In-house show for bars, buns, wafers, tortillas and cakes
Bosch Packaging: ‘Lean production is the key driver of short throughput time’
More than 100 international visitors attended the event where they were given a guided tour of horizontal packaging technologies for the biscuit, bakery and bar industries.
Bosch Pack 301 LS
Its portfolio includes single handfed packaging machines, automated packaging lines and robotic and vertical packaging technologies from other Bosch Packaging sites.
The focus of the show for the biscuit industry was the Pack 301 LS - a mid-range automation for the packaging of biscuits on edge. Bosch also demonstrated technology for biscuit pile packaging and horizontal machines to package bars, buns, wafers, tortillas and cakes.
Angelina Bosse, global marketing manager, Bosch Packaging Technology, told BakeryandSnacks, with the continued growth and product diversification in the global biscuit market, flexibility and adaptability are critical factors for success.
“Lean manufacturing depends on flexibility and workplace organization. They eliminate large capital outlays for dedicated machinery until automation becomes absolutely necessary,” she said.
“The concept is a significant departure from the automated factory so popular in recent years. The “less is better” approach to manufacturing leads to a simplified, uncluttered environment.
Bosch 9 principles of ‘Lean Production’:
- Continuous Flow
- Lean Machines/Simplicity
- Workplace Organization
- Parts Presentation
- Reconfigurability
- Product Quality
- Maintainability
- Ease of Access
- Ergonomics
“Products are manufactured one at a time in response to customer’s requirements rather than batch manufactured for stock. The goal is to produce only the quantity required and no more.
Packaging biscuits on edge
“And since limited numbers of parts are produced, it may be necessary to change processes during the day to accommodate different parts and to make maximum use of personnel, equipment and floor space.”
The Pack 301 LS can package biscuits on edge. The machine can package any type of biscuit, from round, square or rectangular to sandwich biscuits and can be configured for hand loading or fully automated by adding the Bosch Smart Measuring Loader and other loading and upstream equipment.
Oscar Roth, general manager, Bosch Packaging Technology, said the Schiedam in-house event was such a success it plans to hold another one.
“We know from conversations with our customers and prospects fast delivery is a must,” he said.
“The show was a great way to discuss the benefits of our technology directly with customers, and for them to experience the machines operating on site. This will not be the last show in Schiedam.”
Bosch has come up with the nine principles of ‘Lean Production’ for manufacturers to respond to rapidly changing customer demands.
It claims in today’s F&B environment, assembly work is characterized by short production cycles and diminishing batch sizes, while the variety of product types continues to increase.