Branston bound 300th GIC machine to take centre stage at British Potato 2019
GIC will mark its 20th appearance at British Potato by showcasing the 300th fresh produce machine to roll off its production line.
The GIC8000 vertical form fill and sealing machine taking pride of place on the company’s stand will be installed at Branston Ltd’s Scotland site after the show.
“We handle 380,000 tonnes of potatoes each year, with a significant amount being packed by GIC machines before they leave us for supermarkets across the country,” says Ian Wait, operations director at Branston Ltd. “We rely on GIC’s machines at all three of our sites in Lincolnshire, Somerset and Scotland. In total, we have bought more than 20 GIC machines. They’re fast and reliable as well as being gentle on the produce. It is no surprise that GIC has sold so many machines over the years.”
The GIC8000 vertical form fill and sealing machine on show at British Potato is capable of handling up to 90 packs per minute. The high-speed continuous motion machine features the latest generation of maintenance-free servo motor drives and a ten-inch colour Allen Bradley HMI touch screen. Its proven robust mechanical and electrical design, ensure industry-leading reliability and low cost of ownership. GIC8000 machines can produce several pack styles, including pillow, gusset, block bottom, euroslot, punch hole, easy open / reclose with zip, with Branston predominately utilising standard pillow pack specification machines.
When GIC first exhibited at British Potato in 2001, the company employed just 12 people and manufactured a range of six machines, the fastest of which could produce 100 packs per minute. Today, GIC employs 21 people and manufactures a range of nine machine variant, the fastest of which can reach 140 packs per minute.
“It’s very satisfying to be marking our ninth appearance at British Potato by showing people the 300th machine we’ve supplied to the main crop and fresh produce sector,” says Andy Beal, GIC’s Managing Director. “We’re not complacent though. We know our customers are under pressure. That’s why we focus on producing highly efficient and effective machines and offering excellent customer service and maintenance packages.
“With lots of GIC machines operating in the potato industry, we know quite a few people in the sector and hopefully we’ll see a lot of them at British Potato!”
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 potato industry, GIC’s VFFS machines are used in fresh produce, snacks, confectionery, pet food, powders, pulses, pasta, liquids and non-food sectors.
