Modernisation

Edinburgh’s Oatcakes Still Take the Biscuit

29.05.2008 | Author / Editor: Flexicon (Europe) Ltd / Praktikant VTT

The installation of this system has not only successfully addressed all the disadvantages of the previous procedures but also improved QC by better weight control and more accurate mixing and achieves greater economies of scale in the bulk purchasing of raw materials. It ensures no separation of individual blends during product transfer and HACCP (Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points) has been made more user-friendly. Soon after the system was commissioned, legislative changes set a new limit of 25 kg on the maximum loads that operatives could manually handle. As the bulk handling system had proved an unqualified success, further consideration was therefore given to mechanising the pin-head grade, especially since the new limit would mean even more bags.

The second installation was to be sited to the right of, and adjacent to, the existing system. The specification would be similar to that of the former but with small variation to account for the restricted headroom caused by the sloping roof of the warehouse and the need to position the 7 m flexible screw to the left of the existing system. This was necessary because a straight-through transfer was prohibited due to a silo positioned immediately behind the separating wall. A second self-centring, flexible screw conveyor measuring 2.9 m was therefore employed to transfer material from an 80 l capacity hopper to the new 7 m screw, so that both grades are transferred in parallel through the wall to gravity feed the mixing vessel.

Both control panels are sited within a frame housing adjacent to the new installation but a second, remote stop/start control was fitted at the point of discharge into the mixing vessel to offer the same advantage as before. The two systems have together eliminated the disposal and land fill costs of an estimated 89000 paper bags annually and continue to overcome the same disadvantages evident in the previous procedures.

Flexicon (Europe) Ltd