Design intelligence helps expanding dairy integrate conveyors
South-West based BV Dairy was awarded a long-term contract to supply cultured milk drinks and drinking yogurts in 2016 and made a multimillion-pound investment in a new bottling line.
Initially capacity was four million units a year, however, with a view to the future, BV Dairy commissioned equipment that would allow production of sixteen million units per annum.
As demand on the new line increased the step to automate was reached and BV Dairy consulted UPM Conveyors to design a system to transfer bottles through each process stage from the filling in a high care area to capping; metal detection; labelling and to pack flow wrapping and palletising.
For this, UPM used 3D solid modelling design software to create a 3D digital prototype using the design visualisation and simulation of product to ensure efficient product flow.
UPM liaised with all the main equipment suppliers to integrate the conveyors which involved testing the system at UPM prior to installation as it was necessary to affect the side transfer of product from each section of the system to ensure the elimination of any potential jamming and product damage.
Mark Jeanes, engineering project controller at BV Dairy, expressed his total satisfaction with UPM for its cooperation in managing the project with a minimal effect on production. UPM Conveyors has been awarded the order for phase two of the project.
