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Lock boosts Brace's Bakery

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Oct 19, 2005

To support its growth strategy, Brace's Bakery has installed further innovative equipment from Lock Inspection Systems.

Supplementing its existing MET 30+ metal detectors, Brace's has purchased a doughweigher and four Weighchek combinational units.

Sourcing all the machines from one supplier has been a key advantage, according to Brace's engineering manager, Adrian McGrath.

As Brace's has undergone significant expansion over recent years, the procurement of a doughweigher was viewed as a necessity for product control, monitoring of waste material and ultimately controlling unit costs.

Working in close partnership with the bakery, Lock developed a doughweigher with Intralox modular belting, which prevents sticking and avoids vibration interference from the dough moulder.

The doughweigher also features a lift and drop flap reject device and a 'bin full' sensor.

It can achieve speeds of up to 60 dough pieces per minute on all the lines.

In addition to the doughweigher, Lock has supplied two Weighchek combination systems.

Each comprising a highly sensitive MET30+ metal detector head and a checkweigher, the Weighchek Combis provide essential quality control and safety at the end of the production lines.

For security, they have lockable reject bins, guards with lockable access hatches and 'bin full' warning features.

The Weighchek Combis are compact and simple to set up and operate.

Adrian McGrath comments: "By installing Lock equipment both early in the production line and at the end, we have further enhanced quality control, avoiding waste by rejecting under- or overweight products, and checking for metallic contamination before and after packaging provides additional safety for our customers and consumers." Brace's Bakery was established in Newport, South Wales, in 1902.

Still a family-owned business, it has recently expanded to supply bread, morning goods and confectionery to over 2000 supermarkets, convenience stores and independent retailers throughout Wales and South West England.

Brace's employs over 200 people and turnover has reached GBP17 million.

Brace's was the first UK bakery to achieve the BRC higher level accreditation for its manufacturing standards.

It also won the prestigious title of Bakery Food Manufacturer of the Year 2003 and British Baker's marketing award for its 'Bread for all Seasons' campaign in 2004.