Who Are Blazer Fuels & What Product Do They Sell?
Since 1999, Blazer’s Fuels Ltd has manufactured and supplied UK clients with blazer fuel logs and fuel pellets. These dense and combustible wood and biomass pellets are used for commercial and residential heating.
In 2015, the business ramped up production by investing in expanding their facilities and systems to meet increasing demand. They approached Webster Griffin for the installation of a superior Form Fill Seal (FFS) bagging line for their waste and energy products. Here’s how we helped them automate their production.
Why Did Blazer’s Fuels Want To Replace Their Old Bagging Machines?
Blazer’s Fuels needed to install a low cost FFS system that would bag, palletise and protect their pellets. It would need to be able to fill 5, 15 and 30 litre bags at an accurate and improved output of 600 to 650 bags an hour. The packing line would need to operate automatically 24/7. The palletiser would then finish the process by transferring the bags into neat, compact and waterproof loads ready for easy transportation.
What Systems And Equipment Did Webster Griffin Install At Blazer’s Fuels?
Webster Griffin recommended that Blazer’s Fuels install a vertical FFS machine. The system came equipped with conveyors, a surge hopper, forming tubes and an automatic net weighing and sealing system. It also came with an additional handle making device and gusseting device to make block shaped bags for ease of palletising.
Which Systems And Equipment Did Webster Griffin Deem Essential For This Installation?
The system used belt and roller conveyors to convey the product throughout the system, from single pellet stage to packaged pallet stage. The machine featured dedicated forming tubes for each bag size with an automatic device for easy reel changeovers. The bagging handles could also be manually adjusted for each bag size.
The system’s weigher has been calibrated to ensure a product weighing accuracy within +/- 0.5%. After filling, a gusseting device shaped each bag into blocks for easy palletising. A smart robot was programmable to offer different automated high throughput palletising options. The pallet magazine came with the capacity of loading up to 10 pallets or 400kgs in weight. An automatic stretch wrapper with a 1750mm maximum wrapping height was also on hand to waterproof each pallet ready for dispatch. The entire system could be easily controlled and operated, thanks to a HMI colour touch screen control panel.
Did Blazer’s Fuels Experience Any Lasting Benefits Post-installation?
Once Webster Griffin’s engineers installed the FFS system at the Blazer’s Fuels factory and trained staff on operating it, they immediately began to benefit from increased productivity in the warehouse. The most prominent benefit was the improved 600 to 650 bags hourly bagging rate and +/- 0.5% weighing accuracy rate.
The client enjoyed lower production costs by switching from costlier pre-made bags. Labour costs were also reduced by the machine automating certain activities and consequently eliminating the number of employees required onsite. Finally, the system’s waterproofing of palletised products during storage and transportation meant that the client experienced reduced product wastage and improved protection.
The system we installed was a modular one, which means that Blazer’s Fuels can build on and adjust it in future to better meet their needs. This is a more cost-effective solution than completely replacing the system with every change.
To Find Out More About
Form Fill Seal Bagging Machines