Benefits of GIC machines comes of age at Supreme Petfoods
GIC and Supreme Petfoods this month celebrated the 18th anniversary of working together.
Vertical form fill and seal packing machinery manufacturer, GIC’s working relationship with the specialist small animal pet food manufacturer began in December 2001 when it installed a VFB1 machine at Supreme’s pet treat bakery site.
The VFB1 is still operating efficiently today, packing pet treats into small 200g gusseted FFS bags and is has been running at speeds in excess of 1,200 packs per hour since it was first turned on.
Supreme specialises in producing high-quality natural pet food for small animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and chinchillas. The company decided to add a second GIC machine – a GIC4100 – to its operation last year when its previous machine became obsolete.
The GIC41000 runs large block bottom packs in Polyethylene using constant heat coated jaws and has been designed with a remote HMI station as Supreme requested.
“We are very pleased with both machines,” says Chris Childs, Managing Director at Supreme. “The VFB1 is reliable and efficient. It never let us down. So, when we needed a new machine, we didn’t hesitate to get in touch with GIC and were really impressed with how their machines compared to other manufacturers.”
Supreme looked at several packaging machinery manufacturers but decided that the GIC4100 not only met but surpassed their expectations.
“GIC was incredibly flexible and was able to incorporate our desire to have a remote HMI station into the final solution,” continues Mr Childs. “When Supreme took delivery of its first GIC machine in 2001 we had just launched Russel Rabbit, the first specialist pet food for small furries. Since then, we have added considerably to our range of specialist pet foods and increased production. Today, more than 15,000 packs roll off our production line each day, necessitating the need for a new GIC machine.”
Keith Marrow, Applications Manager at GIC, oversaw the installation of the GIC4100. “Our machines have come a very long way since we started working with Supreme,” says Keith. “The latest GIC4100 range offers everything from a PLC pneumatic machine to a fully integrated maintenance-free servo system. We use the latest generation control software to simplify the operation and maintenance of the machine. GIC’s proven robust mechanical and electrical design, ensure industry-leading reliability and low cost of ownership. In the six months since the GIC4100 was installed at Supreme, they’ve seen their downtime reduce by around 15%, and productivity has increased dramatically.”
GIC was established in 1984, with the current directors Andy Beal and Luke Murphy undertaking a management buy-out in 2006. As well as the pet food industry, GIC’s VFFS machines are used in fresh produce, snacks, confectionery, pet food, powders, pulses, pasta, liquids and non-food sectors.
