LOCK WEIGHS IN AT UNITED BISCUITS

To support continued growth in the biscuits industry, United Biscuits (‘UB’), producers of the world-renowned Jacob’s Cream Crackers and biscuit range, has installed further innovative equipment from Lock Inspection Systems. Supplementing its existing MET 9 and Met 30+ metal detectors and checkweighers, UB has purchased a CK1500. Engineering manager at UB’s Jacob’s Aintree (Liverpool) site adds, “Sourcing the CK Checkweigher from an existing supplier who we have a good historical relationship with has been a key advantage”.

UB is a leading European manufacturer of biscuits and snacks, including the Twiglets and Jacob’s Club biscuit range. The procurement of the new checkweighers was viewed as an essential requirement in maintaining production of their existing and new packaged product lines.  Jacob's installation of the new Lock Inspection Systems checkweighers will help to guarantee continuation of a quality product, which is delivered fully intact and undamaged and backed by impeccable QC and safety records.

The CK1500’s touchscreen display panel is a key feature for UB. Easy to operate and interpret, the touchscreen displays average, actual, over- and underweight data, also assisting with any problem diagnosis and machine set-up. Installed at the end of the packing line, the system provides the final check before goods are delivered to customers. A pusher reject device transfers underweight or overweight products from the line onto a table, where they may be manually inspected.

UB’s Engineering Manager at the Aintree site summarises- “Lock’s expertise in checkweighing made the company the comfortable choice for UB when we were looking at replacing obsolete machines. Thanks to our relationship with Lock we were able to upgrade our production facilities in accordance with all the required legislation to achieve increased reliability and accuracy”.

Editor’s Note

• UB is the leading manufacturer and marketer of biscuits in the U.K., joint number one in the Netherlands and the second largest in France and Belgium.

• In the U.K., UB is the leading manufacturer and marketer of packaged nuts and the second largest manufacturer and marketer of savoury snacks and crisps. In Ireland, UB is number two in biscuits and number three in snacks.

• UB manufactures and markets a wide range of products in the U.K. and continental Western Europe that are household names in their respective markets. Branded products account for almost 90% of sales in 2006.

• Among UB’s popular brand names are McVitie’s, Penguin, go ahead!, McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes, Jacob’s, Jacob’s Cream Crackers, Twiglets, Hula Hoops, Skips, Mini Cheddars, McCoy’s, Phileas Fogg and KP Nuts in the U.K. and BN, Delacre, Verkade and Sultana in Continental Europe.

• McVitie’s is among the best known brands in the U.K. McVitie’s biscuits were purchased by over 85% of UK households in 2005.

• UB owns and operates 15 manufacturing facilities of which 11 are in the U.K.

• UB employs over 9,000 people of whom over 7,500 work in the U.K.

Jacob’s Bakery established in 1885, world famous for the Cream Cracker and biscuit range has been producing bakery and confectionery products for over 100 years.  They now produce over 20 different types of crackers as well as confectionery biscuits, which are distributed around the world to all major supermarkets, convenience stores and independent retailers.

Lock Inspection Systems has supplied checkweighing and metal detection equipment to companies in the food, pharmaceutical and packaging industries for over fifty years and counts many key industry players amongst its customers. Headquartered in the UK, with offices in France, Australia, the Netherlands and the USA, Lock has a global network of distributors and high calibre maintenance and research teams.
For further information, please contact: Karen Simkin, Lock Inspection Systems Ltd,
Lock House, Neville Street, Oldham, Lancashire, OL9 6LF, UK. Tel: +44 (0)161 624 0333 Fax: +44 (0)161 624 5181E-mail: marketing@lockinspection.co.uk. Or visit www.lockinspection.co.uk