Challenge:

Monogram Food Solutions is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of licensed, co-packed and company-owned brands of meat snacks and a major player in the U.S. meat industry. As a proud parent company of one of the most recognized packaged meat brands in the Central Southern and Mid-West states of the USA, Monogram has focused on its commitment to achieve high levels of product quality coupled with stringent manufacturing standards. When it comes to packaging processed meat products it has to meet and exceed industry mandated hygiene requirements. Therefore, when it came to selecting a new carton lid closer to close their 3-flap style lid covers Monogram had to acquire a machine that can withstand caustic wash-down.

Solution:

Jeff Johnson, V. P of Operation at Monogram has over 2 decades production experience with processed meats. He contacted Bradman Lake to design and manufacture for Monogram Foods a top loaded triseal style, three flap carton lid closer that can meet these heightened sanitary wash-down requirements. Bradman Lake (www.bradmanlake.com) was selected because of their experience in building similar cartoning machines to operate in a cool, humid, caustic wash-down environment. Monogram’s decision was also supported by the experience of owning other Bradman Lake machines that work flawlessly in their plants – some of them were built over 20 years ago.

Bradman Lake was able to design and manufacture a version of the RA120 right-angle three flap carton closer engineered to withstand caustic wash-down and eliminates areas where bacteria can hide.

Benefits

• Easy to Clean.The machinery is easy to clean in place on the packaging line. It does not have to be moved to a separate location. This factor significantly reduces downtime required for cleaning, maintenance and carton size changeover.
• Durable for a Long Life.The machine is durable and designed to provide long and reliable service. It is designed to withstand frequent caustic foam wash-down using water applied from a high pressure hose pipe.
• Paint-Free Construction.The construction materials entirely comprise stainless steel, high quality plated aluminum and high performance plastics.
• Smart design.Smart design eliminates areas which could become bacteria traps that could cause food contamination.

About Bradman Lake’s Right-Angle Closers

Bradman Lake’s three flap carton closing machines are designed to handle all types of board. Whether manufactured from thin or heavy gauge chipboard or corrugated micro fluted board finished with high quality printing, the Bradman Lake right angled range of carton closers will produce perfectly formed, square and unblemished cartons that are secure and strong for shipping yet suitable for shelf or freezer display.

The RA range comprises three machines with speed capacities ranging from 60 to 120 cartons per minute. The variable speed infeed is designed to accept product at random and automatically meters the cartons into the machines. All machines use the unique ‘flexible carton control’ (FCC) technology system that allows for cartons containing product of inconsistent size, protruding above the carton base, to be closed without jamming. Servo driven 90° transfer system ensures every carton is positively transferred through 90° as cartonstransit into the second closing stage irrespective of presence of water, grease, product contamination or shifting contents. The RA range provides two machine footprints, the RA60 being the smaller and more compact, while the RA90 and RA120 share a common footprint.

 The RA120 employs servo control on turn correction, FCC overhead conveyors and twin through slat conveyors.