Tilting the odds towards greater success

Overview
JBS Foods (JBS USA) is a global, multi-location, diversified company which creates and distributes food products for customers and consumers around the world. In the company’s Pittsburg, TX distribution facility, four tilt/lift tables had been in service for 20 years and needed replacement. The client sought an upgrade of the four tables with several specific improvements to accommodate its continued growth and improve efficiencies on the assembly line.


The Challenge
The client, one of the largest meat packing companies in the world, ships much of its product (beef, primarily) frozen. To move the assembly line smoothly, the company uses four lift/tilt tables at key locations throughout the plant. The company’s original tables had been in use for twenty years, and management sought an upgrade. The tilt feature allows the operator to remove freezer spaces in between each layer on the load after the product comes from the freezer. Without the lift/tilt functions, the pallets would need to be lifted by hand and the spacers removed.
 
The company also sought to upgrade its pallets to a better quality to further improve operational efficiency. With a production schedule of at least 30 to 40 pallets per hour, keeping everything running along in a timely and efficient manner is paramount. JBS approached Cherry’s to provide state-of-the-art replacements that also addressed a few other requirements.


The Solution
The Cherry’s team drew upon four decades of industry experience and a series of comprehensive discovery discussions with the client. National account manager Greg Hamlin set up the sessions with the JBS engineering team, including a trip to Texas to see the facility and its operation. “It gave me a better feel for the challenges they faced, and I had the chance to meet my contact in person.” From these interactions, Cherry’s developed and offered a solution to fit the client’s needs.
 
While there are standard tilt and lift tables, Cherry’s solution included designing and building customized tables to accommodate the client’s needs. These tables had increased speed capability by more than 30%, allowing for potential future growth. The tables can handle 30-40 pallet loads per hour, and more if needed. Further the solution included a stainless-steel lining on the basket area, to allow for greater ease in cleaning potential product leakage onto the spacers. In addition to the stainless-steel upgrade, another was an improved paint finish. It included steel leaf pigments in the paint, and a finish with clear polyurethane, making it easier to wash down the machines. The result is a more durable product, one that operates at a greater speed (30%) than the original tables.


The Results
The client opted for a higher-speed option to process loads more quickly, saving waiting time between loads. In all, the upgraded tilt tables are about 30% quicker than the tables they replaced. The other upgrades will provide greater ease for the client to maintain and clean the machinery and again save waiting time between loads. Greg noted, “The process went smoothly because our contact has been with JBS for many years, knows us and our work well, and appreciates our attention to improving our products. They also appreciate our ability to provide parts and service when needed.
Because of the client’s trust in us, we are working on several other projects for them – including a single pallet inverter and additional equipment needs for a new plant that the company is building in Perry, Iowa.
 
Takeaways to share with the team
Client feedback: If you want good quality equipment that will last, and a vendor that still puts customer service first, and is very genuine to the customer’s needs, call Cherry’s.
As always it is just a great experience to work with them – a great team. Greg is an awesome salesperson; he listens to you and works to meet your needs.


Conclusion
Understanding that no two manufacturing facilities have the same specific needs, arriving at a solution that truly works begins with conducting extensive discovery sessions to uncover the client’s true “pain points.” In this case, needing to upgrade tilt tables and improve the speed at which they operate were both key needs, along with an upgrade to include stainless steel and stronger paint to allow for easier cleaning. By understanding the client’s needs and working collaboratively with the engineering team, Cherry’s was able to deliver a solution that will serve the client in this and other locations.