Barpro Installations

Abstract of article by Cold Link Africa : Eskort’s pig meat processing plant upgrade drive effiencies Contributors to the main article : Eamonn Ryan (Cold link) with technical input from Stephen Frewen, refrigeration design engineer: AMC Engineers, Gert van Rooyen, lead applications engineer: HC Group, Robert Kershaw of Barpro Storage , and the team at Eskort. Eskort, South Africa’s leading pork manufacturer, has expanded its Gauteng production capacity by 50% with a factory extension incorporating a high-tech refrigeration system officially launched in mid-February. The expansion aimed to increase production to meet retail needs and maintain cold chain integrity. The development includes a high-tech refrigeration system, multi-level picking mezzanine floor systems, and cutting-edge refrigeration design by AMC Engineers. The expansion also features solutions by Barpro Storage that optimizes picking efficiency while minimizing time and resource wastage. Barpro Storage was one of the product suppliers in a team of consulting engineers & contractors managed by SCIP Engineering Group. OBJECTIVE The core objective of the factory extension was to create efficiencies and includes the addition of carcass chillers. The chilled and frozen warehouses now have multi-level picking mezzanine floor systems. These system maximises vertical space by including mezzanine floors with mobile racking that creates additional levels for storage and picking, and it allowed Eskort to handle high volume of orders quickly and efficiently. 1: Eskort factory staff – Source : Eskort The owners of the processing plant set their sights on having the most energy and operationally efficient plant possible for their expanded pork production. The need stemmed from a desire in increase capacity from the previous 6 000 pigs a week to 9 000. The 10 000m² development in Heidelberg – the small town where the company has produced world-class pork products for 70 years – will allow Eskort to increase production to meet retail needs. With the facility processing approximately 5.5 million kilograms of meat monthly, maintaining the cold chain integrity is paramount. The enlarged factory is equipped with the largest continuous box freezer in Africa, capable of freezing 120 000kg of products to -18°C every 24 hours. Boxes move on a conveyor belt through the freezing chamber where the air is kept at -31°C – a temperature that occurs naturally only in polar regions. The chilled and frozen warehouses now have multi-level picking mezzanine floor systems, the first of their kind in the food industry in South Africa. These systems maximise vertical space by including mezzanine floors with mobile racking that create additional levels for storage and picking, and they allow Eskort to handle a high volume of orders quickly and efficiently. Barpro devised solutions that optimised picking efficiency while minimising time and resource wastage. One unique innovation for the South African market was the maximising of vertical space by installing a picking mezzanine level. “These elevated platforms allow for efficient product retrieval, optimising floor space and streamlining operations. Each SKU has a designated pallet position, enhancing organisation and productivity,” says Lӧtter.    Willie Lӧtter – General Manager of Eskort He describes this as being revolutionary within the South African meat industry, underscoring its novelty and effectiveness. “The concept originated during the planning stages, with collaboration between Eskort and a company specialising in rack systems. Upon identifying the concept’s viability and success in European facilities, including a firsthand observation in Ireland, Eskort proceeded with its implementation.”    Follow the link to read the original article with detailed information :   https://coldlinkafrica.co.za/eskorts-pig-meat-processing-plant-upgrade-drives-efficiencies/