FROM BULK TO BAG – VERSATILE PACKING LINE BRINGS REWARDS FOR PEACOCK SALT
Bad weather mustnt stop from getting through
Peacock have traded in salt for more than 125 years, offering rock, sea and manufactured salt from around the world.
Established in 1874, and entering the winter maintenance market in 1948, Peacock Salt is one of the UKs longest established suppliers of de-icing salt, their annual supply tops 350,000 tonnes.
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Of paramount importance is the reliability of their supply chain – ensuring that local authorities and maintenance contactors can keep the roads open and safe during the harsh Scottish winters.
Gregory Marshall, Assistant Managing Director, comments that the summers can be quiet but as the days get shorter and the temperature drops, Peacock receive over 200 calls per day – taking orders for anything from 100 tonnes to a single 5kg bag.
Peacock are committed to serving their customers needs, they have built a robust logistics network which has proven to be a match for the worst of the British winters. They also believe that their survival is based on being able to deliver the salt to the customer in the quantity or package he specifies – bulk tanker, big bag or sacks from 1.5 kg to 2.5 kg.
Peacock pack different grades of salt into 5 and 10 kg bags with handles, 15 kg and 25 kg bags. The line packs at a rate of 900 bags per hour for 2 shifts per day during the winter months and one shift per day in the spring and summer.
The line is overseen by Jim Laird, the fork lift truck driver who twice a day loads a 600 kg roll of plastic film onto the bagging machine, keeps the empty pallet magazine stocked with pallets.
The old semi-automatic line at Peacock Salts Glasgow depot required three, sometimes four operators. Jim received training from David Shell, Webster Griffins Project Commissioning Engineer. David Shell was responsible for the factory testing, on site installation, setting up and fine tuning of the line. Jim enjoys the responsibility and in turn has been able to train other operators.
Versatility combined with a high packing rate means that it is now cost effective for Peacock Salt to pack small, specialised batch runs as well as long production runs.
On a conventional automatic bagging line changing from one bag size to the other could take one or two hours. With the Webster line switching to a different product is instantaneous and from a 5 kg to a 25 kg bag takes 20 minutes – enabling Peacock to meet changes in customer demands swiftly.
Another benefit is that without the new robot bagging line, Peacock Salt would need to double or quadruple the amount of pre-packed salt held in stock in order to be able to satisfy customers orders promptly.
For more information contact Webster Griffin Ltd, Crowborough, East Sussex
Tel: 01892 664250 Fax: 01892 664340 E-mail: info@webstergriffin.com
Web: www.webstergriffin.com or www.okurarobot.co.uk
