Very fragile product, and extreme space limitations where inches of access would determine the success of sanitation, maintenance and production functions, raised many concerns when Lopez Foods decided to expand packaging capabilities at their Oklahoma City, OK plant.
But, with equipment from Heat and Control, and the experience of its sales, engineering and project management team, "Each piece of the puzzle fit perfectly," according to Lopez Foods Plant Manager Rich Garofolo, "and we completed the installation days early - unprecedented for the size and scope of the project!"
FastBack conveyors deliver frozen pre-cooked sausage patties to an Ishida 14-head large capacity waterproof weigher.
"The equipment met all of our expectations," says Garofolo, "and continues to perform exceptionally well, 17 hours per day and six days per week. After all our discussions regarding product breakage, I am glad to tell you that it is a non-issue!"
Lopez Foods' two new lines produce 12-pound packages of frozen pre-cooked sausage patties at 1,300 bags per hour. Each line features FastBack conveyors and a SwitchBack product accumulation system that deliver patties to an Ishida 14-head large capacity waterproof weigher. Support platforms for the weighers and product handling equipment are designed to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) specification and incorporate Heat and Control's unique "Rapid Deployment" construction to reduce installation costs and expedite production start-up. "Heat and Control proposed several alternative designs that would accomplish our objectives, Garofolo explains. "Throughout the process, their quick response and turnaround time on drawings helped us keep the project on schedule."
Based on the success of this system, Lopez Foods has installed a similar line at their Caryville, TN plant.
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