FDBusiness.com

Within any business, finding a like-minded supplier can be a recipe for success and in the case of Ridgeview Wines, the UK based family run wine producers, investing in an Endoline system solution has achieved exactly this.  By automating a previously labour intensive operation Endoline has increased the efficiency and productivity on a production line which has an annual volume output of a quarter of a million bottles, while reducing the need for manual labour.

Stockists to several leading British and international retailers, including Waitrose and M&S, Ridgeview Wines produce their award winning English Sparkling Wine at their 100 acre Sussex vineyard.  However, manually forming packing and sealing cases was an inefficient process.  “We needed to increase our production and utilising skilled winemaking staff to perform this task is not only a waste of resource but it adds no value to the product so we decided to automate this process.” Explains Tamara Roberts, General Manager of Ridgeview Wines.

Previously operators would form the wine case manually, staple the bottom, and load the wine bottles into it – a laborious task which required numerous members of staff being drafted in if a large order needed to be packed.  Packing hall expert Endoline’s solution to this challenge was to install a bespoke case former, engineered on an incline specifically to enable efficient packing of bottles.  The case former folds the lower flaps and securely holds the open case to allow packing to take place with both hands.  The filled boxes are then pushed by the operator onto an Endoline conveyor system which has been integrated with a labeller and sealed by an Endoline case sealer which simultaneously tapes both the bottom and the top of the box before being pushed through to a second feed table ready for palletising.  “Endoline’s machinery has simplified a previously complex and labour intensive task.  Our team have found the line extremely easy to use and fewer people are needed to operate the line resulting in a more efficient production”.  Comments Tamara, “We have made significant savings in productivity, giving us more time to focus on the areas which add value and ensure the quality of our products.”

Line output has increased enabling Ridgeview to prepare orders more effectively and be more responsive to customer requirements.  However it was not only Endoline’s ability to create an automated system which attracted Ridgeview to their solution – but also for the like-minded nature of Endoline’s family business. “There are six members of our family running Ridgeview and Endoline has a similar set up with five members of the Yates’ family working in the company. We also share a similar ethos in the fact that we pride ourselves on manufacturing UK produce – from within the UK.  Couple this with the solution they provided to automate our line and Endoline were the clear favourite.”