WIESENHOF Chooses ARB Solutions to Achieve Throughput of 1500 Units per Hour

As the German poultry processor WIESENHOF developed plans for a new facility in Lohne, management seized an opportunity. They began exploring new technologies and line layout design options that wouldn’t rely on curves and pushers like the backend areas in their existing facilities. Why?

A conveyance system that eliminated curves would provide more buffer storage in a limited space. And pusher arms had proved to be problematic in older plant layouts for a few reasons. Pushers had trouble handling different types of boxes and crates at the desired capacity without daily maintenance. They also proved less safe and could damage packages, which was unacceptable to customers.

WIESENHOF OGS Lohne needed a solution that would automate the area, save space, reduce maintenance, increase safety, and move 1500 units per hour into the new plant’s freezer system gently and rapidly. Intralox had the answer.

Intralox engineers prepared a physics-based layout simulation video and invited WIESENHOF and its OEM, Josef Pulsfort, to observe testing in Amsterdam using the customer’s own products. After witnessing how well the Intralox Dual-Stacked Angled Roller Belt (DARB) Sorter S4500 (Passive On and Passive Off) along with the S900 Friction Top belt and S1000 Insert Roller belt for accumulation buffer system could perform in an optimized line layout, they were convinced.

Working in tight collaboration with WIESENHOF and Pulsfort, Intralox developed the system, which was installed and tested successfully on a Saturday during downtime. At startup on Monday morning, the line ran flawlessly. The new plant has consistently operated at its desired throughput of 1500 units per hour, safely and reliably. Since then, WIESENHOF has installed Intralox ARB systems in two additional departments at the facility.