The company’s investment included some of the latest detection and food safety technology, including a flame unit, laser, throat metal detector and an automatic packing unit.
Together, the technology forms one of the most critical food safety operations at the Petrow – the identification and removal of stones, pits, glass, metal, plastic and other foreign bodies.
The new line has a maximum throughput of 1,200kg, enabling the supplier to respond quicker to larger volume orders from customers.
Open up more opportunities
Petrow managing director Ian Tatchell said: “This complete processing line assures outstanding ease and reliability of operation to throw open more opportunities for customers.
“Automation maximises production efficiency while advanced quality control offers the safety, quality and throughput to take performance and competitiveness to the highest levels.”
The presence of automation has increased operational efficiency at the site to meet and exceed customer expectations on safety, quality and legality said Petrow, especially at a time when such concerns were rising across all sectors of the food industry.
“This technology is the most advanced of its kind, fully justifying the investment,” added Tatchell. “The processing line is highly intuitive and designed to satisfy the most rigorous standards in production, safety and hygiene.”
‘Safety and reliability’
“Its sophistication combines not only perfect preparation of dried produce, but outstanding ease, safety and reliability.”
Established in South Africa in 1954, Petrow supplies a wide range of dried fruit products to a number of food manufacturing companies.
The Petrow Food Group also incorporates Quality Kernels and Palm Fruits and has two plants in the UK, including Perivale, West London and its new 7,432m2 factory and warehouse facility in Haverhill.
Meanwhile, UCC Coffee UK & Ireland has invested £1.3m into refurbishing its Milton Keynes headquarters, as part of a raft of upgrades and improvements across the business.