Sack Handling
Race to pack more feed Pacepacker Services takes the drama out of packing at Downton Abbey
Pacepacker Services has upgraded a bagging line at Highclere Castle Horse Feed ltd, situated on the estate of the famed Downton Abbey drama, transforming a partly manual system into a fully automated line which now bags 1,500 tonnes of horse oats each year. To minimise the manufacturer’s outlay, Pacepacker seamlessly integrated its Total Bag Control (TBC) sack closing system with the line’s existing machines to provide a turnkey system which offers the manufacturer greater flexibility to handle different bag sizes. As a result the upgraded line has not only eliminated the need for manual labour, but importantly enabled Highclere Castle to fulfill customer demand for oats having seen a 50% increase in sales over the last four years. The 3,000 tonnes of oats processed by Highclere Castle Horse Feeds are used as a staple ingredient within horse food. The harvested oats are clipped, polished, cleaned and graded with the small and broken ones kept for the Estate sheep flock. The oats can then be bruised or rolled to customer requirement. Half of the oats are delivered in bulk direct to Racehorse Trainers, or collected by feed companies, one of whom puts the ‘Superior’ graded oats into its racing mixtures exporting to seven different countries, including as feed for Racing Camels. The remaining 1,500 tonnes, and
some wheat and barley, are bagged for various customers from Farm Shops to Polo Teams. Quoted as being the ‘Formula One Fuel for racehorses’, the oats are in demand from some of the top UK trainers - making them the second celebrated fare to hail from the 5000 acre Highclere Estate.
Over time the original manual line which weighed, bagged and
www.solidsandbulk.co.uk
May 2012 • Solids & Bulk Handling 23
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