CKF Systems are engaged in a program of replacement and upgrade of the tin storage systems within multiple UK sites for a British baking company. With a partnership developed for more than a decade, CKF are working to replace the gantry storage systems originally installed by RTS Flexible Systems Ltd. which are nearing the end of their life. The technologies employed have become obsolete and are now in need of both mechanical and control upgrades to maintain operational efficiency across the business sites.
The tin stores are arranged to accommodate a supply and return system, onto which the stored loaf tins are either placed or picked. The range of loaf products being produced at the UK bakery sites, defines the differing sizes of baking tins required. Designed as an X / Z axis, overhead gantry, the machine arranges the hot tins in rows, then stacks them up to 2.1 m high. Recipe driven, with a programmable pattern within the same store, each store can hold the necessary batches of tins required to suit their product range. With a typical foot print of 17m x 5.5m and standing 3m high, the linear Gantry has a magnetic rail tooling head to secure and move the tins at operational gantry speeds of approximately 1.7m/sec and 1m/sec on the X and Z axis respectively.
Integrating the latest Hepco Motion systems, which are suited to large work areas and heavy payloads, the CKF engineering team manage the full design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of the tin stores to replace the existing RTS systems. Given that the original systems have been in service over twenty years, the control systems have obsolescent hardware in the AB servo controllers and PLC’s. CKF Control Engineers have managed and implemented the full control and safety upgrades to the gantry systems.
Meticulous planning enables the CKF team to provide our customer with an installation and commissioning program that meets its demanding, planned production schedules.
The upgrade program saw CKF undertaking their first successful tin store upgrade in 2017. The CKF engineering team have now successfully completed ten full mechanical and control upgrades on sites across the UK to date with a further three upgrades planned for delivery throughout 2025.
If your automation is outdated with unsupported systems, now is the time to upgrade. Get in touch with CKF Systems today to find out how our expertise can modernise your operations and safe guard your production info@ckf.co.uk