Dutch meat processor Giebels Meat Products has developed a packing system to meet a specific bulk retailing application’s needs thanks largely to a new Ishida Europe mobile multihead weigher gantry.
Giebels has recently developed, with a large European bulk retailer, a range of spare ribs for the retail market. Within a single day, its Helmond plant may need to output bags or trays at target weights of 500 or 750g or 1kg. The company recognised that, by eliminating the need to install and run separate tray and bag lines, it could significantly cut costs. Ishida offered its newly developed mobile weigher gantry, which allows a single multihead weigher to move between two packing lines.
The selected14-head Ishida EM “economy” machine’s five litre hoppers can easily handle the spare ribs’ slightly awkward shape. Disengaging the weigher from the bagging line and having it ready for action on the tray line takes under a minute, with the reverse operation equally fast. The gantry is fitted with an elevator to bring the ribs to the top of the weigher, and adjustable levelling feet.
