UK Frozen Meals Producers Chooses Multi-Fill

The Multi-fill MPF depositor, featuring a PLC- controlled pneumatically operated volumetric filling head was installed to deposit precise portions of cooked chilled rice and spaghetti at speeds of up to 100 packs per minute into trays, cartons or pouches.

21/05/09 US-based Multi-Fill Inc has recently completed a successful installation of filling machinery for Headland Food, one of the UK’s largest producers of frozens ready meals.

Headland Food produces more than two million meals per week at its two manufacturing sites, and recently invested approximately Au$10.2 million at one of the sites to assist in producing 100 lasagne meals per minute.

It is claimed to be the first fully automated ‘start to finish’ pasta line in the UK.

The Multi-fill MPF depositor, featuring a PLC- controlled pneumatically operated volumetric filling head was installed to deposit precise portions of cooked chilled rice and spaghetti at speeds of up to 100 packs per minute into trays, cartons or pouches.

The depositor incorporates variable height head adjustment and also includes the new dual drive belt assembly system, which allows for positive traction of the conveyor belt.

This further improves the filling efficiency of the line.

The MPF depositor can work with multi-lane machines such as thermoformers, tray filling and sealing lines, and the filling head can work with up to eight containers in various combinations or patterns.

Headland Food’s CEO Mike Russell was particularly impressed with the reliability of the machinery and the fact that it was installed with no faults within a three week period.