UPM Conveyors helps Tims Dairy ramp up yogurt production

By Jim Cornall

- Last updated on GMT

UPM Conveyors and Tims Dairy have collaborated to increase the yogurt output at the UK dairy company.
UPM Conveyors and Tims Dairy have collaborated to increase the yogurt output at the UK dairy company.

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UPM Conveyors has worked with UK company Tims Dairy to deliver the necessary expansion required to meet commercial demand.

This called for investment into the end line to improve dispatch efficiencies.

Following this investment, Tims Dairy now has the capacity to produce 200 tonnes of yogurt per week made with British milk and cream delivered daily.

The milk is heat treated then combined with live and bio-live cultures to produce a range of Greek style, whole milk and low-fat yogurts, all made with natural ingredients.

Collaboration on carousel design

The expansion required improved efficiencies and UPM Conveyors helped look at the end of line yogurt pot tray packing and stacking into stillages to ensure transition of product for dispatch.

Together they designed a carousel with work stations that incorporated a central packed tray conveyor to allow operators to pack 150 pots per minute into trays that can then be transferred to a stillage via the central conveyor.

The complete system needed to comply with strict hygiene standards including full pressure wash down, so all construction was stainless steel with electrical controls to IP67.

Further automation is being considered by Tims Dairy in conjunction with UPM following this project.

Retail range launched following requests

Tims Dairy has been producing yogurt for more than 66 years. Originally supplying ethnic delicatessens and restaurants, it grew its foodservice business until requests from consumers lead to the launch of a retail range in 2009.

The range is available in selected branches of Asda, Budgens and Waitrose, plus farm shops and specialty food shops, and online with Ocado.