The Challenge of Speed 

Food packaging companies are under more pressure than ever before. They are expected to achieve greater throughput, some with the added challenge of running a wide variety of SKUs on one packaging line. How will packagers adapt to the ever-increasing demands? 

The answer seems simple: speed. Packagers are challenged to place product into finished packages and ship them at unprecedented volume.

The roadblocks to achieving speed involve both throughput and adaptability.  

Yamato enables packagers to achieve greater speed of production by offering high-speed scales, proprietary technology for fast changeovers, and local parts and service teams to help packagers recover from downtime faster. This blog explores four common roadblocks to achieving speed. 

Roadblock 1: Speed of the Scale 

  • Challenge: Packaging lines with single SKU production face the challenge of maximizing output. In food packaging, your scale should never be the bottleneck to achieving speed. A high-speed scale optimizes your packaging process beyond weighments per minute; it optimizes your packaging process by providing clean charge separation for less product loss in the transfer to your bagger so your bagger produces cleaner seals.
  • Solution: The  Omega-0132MV high-speed twin scale is the fastest scale that Yamato offers. The O-0132MV is designed to run up to 600 weighments per minute, which can produce up to 540 bags per minute. With clean charge separation, versatile piece size weighing range, and maximized output, this high-speed scale contributes to total line and facility efficiency.

Roadblock 2: Speed of Production 

  • Challenge: Food packagers face pressure to increase output within their existing facilities. Maximizing the production speeds of existing product lines often doesn’t meet the desired volume or speed of output. 
  • Solution: Replacing a traditional packaging line with a twin line can effectively double production within an existing footprint. If the new twin line is replacing aged equipment, the productivity increase may be even greater. The twin-scale architecture of the Omega-0132MV maximizes output when paired with a high-speed twin-bagger. This scale is designed and tested to be compatible with any high-speed twin bagger on the market, ensuring maximum speed without sacrificing accuracy.

Roadblock 3: Speed of Changeover Between SKUs 

  • Challenge: Food packaging plants face a major impediment to speed when frequent changeovers are required. As packaging becomes a key differentiator for consumers, changes in packaging sizes and type demanded by single production lines increase. This challenge is particularly prevalent for co-packers. Each changeover between SKUs slows the plant’s overall production speed.
  • Solution: To overcome the roadblock of changeovers, food packagers need solutions that offer versatility and agility. Yamato DataweighTM Omega Series combination scales with patented Frontier Technology are designed for tool-free adjustments. Operators can switch between count and weight applications in minutes. Faster changeovers result in more uptime and operational agility for copackers and multi-product facilities. This positions co-packers to stay competitive and win more business.

Roadblock 4: Speed to Resolve Downtime 

  • Challenge: When production comes to an unplanned halt, the cost of downtime adds up quickly. You cannot afford to wait for parts or service. 
  • Solution: The best way to resolve downtime is to avoid it. Maintenance managers should schedule regular preventative maintenance. Yamato can assist with this by auditing your scale. You will receive a comprehensive report card on the health of your scale along with a recommended service program and spare parts list. Most critical spare parts arrive within 24 hours of the order being placed. In the case of unplanned downtime, Yamato has 17 trained service technicians that can be deployed to get you back up in running quickly. 

Solving Speed Challenges Through Partnership with Yamato 

To achieve true speed in your packaging operation, you need to go beyond weighments or bags per minute. You need to achieve total system efficiency by overcoming obstacles to throughput. Yamato is your dedicated partner in achieving speed.

Yamato Omega Series scales are designed to help food packagers achieve high-speed, high-yield packaging. The Omega-0132MV high-speed twin scale weighs product at unprecedented speeds. Yamato’s patented Frontier Technology, available on several Omega models, enables operators to quickly change from weighing to counting applications.  For optimal quality control, even at high speeds, integrate a Yamato high-speed checkweigher. 

In addition to offering propriety technology designed to remove the obstacles to achieving high-speed production, Yamato provides parts and service designed to keep your scale operating at maximum efficiency. Yamato also offers operator and maintenance training to ensure your team has the skills to succeed. 

Are you ready to increase the speed and efficiency of your line? Contact us to arrange a demonstration.