Case Study

Burton’s Biscuits conditioning solution

Overview

Client: Burton's Biscuit Company

Industry: Food

Project Overview: Low-velocity air distribution solution and custom cooling module combat problem of melting chocolate

Outcomes

  • Area held at 18°C all year
  • Frequency of wash down reduced with resulting cost savings and improvements in line efficiency
  • Product quality improved
  • Chocolate products no longer melted, reducing waste from the facility

Challenges

The chocolate chips in our client’s biscuits were melting in their packing platform area, resulting in staining of the area itself and an overall poor product quality.

Thanks in part to this staining, the product handling system also had to be cleaned frequently, a problem exacerbated by its location in a very warm area of the factory.

Solutions

To speed up the installation and reduce plant downtime, we enclosed the three metre production platform (where the conveyor belt system was situated) using a dry-wall insulated panel system.

The area was congested with existing services, so the enclosure was carefully made to measure and installed around live production, causing minimal disruption for the client.

Low-velocity air distribution was used to avoid impacting the weigh heads, and a custom cooling module was built into the fabric of the enclosure.

Conclusion

The conditioning solution for Burton’s Biscuits effectively addressed the issue of melting chocolate in the packing platform area, maintaining a stable temperature of 18°C year-round. The low-velocity air distribution and custom cooling module improved product quality and reduced waste by preventing chocolate from melting. Additionally, the frequency of washdowns was significantly decreased, leading to cost savings and enhanced line efficiency. The carefully measured dry-wall insulated panel system was installed around live production with minimal disruption, overcoming the challenges of a congested area and ensuring a seamless integration into the existing facility.