Aptech have completed a £400,000 installation at Elkes Biscuits, part of the Northern Foods Group, including a complete system for storing, feeding, weighing and conveying ingredients direct to the biscuit lines.

Two stainless steel silos, each 60 tonnes capacity were installed for the storage of biscuit flour and wholemeal flour. The silos were fitted on to load cells located at hip level to provide a clean floor surface. Product is blown into the silos from road tankers and a building with land based blowers was installed.

Flour discharges from the silos via twin screw dischargers and sifters into three weighers all located under the silo outlets. The weighed batch is pneumatically conveyed to any one of 9 biscuit lines within the production hall.

De-humidifiers purge dried air into the silos eliminating moisture, biological growth and the need to clad and insulate the silos.

A PLC control system provides automated control and ingredient weighment.

The project was designed, supplied and installed by Aptech as a Turnkey project, on time and to budget.