Materialzufuhr und Entleerungssysteme
Cheese production in the United States is an economic sector that continues to grow and evolve constantly. Cheese manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to improve the efficiency of their production processes and ensure the quality of their products. A key stage in this process involves transforming blocks of cheese into grated cheese, which is then packaged in various formats to meet the needs of the retail and catering sectors.
Another key aspect of this process is the precise measurement of starch blends and spices, to prevent the grated cheese from clumping and to create different flavours.
HECHT Technologie specialises in innovative solutions designed to improve process efficiency and has developed a bespoke solution for one of the largest American cheese manufacturers. This project involves the implementation of state-of-the-art conveyor and dosing systems.
The challenges of cheese production and bulk material handling
The handling of bulk materials in cheese production is demanding. Incorrect dosing or distribution of ingredients such as lactic acid cultures, rennet enzymes, spices and colourings can compromise product quality. To meet these challenges, cheesemakers rely on high-precision machinery.
Conveying and metering of materials
Efficient Big Bag Discharging and Filling Stations The discharge of big bags and the filling of bags and drums are crucial steps. This is where specialized machinery comes into play:
Big Bag Dischargers: An automated big bag discharging system ensures controlled, clean, and rapid emptying of bulk materials. By avoiding manual intervention, product safety is increased and workload is reduced. Selecting the appropriate discharging system is essential. Smooth discharging minimizes product loss and contributes to process efficiency. The choice here fell on a discharge connection system that was specifically tailored to the customer's needs.
Dosing Devices: Precision is key. Dosing devices enable the accurate feeding or removal of bulk materials to ensure consistent recipes. Automated dosing devices guarantee uniform quality and save time. Precise matching of the dosing devices to the specific bulk material properties is of utmost importance. This includes aspects such as particle size, flow behavior, and density of the bulk materials. Precise dosing achieves homogeneous product quality that meets customer expectations.
Filling Stations for Bags and Drums: Specialized filling stations ensure efficient and hygienic packaging of cheese products. Bags and drums are precisely filled and sealed to maintain product integrity and freshness.
Hygiene is essential here, especially when it comes to food packaging. Integrated cleaning systems and easy-to-clean materials are key features.
Proper packaging and sealing not only protect against contamination, but also extend the shelf life of the final product.
The combination of efficient big bag dischargers, dosing devices, and filling stations not only ensures quality and consistency, but also boosts productivity and competitiveness. In an industry that is constantly evolving, such innovations are the key to success.
Innovative technology
Innovative Technology A crucial element of this efficiency increase is the starch blend dosing system by HECHT Technologie. The starch blends are delivered in so-called FIBCs (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers), which are emptied in FIBC discharging stations in a separate area. From there, they are conveyed into the production area using PCC vacuum conveyors.
HECHT Technologie's PCCs are located on walkable ceilings above the production area, ensuring a smooth material flow. The starch blends are emptied from the PCCs into loss-in-weight feeders via long three-piece downpipes.
These high-precision scales dose the starch blends directly onto the conveyor belts, ensuring a precise and uniform distribution.
In addition to the main components of the system, such as stainless steel conveying and vacuum lines, vacuum pumps, small-quantity bag dump stations, buffer hoppers, magnetic separators, and operator platforms, HECHT Technologie's support structures and control systems were also custom-tailored to meet the requirements.