Chilean Salmon Processor Chooses Automation and Eliminates Production Delays
(PRWEB) July 31, 2014 -- EAM-Mosca has several distributors in Central and South America that service customers in industries as diverse as corrugated, graphic arts and warehouse distribution. After a push for economic diversity in Southern Chile, however, the industry is Salmon and Trout production. Chile's once-fledgling salmon aquaculture industry is now the second largest in the world, and according to the Chilean government, more than half-a-million tons of fish worth billions of dollars is exported annually.
To maintain quality standards, Salmon needs to be shipped as quickly as possible, and that means automation. If all goes according to plan, from the moment of capture through filleting, deboning, flash freezing and packaging, a Salmon will arrive in Miami, for example, from Chile within an eighteen hour time frame. There isn’t a lot of room for down-time caused by production delays.
According to Sebastian Porzio, Empack Ltd., EAM-Mosca’s long time distributor in Santiago, Chile, one of his customers, a certified Salmon processor practicing Environmental Management Standards, switched from manually operated strapping systems to high-speed, in-line units from Mosca and improved his whole production output. “For each line, we replaced four off-line banders with one TRS-4 stainless steel system and the strapping operation is no longer a bottle neck in the packaging process”, says Porzio.
While the manual, low-cost systems the TRS-4 replaced lasted on average under two years, this customer has had TRS-4 models in production for almost ten years. As a plus, not only has the processor eliminated packaging delays they’ve been able to reduce labor costs as well. According to, Porzio, the TRS-4 machine investment paid for itself in just under a year of operation, and his customer couldn’t be happier.
Empack’s processor operates three shifts/day, seven days per week. Depending upon customer needs, they typically double strap telescoping corrugated and foam boxes containing fifty pounds of fresh or flash frozen salmon and trout with 5mm Polypropylene (PP). The TRS-4 is outfitted with photo-eyes for automatic cycle start; the machine operates at speeds of up to 20/cycles per minute. Packers in the cold room move the cartons manually onto a conveyor bed, strap and stack them on pallets for export. Porzio says the cartons are strapped consistently and make a better looking package that is ready to ship.
For equipment to stand up in harsh conditions – like the refrigerated packaging room at this processing plant, Mosca recommends its line of corrosion resistant stainless steel strapping systems. The TRS-4 and its manually operated counterpart, the ROMS-4, are side sealing systems with a range of available control options, including a touch panel for operation and service diagnostics. Both systems feature a fully enclosed strap track and require only a 5” conveyor gap for the machines to roll in and out. The systems feature DC drives, positive strap delivery, enclosed strap dispenser and accumulator and electronically controlled heat-weld sealing for high-strength seal joints. Smaller in-line systems like the ROMP-6-VA and TRP-5-STS are available for smaller or lighter weight carton closure.
Mosca has developed a new side-seal, corrosion resistant strapping system featuring the proprietary ultrasonic Sonixs sealer for heavier duty applications. The new Model TRS55-VA-Sonixs features corrosion resistant interior and exterior components, Mosca’s Standard 6 strap path for effortless strap feeding and comes standard with a single bar press and Mosca’s Sonixs ultrasonic sealer.
EAM-Mosca has placed over 20,000 machines in the Americas in industries as diverse as corrugated, protein, mailing, graphic arts, agriculture and more. EAM’s German parent company Mosca AGmbH has been providing strapping solutions since 1966. The company’s stated goal is to serve customers reliably for millions of cycles over many years. Their high cycle efficiency and frequent ability to reduce strap sizes are not only cost cutting measures but positive contributors to sustainability.
EAM-Mosca offers a full line of automatic and operator-less strapping systems. The company is headquartered in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, USA, and was founded in 1982. Manufacturing facilities are located in Hazle Township and Ontario, Canada. Sales and service offices are located throughout North America, along with distributors and contract service providers in Central and South America, and sales/services offices in Monterrey, Mexico. For additional information call 1-800-456-3420; write EAM-Mosca Corporation, 675 Jaycee Drive, Hazle Township, PA 18202 USA; or e-mail the company at info(at)eammosca(dot)com. Visit their website at http://www.eammosca.com and follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter and FaceBook for product updates and exhibit news.
Marie King, EAM-Mosca, http://www.eammosca.com, +1 570-407-1558, [email protected]
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