Northumberland Dairy

Westfalia Deam’s Empty Case Handling solution includes a Case Stack Depalletizer, Stack Conveyors with 3 to 1 merging, a Bottom-Out Destacker, and wheel drives transferring cases overhead to a new Case Washer. Clean cases are then color sorted with a Westfalia Case Reject system. Accepted cases are transported to production on new cable conveyor system supplied by Westfalia.

Constructed of stainless steel, the entire system is suitable for wash down, as is typical in dairy or beverage production. From the point of entry where a forklift driver places a full pallet of 7-high case stacks onto the Depalletizer, the system is fully automated. Using “clamp and lift” technology, at a rate of 2 to 3 pallets per minute, the Depalletizer removes stacks from the pallet onto three stack conveyors which merge into one conveyor leading into the Destacking machine. The Depalletizer features a full color HMI with touch screen and a 330 degree swivel mount providing operators easy access to the system controls. Safety of the staff is paramount, and the new Depalletizing system has full safety guarding with light curtain protection. The Bottom-Out Destacker operates at rates up to 90 cases per minute and discharges cases onto a wheel drive that transfers them via a vertical up-chute to the new case washer located on an overhead mezzanine. After running through the new steam cleaning washer, cases are conveyed on cable conveyor through a color sensing case sorting unit, where rejected cases are pushed off, and accepted cases released to production.

The fully automated Empty Case Handling System has enabled Northumberland to reduce labor costs associated with receiving and handling empty cases, achieve higher operating speeds, and improve washing efficiency. Thanks to Westfalia’s modular design, the construction and installation of the system was easier and faster.