GEA Process Engineering in New Zealand has supplied a second Colby IFS filling machine for infant formula to the New Image Group’s Paerata Milk Processing Facility in South Auckland. The new machine was delivered at very short notice and now provides the company with increased production and greater manufacturing flexibility.
New Image Group is a 100% New Zealand company, formed in 1984, that is fast becoming a market leader in the development and manufacture of blended infant formulas largely for the export market to South East Asia. In 2011 the company installed a new spray dryer for infant formula and a Colby IFS filling machine for 99mm, 127mm and 154mm cans. The new order was for a second IFS-1A filling machine to work alongside the existing plant.
The IFS-1A is an upgraded version of the machine originally supplied by GEA. New Image chose the Colby machine owing to its good experience with the existing technology and the close working relationship it had built with the company.
Daniel Andrews is the project manager from GEA who was responsible for ensuring on-time delivery for New Image. “The project was very challenging because of the very tight schedule,” said Daniel. “The customer was insistent that there was no flexibility on the delivery date.” The machine was, however, delivered on time and was soon achieving the required production rate of over 18 cans/min with a standard deviation of less than 4g based on a ‘nothing under’ principle when filling 900g cans.
Daniel also explained that the benefit for New Image of having two IFS machines working side-by-side was that the production engineers could choose whether they wanted to run the two machines on the same or different products. “With one large machine they could only pack one product at a time,” he said, “but running two filling lines gives them much more flexibility.” Having two similar machines also means that operators require less training, common spare parts mean the company can keep a reduced inventory, and if one machine is shut down for maintenance, production continues.
“We believe that it is important to build strong relationships with our suppliers and to use local companies whenever we can,” said Matthew Stanish from New Image. “We have had very good results with Colby technology before and wanted to maintain continuity within the plant. We know that we set GEA a tough challenge but they delivered on time and to our expectations.”
GEA Process Engineering designs, manufactures and sells the range of GEA Avapac high quality powder filling systems for bulk bag and retail containers. Its solutions are ideally suited for food, dairy and pharmaceutical applications.
GEA Process Engineering Ltd
Phone 01925 812650
info.gpuk@gea.com
www.gea.com
