Oldenburg Convenience CASE STUDY “It’s the savings along with the flexibility the system allows. And both are substantial!” Claus Hubbermann, plant manager at Oldenburg-based Danish Crown Oldenburg Convenience Marel’s ValueSpray at Danish Crown Oldenburg Convenience Plant manager Claus Hubbermann’s eyes light up and a smile from ear to ear appears on his face when asked about the reasons for installing a ValueSpray unit at Oldenburg Convenience. “It’s the savings”, he says, “ along with the flexibility the system allows. And both are substantial!” Operating in the highly competitive and fast-changing convenience meat market, efficiency is high on the agenda for Hubbermann, who has been using Marel equipment since 2005. In 2010 the ValueSpray was added to the line-up in the seasons department of Oldenburg Convenience, where it has since been operating to full satisfaction. CASE STUDY Marel’s ValueSpray at Danish Crown Oldenburg Convenience “Short term flexibility and just-in-time production are the key to success in our business. The ValueSpray offers us just that!” Flexibility “As a supplier to a large supermarket chain, we have to produce large amounts of pork to different specs at relatively short notice. Especially in the summer season, the morning’s weather forecast determines the day’s product varieties as well as volumes. This means short-term flexibility and just-in-time production are the key to success in our business. The ValueSpray offers us just that!”, explains Hubbermann.”It is very easy to clean and set up for the next production run”, says Hubbermann. “I can have the whole thing up and running again in just 5 minutes!” precision of the Value Drum (system for in-line production of coated or marinated fresh products), to name two other Marel systems we currently use, we are very satisfied with the performance of our line-up.” He does not need many words to describe his long-standing relationship with Marel: “Everything just works out: the machines work, service is good, performance claims are met and promises are kept. Trend Responsiveness Flexibility has become even more important recently, as consumer trends point towards a preference for more meat variation in smaller portions, meaning more equipment changeovers, according to Hubbermann. “People like fingerfood these days: new, smaller and different-tasting products that are ready to eat. Torch-shaped, twisted meat sticks, for example, are the latest trend. The versatility of the ValueSpray helps us cater to this need for variety quickly. In conjunction with the other Marel systems we are currently using, we are able to create production lines which are highly responsive to end customers’ ever-changing preferences”, Hubbermann recounts. Substantial Savings Another major advantage of the ValueSpray over traditional dipper systems is its ability to generate substantial savings. “If we change marinades between production runs in a dipper system, a lot of marinade is simply lost. The ValueSpray sprays marinade directly onto the meat product, allowing for a much smaller marinade reservoir and thus less loss after each changeover. As a result, our overall marinade use has reduced by as much as 30%”, Hubbermann explains. Everything just works “Together with the 2.5 - 3% yield increase realized by the OptiCut (a volumetric portioning machine) and the solid reliability and Company Profile: Oldenburg Convenience GmbH in its current form was founded in 2008 as a processor of convenience meat products. Since its merger with Danish Crown Fleisch GmbH in 2013, the company produces portions and packages around 250 tonnes of pork and beef per week, including fillets, marinated meat varieties, bratwurst, cutlets and seasoned products. The company currently has 121 employees, mainly from the Oldenburg area. Its customers include European Trade Discounters.
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