Industrial Conveyor Success Story
B.A.L.K. Juice Processing increased production by 30%!
In August 2008, Allen and Laurie Grobe, owners of B.A.L.K. Juice Processing and Grobe Fruit Farm in Elyria, Ohio, contacted Patz Dealer Gary Seasly of Gary’s Equipment in Republic, Ohio. Allen was looking for belt conveyors that could move pulp from pressed apples from their processing plant out to a truck. Upon assessing their needs, Gary suggested that a Patz Model 400 Material Mover would be a good fit for their operation.
B.A.L.K. Juice Processing presses over 125,000 gallons of apple cider each year. Juice is squeezed from the apples by four apple presses and the pulp moves through plastic lined gutters with the help of the Patz Model 400 Material Mover. The apple pulp is later fed to cows at a nearby farm.
“The system has been in operation for 3 months, running approximately 40 hours a week,” said Allen. “It has been flawless from the first day of starting.”
According to Allen, the Patz installation has helped the press operators to be more efficient, increasing their production by 30%. The Patz Model 400 Material Mover has reduced the need for lift trucks and operators in their facility. They have also lessened the risk of damaging equipment because they are not using the lift trucks as often.
“I would like to thank Gary’s Equipment and the people at Patz for designing and installing the right piece of equipment for my application,” Allen added.
Plans are to press apples and bottle cider until late winter-early spring. The juice or cider is pasteurized and chilled prior to bottling. The company bottles approximately 1,500 gallons per hour at their facility.
