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State-of-the-art distribution system enables Ishida to weighs mussels and prawns into thermoformed trays

24/10/2001

Cumbrian Seafoods Ltd, based in northern England, is a major processor of frozen seafood, supplying large volumes to major retailers. Success has led to investment in rapid expansion, and Ishida was asked to install weighing equipment for a new packing line within eight weeks of placing the order.

The task of the line was to fill trays with cooked individually quick frozen prawns (shell-on and peeled) and mussels (shelled) at pack weights ranging from 100 to 240g.

The Ishida solution

The Ishida solution was a 14-head waterproof Ishida weigher over a custom-engineered distribution system, designed to work in conjunction with the thermoforming machine.

The weigher itself features double opening pool and weigh hoppers. These, and indeed all the contact parts, are interchangeable and can be removed and replaced during operation, for easier cleaning. All contact parts are hex embossed to discourage product from clinging, and the machine body is waterproof to IP66, allowing rapid high-pressure hosedown.

Like all current Ishida models, the weigher is equipped with -Anti-Floor- Vibration (AFV), a unique Ishida feature which senses the level of ambient vibration and compensates for it. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) adjusts weigh signal filtration levels to enable an accurate weight to be read in the shortest possible time.

Eight trays at a time

The pneumatically driven distribution system includes an array of eight timing hoppers in a 4x2 format. Eight trays, are presented to the array, which descends once all timing hoppers are loaded and dispenses the product, preventing product spillage into adjacent trays or onto the sealing area. At a typical pack weight of 150g, the system is producing 80 packs per minute.

Speedy installation

Cumbrian Seafoods was impressed with the efficiency and speed of installation. The job was completed on time, with all the major work carried out over a weekend, so that virtually no production time was lost.

“The Ishida team were back at 6 am on the Monday to ensure a smooth start up,” says Ian King, Site Services Manager at Cumbrian Seafoods.“ I was also very impressed with the training, and the after-sales service and support, which I see as an essential part of any capital equipment purchase.” "The new system has now been running for just over a year. We are not new to multihead weighing, but this is our first Ishida weighing machine. It has considerably outperformed our expectations of what a multihead can do on a seafood packing line."