A specialist compact linear multihead weigher from Ishida Europe is helping Norwegian confectionery and snacks manufacturer Brynild Gruppen increase the speed and efficiency of its nut packing operations.
Installed at Brynild’s factory in Fredrikstad, the Ishida CCW-R2-108PL is being used to weigh 13 different coated and spiced nut products into pots at speeds of around 50 pots per minute. The machine is the ninth Ishida multihead weigher installed by the family-owned manufacturer, continuing a long-standing partnership between the two companies.
The compact design of the linear multihead weigher was particularly important for the new line, where Brynild needed to minimise the overall installation height while providing sufficient space for the filling equipment beneath the machine.
“Our Ishida weighers are fast, accurate and reliable and for these reasons offer a quick payback on our investment,” said Viggo Ersøybakk, Project Manager at Brynild Gruppen. “Equally important, the machines are well liked by our operators, thanks to their ease of set up and use.”
Precision weighing supports nut production
The CCW-R2-108 uses a linear design with vibratory feeder troughs to provide precise control of product flow to the weighing heads. For Brynild’s application, the machine is divided into two halves, allowing two separate weighments to be transferred simultaneously into pots.
Target weights range from 15g to 270g, depending on the product being packed. After filling, the pots are gas flushed and heat sealed to help maximise shelf life. Although the weigher itself is capable of speeds of up to 120 packs per minute, production currently operates at approximately 50 pots per minute to accommodate the gas-flushing process.
The machine is handling around twice the product volume originally anticipated following strong demand for the nut range.
Many of the products contain salt and spice coatings, creating additional handling considerations. Ribbed contact surfaces help keep the nuts moving smoothly through the system, while a dust-proof cover helps minimise particulate levels.
Up to 200 product presets can also be stored to support rapid changeovers, while contact parts can be removed without tools to simplify cleaning between production runs.
Automation reduces manual handling requirements
The latest installation joins two existing 14-head circular Ishida multihead weighers in Brynild’s snacks factory, which produces 72 different product lines. The company also manufactures 47 sugar confectionery and 34 chocolate lines, with pack formats ranging from 15g samples to 400g family bags.
According to Brynild, investment in automated weighing technology has played an important part in increasing production volumes while reducing dependence on manual labour. Today, only one operator is required for each packing line.
Operator training has also been central to maintaining performance, enabling production teams to carry out set-up and changeovers efficiently and resolve minor issues without interrupting output.
Brynild Gruppen was established in 1895 and remains owned and managed by the Brynildsen family. The business employs around 220 people and produces a broad portfolio of chocolate, confectionery and snack products for Norway and other Scandinavian markets.
Ersøybakk said the company typically targets a return on equipment investments within three years, with the latest Ishida installation achieving an even faster return as a result of the higher-than-anticipated production volumes.
