Slicker accumulation process

Part of the line concerned individual packs being packaged into larger cases for transport and this could be problematic.

These types of machines are prone to disruptions and even though they are often quickly resolved they also force the top-seal machine to a stop. The stoppage of the top-seal machine is problematic as a whole series of boxes have to be written off as waste as the special conditioning process only works when the whole process is running at full speed. These types of products have a difficult shape and tend to give accumulator systems a lot of trouble.

The answer was the use of a set of AmbaFlex AccuVeyors AVh machines. Because these spirals only use a single belt, there's no need for a product transfer unit or, as used in low-end accumulators, systems that work on pressure. The products stay on their respective place on the belt throughout the whole accumulation process. There is no pressure put on the product and it is kept on a first-in, first-out principle.

Each AccuVeyor can store up to 400 top-seal packs. When more products are coming in than going out, which is the case in a down-stream breakdown of the packer or when the line is starting up, the belt within the AccuVeyor increases in length and moves upwards. When it's the other way around; when more products are going out than in, because the case packer is faster than the top-seal machine, the AccuVeyor releases the stored packs and the belt moves down again.

An optimal balance that gave the customer a 30% increase in their efficiency. The 30% increase in efficiency for each of the three lines resulted in an increased production that matched the extra line the firm initially envisaged they would have to build. This meant the machines return on the investment within months.