Weigher overcomes a sticky problem 

German barbecue-ready chicken processor Stolle has improved the speed and accuracy with which sticky marinated chicken pieces can be weighed since installing an Ishida Screw Feeder multihead weigher.

In today's high-volume barbecue market, large retailers specify pack weights, such as 500g, and source product from a number of competing suppliers. To remain competitive, Stolle needed to carefully control product giveaway, making weighing accuracy a major issue.

The firm needed something more accurate than its existing semi-automated linear weighing system, which delivered up to 20 weighings per minute.

Ishida's 14-head Screw Feeder weigher is designed to handle movement-resistant products.

Product falls from the dispersion table at the top of the weigher onto the screws. These rotate gently, driving the product out towards the weigh hoppers in a controlled manner. The rounded cross-section of the screws and the flexibility of their spiral structure ensure that the chicken is not crushed or damaged.

The weigher's non-stick plastic hoppers are fitted with scrapers to prevent product build-up and make additional aids to keep the product moving.

Stolle's marinated chicken line can now weigh up to 35 products a minute and giveaway has been halved to between 0.5% and 1.5%.

Stolle's marketing manager Albert Focke says the weigher has paid for itself in fewer than 18 months, despite only functioning at full capacity for two-thirds of the year.

Ishida Europe: 0121 607 7700