Ishida FlexGrader
increases throughput
The installation of two Ishida FlexGraders The Ishida line, supplied by Ishida
at leading Hungarian poultry processor Hungarian agent MasterQuality, was
Tranzit Food has enabled the company specifically designed for Tranzit Food’s
to nearly double capacity with the same requirements.
number of line operators.
“We originally considered a 16 station
The FlexGraders are grading packed FlexGrader,” explains Ferenc Botos of
duck and goose – both whole birds and Tranzit Food. “However, in discussions
pieces – into specified fixed weights for with Ishida to explain what we wanted to
Tranzit’s retail customers. Each pack is achieve, we opted for a 20 station solution
individually weighed and then diverted
to a series of packing stations, according
to its weight, where it is placed into a
transit case for onward supply.
The 20 station FlexGrader is able to
handle around 80 packs per minute,
giving it the capacity to process around
3,600 ducks and 1,600 geese every hour,
compared with the 2,000 and 1,000
birds delivered by the previous manual
The system also has the flexibility
to weigh and grade each pack by its
individual weight where customers do not
require fixed weights.
Packs sizes vary from 700g to 1200g for
individual pieces and 1400g to 6500g for
whole birds.
Any pack not within the specified
system. Line operators are assigned tolerances for a particular run is diverted
three or four stations, where the packs to a special bin so that it can re-weighed.
and the company designed the system to
meet our requirements and to maximise
use of the available space in the factory.
Ishida has been a very good partner to
work with, with constructive suggestions,
as well as providing excellent training for
our operators.”
Tranzit reports that the Ishida FlexGrader
is simple to use. Changeovers between
birds can be done in less than a minute
by calling up the required specification
on the user-friendly Remote Control
are placed into the cartons and an outer Unit, and tolerances can also be adjusted
case label is produced. while the FlexGrader is in operation.
56 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk