BFM fittings: Bakery Weigh Hoppers

A large, multinational bakery in the UK was having difficulty with the flexible sleeve connecting a weigh hopper and dough mixer. Inaccuracy in fitting meant load cells were affected and each time an hour of lost production was spent adjusting the connector to ensure accurate tare weight.  Installing BFM® flexible fittings has saved them over £40,000 (about $51,000 USD) in lost production.

Before the BFM fitting

The traditional hose-clip fastening of the flexible connector feeding from the weigh hopper to the dough mixer was very difficult to install. The potential for the connector to be fitted too tightly meant it interfered with the load cells and the lost time to retrofit it to to ensure weigh accuracy was extremely time costly in lost production.

There was also significant dust leakage which was a potential COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) compliance issue and required ongoing additional cleaning costs.

Implementing the BFM fitting

By installing a BFM® fitting, the snap-fit, self-locating sleeve ensures consistent flexibility to prevent interference with load cells. The traditional sleeves were being replaced every 3 months with over 3 hours’ downtime per annum. Since installing the BFM® fitting, they have had 18 months with no downtime.

The 100% dust tight seal of the BFM® fitting also means that the factory environment is much cleaner and the cleaning bills have also been greatly reduced.

“BFM® is such a simple idea which translates into real benefit in our plant.  It is impossible to fit BFM® wrong and there is no build up, so weighing problems are  a thing of the past, saving us a small fortune.  They are also 100% dust tight which reduces our cleaning bills.”   – Maintenance Manager

Case Study courtesy of BFM Distributor ProSpare, UK.

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