Entry-level thermoformer proves a big success for a top-quality British pork supplier

MULTIVAC UK recently supplied Wiltshire Bacon Company with a compact, entry-level thermoforming packaging machine for increased productivity and pack presentation.

First founded over 20 years ago, Chris Taylor, Managing Director at The Wiltshire Bacon Company had the desire to bring great-tasting British outdoor-reared pork to restaurants and households around the UK. The business provides 100% British Pork products of the highest quality to some of the best chefs and cooks in restaurants and at home, allowing them to create great-tasting dishes.

Wiltshire Bacon Company produces a range of delicious dry cured bacon, gammon, bacon, and pork joints using traditional butchery skill and their own cures that have been perfected with years of practice and are proud to have achieved 10 Gold Awards and 8 Silver Awards for their products.

Upgrading the packaging process
When it comes to multi-award-winning products, the packaging process is just as important as the product itself for Wiltshire Bacon Company. The existing packaging process for their delicious dry cured bacon and gammon joints previously relied on a competitor machine for vacuum packaging that was too slow to keep up with demand, and the pack presentation was poor in comparison to the high-quality product being offered by Wiltshire Bacon Company.

In February 2021, Wiltshire Bacon Company was interested in how MULTIVAC could help to increase their production productivity and pack presentation for a new, efficient packaging process.

Chris Taylor had known of MULTIVAC from previously attending industry tradeshows and exhibitions. With help from MULTIVAC’s local Regional Sales Representative for the South West, Craig Mahoney, the R 085 entry-level thermoforming packaging machine was selected to take their production to the next level.

“MULTIVAC has an image of being a big player machinery supplier in the industry, and upon initial enquiry, I didn’t think there would be a suitable machine for a small business like ours,” says Chris Taylor, Managing Director at Wiltshire Bacon Company.

“When you buy a MULTIVAC, you don’t just buy a machine; you buy into the whole package. It was refreshing to know that while we purchased one of MULTIVAC’s smallest thermoforming machines, we also benefit from the professional support from all other areas of MULTIVAC, including their expert Field Service Technicians.”




Compact machine, big success
MULTIVAC’s range of entry-level thermoforming packaging machines may be compact, but offer producers a high level of flexibility with the ability to run both rigid and flexible films. The range of compact machines can be configured to meet individual requirements and offer the perfect solution for small businesses and start-ups.

The R 085 thermofrom packaging machine can be used flexibly in various areas within production, and the configurations and pre-defined formats of the R 085 provided Wiltshire Bacon Company a perfect solution with excellent price-performance ratio. The R 085 is equipped with a drawer system for a fast format changeover for ease of use, maximum production flexibility and reduced downtime.

With the ability to produce different sized products, the R 085 now enables Wiltshire Bacon Company to produce consistent, high-quality packs with a reduction in packaging cost, and plastic packaging waste.

Smooth Installation & Reaping the Benefits
Although the R 085 thermoforming packaging machine already has a compact footprint, Wiltshire Bacon Company required some changes to their existing preparation area. MULTIVAC worked closely with the pork producer to ensure a smooth installation of the new machine with no disruption caused to production on site.

“The order, installation and training processes were made simple and uncomplicated by MULTIVAC, and the new thermoforming packaging machine has resulted in higher productivity for our business,” says Chris Taylor, Managing Director at Wiltshire Bacon Company.

“The new R 085 machine has helped take our business to the next step, and catapulted us into supplying bigger retailers.”

The business’ previous packaging solution that was too slow to keep up with demand produced around 62 units per hour, per operator. Thanks to the new R 085 machine, their production output has increased by 167%, and are now able to produce 166 units per hour, per operator.




World-class Aftersales Service
Wiltshire Bacon Company can also benefit from the comprehensive and sophisticated support provided by MULTIVAC UK’s Technical Service department to ensure the maximum availability and efficiency of the recently installed machines. The pork supplier also has access to the support of over 55+ Field Service Technicians, as well as a Technical Help Desk.

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