UK’s first robotics in egg packing plant
September 26th, 2011The Lakes Free Range Egg Company Limited has invested in robotics to pack pre-packs into crates, cases and shippers. The family run, free range egg business is the first in the UK to embrace this innovative technology.
Two spherical robots were introduced to the company’s new purpose built packing centre in July. Combined with several other key pieces of equipment and modern technology, they further enhance the operations leading edge facilities.
The robots were developed to provide the flexibility required by the complex, multitude of pack and outer case combinations demanded by the UK’s leading retailers. The Lakes team worked closely with the manufacturers to ensure they were designed to their exacting requirements, ensuring they were able to handle consumer packs, packing them into cases, crates and shippers.
The robots were manufactured by Moba who worked with Motoman, a Yaskawa subsidiary and leading global supplier of industrial robots to perfect the machines. Each is capable of packing over 6,000 6 egg packs per hour.
David Brass, at the Lakes Free Rage Egg Company said “We have always been innovators in the world of free range egg production so we see this as just another natural progression – but they are amazing pieces of equipment to watch. The robots, which we’ve named Robbie and Wally, were developed from car manufacturing robots. Eight Dutch engineers spent a week commissioning the equipment and one engineer remained on hand until training and calibration was concluded– it is now calibrated to 0.1mm accuracy. They have provided excellent customer service and so far, the machines have been running well.”
Whilst the new plant has become more mechanised, it has not been at the expense of local jobs as David explains. “We have not cut staff numbers, instead, we have up-skilled our workforce to make best use of the new machinery and increase productivity, something which is good for our carbon footprint and future opportunities. It’s what we do right that appeals to our supermarket customers, like caring for our environment, planting trees, looking after our wildlife, reducing our carbon footprint and constantly being innovative.”
Anyone interested in learning more about how the Lakes Free Range Egg Co. production process works can contact David Brass on 01768 890 460
This project is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.
Egg team in Race for Life
July 27th, 2011Our ladies race for life
Helen Brass from the Lakes Free Range Egg Company took part in the Tesco Race for Life with her four daughters earlier this month. It was the last of the Race for 
Life runs in the country and there were over 2,500 ladies taking part.
The girls completed the 5K course in a respectable 32 minutes – next year they hope to beat their Personal Best time set this year. Thanks to those who sponsored the Brass team, we are still collecting sponsorship money!
Surprise “Eden local hero award”
June 7th, 2011D
avid and Helen Brass from the Lakes Free Range Egg Company were surprised to hear someone had nominated them for the Eden Local Hero’s Awards. They were further surprised, but delighted to hear they had won the Business Award for outstanding contribution to the well-being of the Eden District.
Highlighting their achievements at the ceremony, the judges said “Over the past 13 years the company, run by David and Helen Brass, has grown in strength and stature with a simple objective to supply profitably free range eggs to the highest standard of welfare and environmental sustainability. It has recently opened the UK’s first carbon neutral egg packing operation and has landed contracts with large companies like McDonald’s and Morrison’s. They have won awards in the past for contributions to community life and they thoroughly deserve this one too.”
At the ceremony, David and Helen met the BBC Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton who was also given an award – for her amazing feats raising money for Children in Need. She was given an open invitation to see how the new egg packing plant operates.