Confectionery manufacturer

About the project

Demand for a popular confectionery product continues to grow. To meet this increasing demand, an expansion of production capacity was required.
The solution: a new production line within an existing production hall. This presented several challenges, as the available space was limited and hygiene requirements in the food
industry are stringent. In addition, a large part of the production process was still carried out manually; there was a clear need for greater automation. The new line covers the entire production process, from unloading and mixing raw materials to extruding, cooling, coating, cutting and packaging the signature confectionery products

Vicoma’s Role

The confectionery manufacturer engaged Vicoma for its expertise in the pre-engineering of complex production lines, its experience in automation and QFSE standards,
and its proven track record on projects at other sites. In close collaboration with the confectionery manufacturer and the suppliers, Vicoma prepared process flow diagrams (PFD’s). Once the requirements had been clearly defined, Vicoma developed a detailed 3D model of the new production line. During this process, Vicoma worked closely with the confectionery manufacturer to determine the relocation of equipment from other production lines and to define pallet positions within the existing facility. Clash detection was used to identify and resolve potential bottlenecks at an early stage. This resulted in a functional and well-considered layout. In addition, Vicoma designed the concept for the manual packaging line, with particular attention to ergonomics and cleanability.

Finally, Vicoma prepared three separate Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) for the raw material handling system, the extrusion line, and the packaging line. This enables the confectionery manufacturer to approach different suppliers and select the most competitive bids.

Result

With the designs, analyses and RFP documents delivered by Vicoma, the confectionery manufacturer now has a solid foundation for the expansion of its confectionery production. The new line fits within the existing space, complies with all hygiene requirements, and is prepared for future growth.

The result: an efficient and future-proof design that enables the confectionery manufacturer to further increase its production capacity