Solutions deliver strong nutraceutical safety outcomes

Overview
One of Cherry’s clients, a global nutraceutical company, recently expanded with the acquisition of a nine-company division from a related industry. The acquired group specializes in producing over-the-counter vitamins and nutraceuticals, as well as health and beauty products. The parent company, a significantly larger entity, adheres to higher-level safety specifications for the warehouse equipment, which they use to move products around the warehouse and along the supply chain.
The nine companies were not previously required to adhere to the same global safety standards as their parent company. The global manufacturer follows what might be termed “the gold standard” of safety specifications because much of their work is worldwide where the highest level of safety compliance is expected. In planning the integration of the new division, it would be necessary to upgrade the warehouse equipment and operating procedures to bring these nine companies into alignment with the larger company’s safety specifications.Cherry’s Industrial Equipment worked with company engineers and safety personnel to begin the upgrade process. While the existing equipment (pallet dispensers) in the nine companies was functional, it lacked the advanced safety features necessary. The parent company, having worked with Cherry’s over a number of years, sought assistance for the upgrade, which would entail custom design and engineering of new pallet dispensers.


The Challenge
Upgrading to a more comprehensive safety specification is not a task accomplished overnight, especially given that the upgrade would span nine separate facilities. Time was of the essence also, for the parent company to integrate its newly acquired division into its organization and begin to realize a return on its investment.
Cherry’s and the parent company selected one of the division’s East Coast locations as a starting point, with the aim of expanding to the other eight locations over time.Specific safety matters to be addressed in the upgrade included having a “blind spot” safety feature, redundant machine lockout capability, and other worker safety issues.
The client evaluated several options: having Cherry’s design and build new pallet dispensers, or modify their existing machines.


The Solution
Cherry’s relevant industry experience proved to be extremely advantageous. Cherry’s has worked with a number of food industry leaders, including DiGorno and Farina – and actually helped industry leaders develop the specific safety specification that this client sought.
Russ Catt and the Cherry’s engineering team worked with the global company’s engineers and safety personnel to design a state-of-the-art pallet dispenser that would meet their specifications. The upgraded features included passive safety standards--built-in safety features on the dispenser that will automatically protect workers from hazards.
 
One specific feature is the “blind spot” safeguard, which shuts the dispenser down if a floor worker is within the machine’s operating footprint. The operator could restart the machine when it shuts down, but the machine will not operate if there is a person within the restricted area. Other safety upgrades included safety mats, light curtains, and specific guarding that met or exceeded the safety specifications.
 
The client chose to replace its existing machines with the custom-designed models that were mutually agreed upon.
 
“The existing equipment that the division had was certainly adequate for their needs prior to the acquisition,” Russ Catt said. He added, “However, when you become part of an organization that is required to operate under more stringent global safety requirements, the existing equipment no longer served the company’s needs. Our industry knowledge and prior experience helped us guide our client toward what they would need to complete a successful upgrade.”
 
From the initial call to the first machine being placed in service took about 14 months, with Cherry’s working closely with the client’s team to be certain that everything ran smoothly. Additional machines have subsequently been completed and placed in service. During the process, there were additional needs discovered that may result in additional work.


The Results
Cherry’s initial rollout with this company has resulted in new, upgraded dispensers being placed in service in several of the company’s existing locations. Cherry’s work with the client will continue for another 36 to 48 months, with the design and building of other equipment that was not identified in the initial scope of work. Cherry’s has been asked to continue to add different equipment as needed in other national locations. Having these new dispensers in place allows the parent company to more fully utilize the production capability of its newly acquired division.


Conclusion
Developing relationships and showing capabilities, knowledge and experience is how Cherry’s continues to provide value as a partner, not merely a vendor. Our work is not transactional in nature but rather a partnership that seeks to identify needs and help our client meet those needs. Our previous experience with this particular safety requirement helped us expedite our client’s need to bring its new division up to the needed safety specifications.