Metal Detector to reliably inspect a challenging new seafood product. Inspection of the new product, large 10kg boxes of frozen seafood, needed to meet all food safety standards, HACCP requirements and Paramount’s high quality expectations. Paramount Production Engineer, Gary Dark explains, “A new Paramount customer required the highest specification from our metal detector ensuring identification of very small contaminants from a large box of seafood.” Reliably inspecting a large box for foreign contaminants in a harsh environment where products are frozen to temperatures as low as 20°C was challenging. Frozen products are well known to cause reading abnormalities on any metal detector and have been traditionally difficult to inspect due to high product effect. In response to the challenges, Loma Systems specified an IQ3 end-of-line metal detector system with a 450x450mm aperture tunnel to easily handle large boxes. Manufactured to IP69K, built in robust stainless steel the system ensures long, reliable performance and exceeds any harsh environment cleaning specification with enhanced protection for high or low temperature washdown.
Most importantly, the IQ3 offers leading sensitivities so that product integrity is not compromised. Its Automatic Variable Frequency feature enables operators to identify the point at which product effect is minimal but contaminant detection is at its strongest. Gary comments: “I installed the machine myself with no problems and it was quickly up and running.” The system has a frequency operation range from 40-900kHz and has the ability to select the ‘correct’ operating frequency in seconds, eliminating past restrictions caused by single frequency and ‘limited frequency’ detectors; a key benefit for manufacturers with challenging applications such as Paramount’s. Gary continues: “It is important to us that we minimise the risk of any possible contaminants getting into our products. However, with our quality inspection equipment we can have complete peace of mind that our food is safe.” At the Devon site, Paramount uses a Loma 6000 Combination Checkweigher and Metal Detector system, which was purchased nearly seven years ago. The reliability of the equipment and Loma’s dependable maintenance service meant that Paramount had no concerns choosing another machine from Loma. “I was impressed with Loma Systems - the IQ3 system was custom-built, and delivered before time and on budget,” concluded Gary.
Contact Loma Systems on tel 01252 893300 or visit www.loma.com