Objective: intact candies

An Ishida multiheaded weigher can automatically package even the most fragile confectionery products without damage to the same.

The unique design of an Ishida multihead weigher enables the speedy packaging of delicate confectionery or coated chocolate cereal without impact damage to the product.
The automated solution (developed in collaboration with Sucralliance, a subsidiary of the confectionery group Cemoi) renders 99.5% intact, crack-free candies: an excellent result, in addition to the advantages of speed (50 packs/min for packs of 150 g).

The problem and the solution.
In the Coppelia works at Chambery, to the northeast of Grenoble, sugar coated almonds and chocolates are produced; assorted by colors, the production process includes application of a coating that requires time and the use of special machines. Although it may seem tough, the final coating is actually very fragile and a fall from a height of 300 mm is sufficient to break or crack the same.
Coppelia was therefore looking for a solution to produce traditional products at lower cost, also seeking maximum efficiency during weighing and packaging operations (the areas where candies are most liable to damage on traditional automation systems).

Ishida was thus called upon to study a new automated packaging line, with the aim of finding and installing the best checkweigh solution, but also to draw up the line specifications and train staff (incidentally, the service was much appreciated by the customer).
After a complete series of tests with Coppelia products on different weighing machines and at several different drop heights, the choice finally fell on a multihead weighing machine with aligned weighing hoppers, minimising the drop height and covering the critical surfaces that come into contact with the product with shock absorbent materials.
The special machine is proving very effective «because - as Alain Collet, director of production, explained - the candies do not actually fall, but glide smoothly down a 45° incline».

NOTE. Coppelia is already using the line for other candies with fragile coating and other very different products such as chocolate coated cereals.