RMGroup help optimize workflow at J&J Currie

New bagging and palletizing solutions for Dumfries-based building materials and aggregates supplier

PACKAGING and robotic automation specialists RMGroup have supplied bagging and palletizing solutions to Dumfries-based building materials and aggregates suppliers J&J Currie. The investments, which were made to increase efficiencies and reduce labour costs, included a MB-400 manual bagging machine and a robot palletizer, followed by a BB-215 bulk bagging machine.

J&J Currie, who supply an extensive range of sand and decorative gravels, began their search for a manual bagging system and robot palletizer earlier in the year, principally to alleviate manual handling labour requirements and their associated costs. Having secured a number of quotes for the required solutions, the company placed an order with RMGroup.

The installation of the initial system, required to pack and bag all types of aggregates, consisted of a MB-400, RMGroup’s most popular bagging machine, and an ABB IRB 460 palletizing robot, which was installed to automate the palletizing. The MB-400, capable of filling up to 400 pre-made bags an hour comes complete with a 5m 3-tonne hopper, rubber trough conveyor feed belt, electronic load-cell bag clamp, weigh indicator, 4m filled bag conveyor complete with guide panels, and an SH1000 continuous heat sealer.

More recently, J&J Currie also purchased RMGroup’s complete bulk-bagging system, the BB-215, the installation of which occurred within three weeks of the order being placed. RMGroup’s bulk bagging machine is designed to work with a variety of products, including the most abrasive. The robust FIBC filling machine includes a large, 15-tonne capacity hopper, belt conveyor and a separate filling frame, and can fill more than two bulk bags a minute.

‘The RMGroup systems that we’ve installed more than meet our expectations, helping to increase efficiencies in the yard, while reducing our labour overheads. It also means that we can save on material costs, as these machines weigh everything, so we know that the customer is getting what they pay for,’ said J&J Currie’s managing director, Russell Currie.

‘RMGroup were excellent in providing regular updates throughout the purchase of all the equipment and the installations themselves were quick and trouble-free – the BB215 was installed in a day, and after a morning of testing we were up and running.’

Kevin Humphreys, RMGroup’s sales manager, added: ‘J&J Currie are a great business to work with and we are delighted that they are benefiting from having the bagging and palletizing systems installed. All aspects of order fulfilment, from project management to delivery and installation, were seamless from our side, which all makes for a happy customer. We look forward to providing them with our expertise again in the future.’