December 2009

The fully automatic filling line at the Nufarm liquids packing plant at Belvedere in Kent was to be moved to Bradford. Originally designed and supplied by Brian Potiphar in 2004, the project for moving the line, consisting of an automatic container feeder, shrink sleever, 8 head flowmeter filler and single spindle capper, 3 labellers, checkweighers, automatic case erector/packer, robot palletiser and pallet wrapper, was awarded to Filling and Capping Machines due to their expertise in handling similar projects. Because of the size of the line and the specialist machinery involved, FCM recommended that the original manufacturers be commissioned to dismantle, re install and train the new operators at the new site. Carried out over a 3 month period, the project was managed in 4 phases. The line now recommissioned, is again producing 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 litres of agrochemical, on schedule, without a break in the supply of Nufarm products to its customers. A smaller twin head, automatic flowmeter line was also relocated to Nufarm’s French facility.

After taking over the service and supply of spare parts for the two elderly single head dairy fillers at Freshways Dairy, Filling and Capping Machines was chosen for the order of a new twin head V5000-S semi automatic machine to fill milk and cream into 1, 2, 4 and 6 pint plastic containers. Capable of filling 250ml to 5 litres per cycle, a host of new advanced features that improve the operation and cleaning of the machine have been added. These include a handwheel volume adjustment and ‘scabbard’ in place cleaning system.
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Filling and Capping Machines are very happy to reunite with Ron Chappell, who spent 21 years working at Masterfil as Senior Design Engineer. Ron joins us to help with the ever increasing order book and to assist with the technical support provided worldwide for all models of fillers and cappers, many designed by him. Ron has spent the last two years with a major CadCam software company.

Filling and Capping Machines have received another order, for a new liquid filling line for an overseas customer. The line will consist of an 8 head ‘Filmaster’ volumetric V5000-A filler, ‘Capmaster’ single spindle capper and self adhesive labelling machine. More news to follow.

Highlights of a busy 2009

The year started well with the installation of a new ‘trigger spray’ cap pressing machine for Rentokil Initial Supplies. Specially designed for the application of ‘Guala’ triggers, this unit is fitted over the outfeed conveyor of the existing 8 head filling line. The electrics are to ATEX flameproof standard. show pic

Tims Dairy needed a new machine for filling their yoghurt into containers and buckets from 1 to 12 kilo, for the catering trade. Filling and Capping Machines supplied a newly designed, semi automatic flowmeter filler. Tims replaced the previously used piston fillers to ensure security of cleanliness of the machines following cleaning in place. This machine now also fills 500 kilo Pallecons and makes 4 flowmeter machines installed at Tims. show pic

Due to a big increase in demand for home brew kits, Muntons Malted Ingredients contracted Filling and Capping Machines to rebuild a 4 head filling machine to replace a twin head that was struggling to meet output. This was programmed to coincide with the total revamp of the line. When installed, output exceeded the line capability, accuracy targets where met and reliability improved.

Sika Limited needed more capacity to fill their range of building chemicals, including PVA adhesives, into 5 litre containers. Filling and Capping Machines relocated an automatic liquids packing line from Manchester to Welwyn Garden City. To enable the line to fit into the liquids packing area, the existing line was re engineered to make the most of the available space. Capper change parts were supplied and training carried out on the new filler. show pic

Nufarm UK Limited commissioned Filling and Capping Machines to replace the capping machine chuck, fitted to the capper employed on the liquids packing line. The existing clutch vibrated heavily and struggled to achieve a reliable application torque of 20 Nm. when applying caps to the 20 litre containers. Filling and Capping Machines designed a new chuck employing a hysteresis magnetic clutch which not only produces a perfectly smooth application, but also a repeatable, adjustable torque range of 14 to 38 Nm. This chuck is now available as a replacement for chucks originally supplied, over a wide torque range. It is also the standard clutch used on all new Filling and Capping Machine cappers. show pic

A very successful and growing contract packing company specialising in powders and granules, asked Filling and Capping Machines to supply 3 packing lines for their expansion into liquids. With a budget of £150k, they needed maximum value for money. To fulfil the brief, we located an automatic, twin head ½ to 5 litre, inline filler that needed servicing and a couple of new product valve blocks. We added a hand held cap tightener and installed the line to get them started. A 4 head 5 litre filler, with an inline capper was then found, this filler required a top to bottom rebuild which was done on schedule and linked to an inline capper which proved to be a perfect match. The third line was a 3 year old 8 head filler (with ATEX electrics) that had been hardly used and was surplus to requirements, with an automatic capper. Filling and Capping Machines re jigged the line layout to a ‘U’ configuration and installed it ready for the seasonal product, production run. To give added flexibility a new V5000-S single head machine for 250ml to 5 litres was supplied. show pic

When a long term customer urgently needed a couple of special purpose twin head semi automatic fillers to fill 60ml ‘energy shots’, Filling and Capping Machines designed and built two benchtop machines each with an adjustable volume range of 10ml to 100ml. Within the near future these machines will be automated to feed the new FCM capper being built for the line picture to follow. Specified to run at 60 containers per minute, the capper will be followed by a bottom coder and fully automatic shrink sleeving machine. show pic

This is all in addition to supplying worldwide, spare parts, service, changeparts and technical support, on a daily basis, to our loyal, rapidly expanding customer base.