< PreviousMercedes-Benz Used 1:Checked inside out - guaranteed.Approved Used Vans & Services from Mercedes-Benz.Test Winner.Whichever used van you choose from our range, you can always be sure it’s a test winner. Every Mercedes-Benz Used 1 Qualifying Van has been through our stringent testing procedure (the 100 plus point check) to earn itself a special prize - a comprehensive package of services and a warranty lasting up to 3 years.www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vansEngineBodyworkLightsOil LevelsElectricalBrakesExhaust28-31_Layout 1 20/10/2014 09:16 Page 3Food & Drink International 31www.fdiforum.netTRANSPORT AND LOGISTICSCharterWay contract hire package from Mercedes-Benz FinancialServices which includes full repair and maintenance cover. Mertruxalso services the operator’s other vehicles under Mercedes-BenzRepair and Maintenance Contracts.The dealer’s workshop team conduct inspections andmaintenance on Global Brands’ trucks, outside the operator’snormal business hours. Transport Manager Kevin Hopkinson says,“We typically drop off a vehicle on a Friday afternoon and pick itup again at 5.30am on Monday, so we rarely suffer any downtime.We enjoy an excellent relationship with Mertrux, who are alwaysvery accommodating if we need a job doing at short notice.” With retailers setting tight criteria to meet customer demand,ensuring vehicles are always ready and well maintained is vitallyimportant.The same is true for all aspects of the supply chain. Heinz’sfactory in Wigan is the largest in Europe, producing over a billioncans a year, and ISS Facilities Management recently approachedBID Group in regards to assisting with their contract at the site. Aproposal was drawn up with BID Group engaged to provide a bi-annual service inspection to all of the various doors, gates, barriersand other associated equipment on site, as well as providing anemergency callout service.By managing their organisation’s everyday needs, they can savethem money, make their life easier and free them to focus on whatthey do best. BID Group employ a full time health and safetymanager to ensure that all their customers and its own proceduresare adhered to in a safe manner. Spotting potential flashpoints inadvance via regular inspections can avoid excessive downtime andensure the company is able to function in a safe and secure fashion.As the supply chain becomes increasingly complex, ensuring highstandards are met in transport and logistics facilities provides peaceof mind for customers and ensures as little downtime as possible.Northern Irish company Moy Park has invested ina new, state of the art chick delivery lorryWhat benefits can a KLIMATEdoor bring to you?Affordable to purchase, operate and maintainReliable and robust for everyday operationsDurable to withstand timeEfficient for conserving energyNationwide technical support serviceTrouble free diagnostic control panelT: 0870 607 5050sales@klimate.co.uk www.klimate.co.ukKlimate High Speed Doors part of BID Group Ltd28-31_Layout 1 20/10/2014 09:16 Page 432 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netFROZEN FOOD AND READY MEALSFood that is frozen, including ready meals,has seen an interesting few years. No longeris the ready meal just a second option forwhen the cupboard is bare as it now formsthe backbone of many people’s daily diet. Asa result, there has been somewhat of a stepup in terms of quality and investments intolaunches that are focused on health, ratherthan simply filling a hole or acting as astopgap food.With many countries across the worldnow adapting to longer working hours andbusy social lives, time-starved consumersnow rely on the quick and easy optionsafforded to them by frozen food and readymeals, but those producers that aresucceeding are those that have adapted theirofferings.Take, for example, The Saucy Fish Co.,which recently won the Best Fish Award inthe Healthy Food Guide Food & DrinkAwards for its Salmon with Chilli Lime andGinger Sauce product.One of Saucy Fish’s flagship products,Salmon Chilli Lime and Ginger is only 195calories per serving, packed full of Omega 3and is now sold in the USA and Australia.This is the second consumer award for thisproduct, after being awarded Gold for BestReady Meal from Health & Fitness andWomen’s Fitness last year, beating off stiffcompetition from brands including Innocentand Kirsty’s.Simon Smith, Head of Brand at The SaucyFish Co. says, “It’s fantastic to receiverecognition from health food industryexperts. We all know fish plays an integralpart of a healthy lifestyle and this award, in acompetitive category with many nutritiousproducts – really demonstrates the taste andquality of our products are second to none.”This focus on taste and quality isindicative of the industry at the moment andthis of course extends to the manufacturingWith many consumers living increasingly busy lives, the onus is on convenience and retainingexciting tastes. How are manufacturers making sure they hit the right note?Calling on convenienceSimon Smith, of The Saucy Fish Co. has seengrowth from offering a healthy take on the readymeal in the form of chilled and frozen fish dishes32-35_Layout 1 20/10/2014 08:52 Page 1Food & Drink International 33www.fdiforum.netFROZEN FOOD AND READY MEALSstages. Western Mechanical Handling hasrecently developed a wide range of costeffective solutions specifically suited to theproduction of ready meals across thewhole manufacturing process. It hasrecently focused on engineering flexibilityand simplicity to inline grilling unitsdesigned to add colour to the surface ofcheese and potato-topped meals. This iscarried out without raising the coretemperature before machinery enableseffective collation, for sealing or chilling,and finally packing. Working with a large ready mealsmanufacturer, WMH was approached toprovide a replacement for an oldinefficient grill unit which would allow anincrease in production within thefootprint of the existing unit. WMH wasable to provide a solution using direct heatinfrared technology. The controllability ofthe infrared panels allows the grill unit tobe up to working temperature within aminute of being switched on and allowsrapid changes in temperature andintensity, reducing downtime betweenproduct lines and enabling the line to beshut down during break periods andsaving on energy consumption. The grill has three independently-controlled heater panels which enable theheat profile within the grill chamber to betailored to give the best results for eachproduct line which improves productquality and consistency. This wasparticularly important to the factory asthe unit was required for browning35 ÁÁPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/JOE GOUGHPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ELENA ELISSEEVAHaving difficulty accurately date codingyour ready meal sleeves? An offline system could be the answer...To find out more )+44 (0)1707 393 700 *sales@rotechmachines.com 8www.rotechmachines.com/ready-meal-sleeve-coding 32-35_Layout 1 20/10/2014 08:52 Page 232-35_Layout 1 20/10/2014 08:52 Page 3Food & Drink International 35www.fdiforum.netFROZEN FOOD AND READY MEALSlasagne and cottage pies which ranged in size.Post completion of the line, the requirement to grill productsin cardboard trays was added. While WMH had previouslydeveloped a fully automated solution for grilling products inCPET trays for another client, a lower cost retro-fit solution wasrequired in this case. Using in-house test grilling units, WMHengineers developed a shroud system to protect the cardboardtrays during grilling. Simple additions like this make production of such productseasier to manage and to effectively make more desirable toconsumers and this focus on quality is being extended furtherinto the supply chain.Carrier Transicold recently showcased a prototype of a naturalrefrigerant trailer unit at the International Motor Show, whichstands out for its use of carbon dioxide in a closed-loop system.Shown inside a purpose-built innovation lab visitors were able toexperience the unit’s impact in person.David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold & RefrigerationSystems says; “Carrier Transicold develops transport refrigerationsystems that not only ‘green the cold chain,’ but also allowsconsumers to more effectively manage the global food supply coldchain, helping reduce food waste, to feed more people andprotect natural resources. The IAA show represents the perfectopportunity to showcase Carrier innovation to the world.”This natural refrigerant system could replace conventionalrefrigerants, such as R-404A, a fluorinated gas with a GWP of3920. The multi-temp prototype was assembled inside a regularVector unit chassis and uses advanced technology from Carrier’sNaturaLINE refrigeration system, which was initially developedfor deep-sea containers and completed sea trials in 2012. Amodified example of the NaturaLINE unit is currentlyundertaking a two-year mono-temp field trial in London withSainsbury’s.A measured and daring approach seems to be what is drivingthe industry at present, with those willing to invest in solutionsacross the board being most successful. With consumersbecoming more savvy with regards to perceived health benefitsand effects on their health in general from consuming suchmeals, a leap in use of quality ingredients and safer processingstandards will no doubt follow. Chasing the consumer demand isone sure-fire way to succeeding within the frozen and ready mealsector, those offering something truly desirable, rather thansimply functional, will most probably reap the most benefit.Transicold’s latest refrigeration unit uses aclosed loop of carbon dioxide, meaning amore cost-effective method of transportingready meal products.BCHTelephone: +44 (0)1706 852122Email: info@bchltd.comwww.bchltd.comCompany ProfileBCH are processengineers for the foodand confectioneryindustries, providing aone stop shop combiningmechanical engineering,automation and foodscience. Established in1835, BCH hasdeveloped a worldwidereputation specialising inturnkey systems for the manufacture of soups, sauces, pie fillings,desert toppings, ready meals and much more.Product ProfileBCH provide a range of flexible solutions up to 3000kg batch size.This can be a simple standalone cooking kettle for integration into anexisting production line, up to a fully integrated cooking and coolingsystem feeding directly into an automated filling system. By usingvacuum cooling technology, BCH can achieve very fast cooling rates,typically achieving below 5°C within 45 minutes. Another alternative isthe BCH RotaChill system, a tumble chiller capable of cooling sealedpouches to below 5°C with 60-90 minutes.The process equipment is supported by a comprehensive range ofPLC based control option using HMIs, SCADA and data processingsystems. Trial equipment is available in the Innovation Centre.A measured and daring approach seems tobe what is driving the industry at present,with those willing to invest in solutionsacross the board being most successful32-35_Layout 1 20/10/2014 08:52 Page 436 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netMACHINERY & EQUIPMENTIt’s not just the individual companiesthat benefit from investing and innovatingin machinery, either. The industry as awhole can benefit from greater investmentand many governments are promoting thebenefits of automation and high-endmanufacturing. In the UK, for example,Innovate UK, together with Defra and theBiotechnology and Biological SciencesResearch Council are to invest up to £11million in business projects to improve theresource efficiency and resilience of thefood and drink supply chain.To this end they have launched acompetition to help companies developinnovative ways to reduce the productionof waste, use resources such as energy,water and raw materials more efficientlyand improve the productivity of foodmanufacturing and processing operations.One of the main aims is to improve theresilience of the food supply chain bymaking better use of resources andreducing environmental stresses on foodsystems. As the organisers point out,businesses that develop technologies toaddress these issues can improve theircompetitiveness and export potential,which in turn will support a circulareconomy that is more resilient to supplychain risks.The competition is for collaborative andbusiness-led proposals and the intention isto fund mainly industrial research projectsin which a business partner will generallyattract up to 50% public funding for theirproject costs, or 60% for SMEs. Projectswill generally range in size from total costsof £250,000 to £1 million, although theymay also consider projects outside thisrange. Registration for the competitioncloses on 26th November, with thedeadline for submissions following inFebruary 2015. Competitions and schemes such as thisare hugely valuable in encouraginginnovation and giving companies theopportunities to work on research anddevelopment, with a financial safety net.What’s also important is the ability towork alongside other companies to createsolutions that have the industry’s specificneeds at the forefront of development.The big challenge for many foodmanufacturers, especially small businesses,is introducing new automation processesand equipment into their productionlines. No company wants to invest largeamounts into machinery only to find outafter it has been installed – itself often atgreat expense as production is stopped fora period – that it isn’t really working inthe way that was anticipated.Companies such as Silverson arehelping to avoid this problem by offering a“try before you buy” approach.Manufacturers can be loaned machineryto examine its value for their productionprocess and work out, via collaborationwith engineers, how it can be bestdeployed to meet their particular needs.The finished result should be a bespokePHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ANNA JURKOVSKAAutomate toaccumulateAll those who attended the recent PPMA Show will be well aware ofthe great strides being made in machinery and equipment throughoutthe food and drink sector. Automation is a top priority for manycompanies to ensure they meet the highest standards.piece of machinery that can meet themanufacturers’ specific requirementseffectively.An example of how collaboration canwork in practice can be seen atTracklements, a specialist in condiments,who have worked alongside RiggsAutopack to find the machinery thatworks for them. Riggs Autopack wasselected to install a new filling line toaccurately dispense a variety of newproducts and cope with an increase in36-43_Layout 1 20/10/2014 09:19 Page 1Food & Drink International 37www.fdiforum.netMACHINERY & EQUIPMENTSuppliers of machinery and equipmentalso benefit from strong links to themanufacturers themselves. PCEAutomation, for example, regularly useFesto equipment in their machines, andone of their recent projects involved themdesigning a side entry robot for RPCHalstead’s injection moulding machine,that uses a Festo high speed electric axisand pneumatics. As the electric axis39 Ádemand. The new line incorporated a fullyautomatic twin head filling machine withinterlock doors, selectable dipping headassembly for container neck entry, andclamps to locate the smallest bottle neckswithin a millimetre tolerance. The fillingmachine 200 litre hopper was fitted withan agitation system to keep particulateswithin dressings in suspension.The project scope included a six metrecontinuous running conveyor through thefilling machine and a new automaticcapping machine suitable for twist-off lids– sourced from a third party supplier,integrated and project managed by RiggsAutopack as part of the scheme. The newline was configured to handle manydifferent shapes and capacity of containersfor maximum flexibility of fill, and duringinstallation and commissioning, theyworked closely with Tracklements’engineering department to optimise theline to meet site working practices andprovide efficient production speeds.36-43_Layout 1 20/10/2014 09:19 Page 238 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netMaximum food safety, maximum production output, minimal costs:Klüber Lubrication helps you achieve all these goals more easily. Our high-performance NSF H1-lubricants are 0:6 JLY[PÄLKHUKOH]LHT\S[Ptude of approvals. They are available for all branches of the food-processing industry, for all components and tricky special cases everywhere in the world in the same high quality. Our experts will provide you with support to meet your individual requirements, from consulting to optimum lubrication management, ensuring more safety of production processes and OPNOLYWYVÄ[HIPSP[`Klüber Lubrication: 80 years of experience and professional services for your success.Klüber Lubrication Great Britain Ltd.sales@uk.kluber.com / www.klueber.comCertified speciality lubricants for the best possible taste.your global specialist36-43_Layout 1 20/10/2014 09:19 Page 3Food & Drink International 39www.fdiforum.netMACHINERY & EQUIPMENT PCE Automation Ltd For the new Bosch Rexroth VarioFlow plus Conveyor range, ONLINE. www.pce-online.co.uk needed to be fully retractable, PCEAutomation adapted one of the electro-mechanical belt drive axis to design abespoke solution. By piggy-backing twolinear electric axes together, a telescopicarm that could be fully withdrawn,therefore ensuring easy entry of the crane.At a time when manufacturers arelooking to shrink their carbon footprint,new machinery and equipment can beused in the most energy efficient fashion,and specialists can assist in how best toachieve this. For example, KlüberLubrication have developedKlüberEfficiencySupport, which aims togo beyond lubricant recommendations andinstead identify and transfer existingoptimisation potentials into practice.In companies making use of theirKlüberEnergy concept, before the energysaving potential that exists is identified,all relevant factors are analysed in depthand the customer will receive a full reporton the relevant parameters including costsavings, carbon dioxide footprint andenergy consumption. Alexander Dörner,Head of Service Business Development atKlüber Lubrication, says, “The results canbe transferred to similar applications inthe company to multiply savings. It canclearly be seen how a lower energyconsumption can benefit the environmentand at the same time reduce operatingcosts in the long term.”Companies that have made use of thissystem also tend to incorporateKlüberMaintain – which encompasses theprofessional generation of acomprehensive plant lubrication chartcovering all lubrication points foroptimum lubrication processes. This willinclude ideal maintenance intervals andprevention of excessive lubrication withthe right amount and application for eachlubrication point clearly defined.40 Á36-43_Layout 1 20/10/2014 09:19 Page 4Next >