Integrated weighing system installed at award-winning producer of handmade ready meals produced for the hotel and pub industries, to overcome a problem of overfilling
Award winning food manufacturer Loxtons has greatly improved its operations by installing a new checkweighing system.
The company, which began 15 years ago by managing director and head chef Paul Durbin, has won numerous awards including the British Meat Awards - Pork Product of the Year - Foodservice in 2001 and 2002.
The new system has been installed at the company's site in Stockport, Cheshire, where high quality, handmade ready meals are produced for the hotel and pub industries.
Due to a problem with overfilling, Loxtons required equipment that could be easily integrated into their existing production lines.
Mettler Toledo provided the best solution for its requirements and was the ideal choice as an instrument supplier.
Designed for fast, accurate weighing Mettler Toledo's Garvens CombiChecker combines a checkweigher and a metal detector in one unit.
Weights are measured and metal-contaminated products are detected quickly and precisely.
The rejection of 'bad' products is ensured by two pushers so that metal contaminated and off-weight products can be separately rejected.
Paul Durbin commented: "Mettler Toledo offers a wide range of products that are ideally suited for food processing, which is what we needed.
We use the equipment for checking and weighing individual portion dishes in the assembly area, so it is vital that the instruments we use are highly accurate and reliable.
The checkweigher is easy to use, easy to clean, and it has been successfully integrated into the existing production lines without any problems, minimising downtime and inconvenience." The CombiChecker enables central article data editing at the weighing terminal of the checkweigher, plus quick and easy article changeover.
The compact design ensures that the checkweigher integrates into most production lines and the hygienic design meets strict food processing regulations.
The combined metal detector and checkweigher unites the advantages of both in-line weight monitoring and metal detection in a compact system.
It can store up to 200 product settings and classify items in three weight zones.
The Safeline metal detector contained in the unit features zero metal free zone (ZMFZ) technology allowing mechanical integration with the checkweighers infeed conveyor and has optimum detection sensitivity for many different products. Safeline is a Mettler Toledo subsidiary.
In addition to the checkweighing system, Loxtons required accurate and reliable weighing equipment in another section of the assembly area.
The Viper range was suggested as the most suitable option.
Viper scales, available in two platform sizes and five weighing ranges with a maximum weighing capacity of 60kg, are used in the assembly room where the different elements of the final dish are brought together to create the complete meal.
The rugged die cast aluminium housing is designed for all applications in an industrial environment.
The installation of the new machines has dramatically improved operations at the site, as Paul Durbin explains, "The equipment is easy to use and to clean which is vital when working in the food industry.
The unique PrintCard system for the checkweighers is easy to install, and this new system has meant that our production line has become automated and has improved efficiency by speeding up the end-of-line checking." Mettler Toledo's Garvens CombiChecker and Viper scales both have RS232C data interface fitted as standard which can be connected to a printer, second scale, or PC.
The value for money product range and user friendly design ensures Mettler Toledo's scales are easily integrated into production process.
