An Inside Look: Viking Masek's Automated Snack Packaging System at Darlington Snacks

Step inside Darlington Snacks, a family-owned snack packaging facility in Joplin, Missouri. In this exclusive inside look, witness the transformative power of automation as we explore their brand-new Viking Masek snack packaging system. With two packaging lines converging into one case packing area, this innovative solution has not only streamlined their operations but also doubled their production output!

Here's a breakdown of how this remarkable automated snack packaging system works:

  1. Infeed Hopper:* Cookies make their entrance into the system through the infeed hopper.
  2. Infeed Feeder:* An infeed feeder transports the cookies seamlessly to the bucket elevator.
  3. Bucket Elevator:* Cookies embark on a vertical journey as they are conveyed by a bucket elevator.
  4. Scale Feeder:* A scale feeder continues the journey, ensuring the cookies move smoothly to the scale. *
  5. Multi-Head Scale:* Precision is key as cookies are quickly and accurately weighed by the multi-head scale.
  6. VFFS Velocity Packaging Machine:* The star of the show, cookies reach the VFFS Velocity packaging machine, where they are expertly formed, filled, and sealed at a rate of 150 bags per minute per machine (300 bags per minute total)!
  7. Z-Shaped Takeaway Conveyor:* Finished bags are gently conveyed by a Z-shaped takeaway conveyor.
  8. Checkweigher:* Ensuring quality, bags pass through a checkweigher for precise weight checks.
  9. High-Speed Elevating Conveyor:* Bags continue their journey on a high-speed elevating conveyor.
  10. Case Former:* Sturdy cardboard cases are efficiently formed by a case former.
  11. Batch Gate:* Bags are precisely counted and released into the awaiting cases through a batch gate.
  12. Powered Conveyor:* Cases, now filled with delicious single-serve bags of snacks, are effortlessly transported by a powered conveyor.
  13. Case Sealer:* The packaging process is completed as cases are automatically taped shut by a case sealer.
  14. Staging Area:* Dedicated workers carefully place the finished cases onto pallets.
  15. Storage Area:* Finally, full pallets are moved to a storage area, ready to embark on their journey to schools, healthcare facilities, and restaurants near you.