2012 has been like a movie; you couldn’t write it  28 Nov 2012

2012 has been a big, eventful year for the ice cream industry. The good, the bad and the ugly have all made guest appearances along the way but like the film, the good guys, in this case the ice cream manufacturers, have come out on top and are now ready for the 2013 sequel.

One of the biggest challenges faced by manufacturers this year has been the weather. As this is England, we all had great expectations but, the endless summer we all crave and wish for every year was more like the endless winter which, as well as not sounding quite as romantic and certainly not protruding with the same connotations of sunshine, fun and freedom as its likeable counterpart, also had a big impact on ice cream sales during what would normally be the busiest time of the year.

Despite mini heat waves at the inception and again at the conclusion of the summer, it was one hampered by unpredictably cold weather; a consequence of which was a drop in tourism, and therefore ice cream sales. However, rather than letting the unstoppable elements consume them and their spirit, manufacturers battled through in the pursuit of happiness and turned what could have quite easily have been disaster movie, into a positive, and gainful, outcome, with some even reporting record profits.

A further positive of 2012 has been the clear growth in overall product recognition with the UK following in the footsteps of the American market and establishing bespoke versions of the specialist ice cream parlours that have been so successful over there. The most prominent of which is probably the Icecreamists of Covent Garden who have almost reinvented flavours and branding and in doing so, bought a new lease of consumer excitement to the UK market.

It’s been an up and down year fraught with obstacles but the industry overall has demonstrated its versatility and ability to adapt. So, what does 2013 hold? It’s unknown but it is coming soon, and we’re confident it’s going to be another successful year.

Now the fun part; for the movie buffs out there, you will have undoubtedly seen that there are movie titles incorporated throughout. For those that didn’t notice, analyse this article again and you’ll definitely spot a few. How many can you see? All entries to be sent to ben@machineryworld.co.uk   

Machinery World Offers Free Consultations to Those Wanting to Enter the Ice Cream Industry  11 Oct 2012

Machinery World is happy to announce that it will offer, with immediate effect, free consultations and advise to milk farmers, and other interested parties, who are looking to expand operations and enter the world of ice cream manufacturing.

The new service is a result of the continuing ‘milk wars’ between supermarkets, milk agents and dairy farmers which, in some circumstances, has seen farmers almost forced to accept a price per litre that didn’t cover the cost of general production and, certainly didn’t take into account the rising cost of feed, pesticides and other welfare necessities.

The clearly unsustainable, almost artificial business model has given some producers no other choice but to seek alternative, or additional, means of income and the potential profitability of the ice cream manufacturing industry has already been identified as an attractive prospect by many of these.

Paul Crowter, managing director of Machinery World, commented: “The supermarkets have pushed and pushed milk farmers over the years and it’s reached a point where there is only minimal profit to be made. For the hours and investment it takes to run a successful milk farm, despite many doing it for the love of the job, there has to be a financial gain at the end of the day.

“Moving or expanding operations during an already financially uncertain time is scary enough but, if the industry knowledge isn’t there then it’s just plain frightening and could put people off the idea all together. We’ve been in the industry for many years now and feel our knowledge and experience can help others and give them the confidence make the initial steps into the ice cream industry – or at the very least give them the information required to make an educated decision whether the move is for them or not.

“Over the years we’ve helped many people set-up in the industry; some from milk farming backgrounds and others with no dairy experience at all but, each and every one of them now has their own enterprise, with several making a lot of profit and others, even more.”

The free consultations will provide an unique insight into the industry, revealing a lot that’s only really visible to those already working in it and will cover everything from beginning to end, including initial discussions about end goals and targets, defining a niche, recipe discovery, packaging, transport, marketing, expected profit, and of course the machinery required to make it a successful and worthwhile transition.

Paul continued: “We want to help as much as we can and give a real life insight in to workings of the industry. It’s a great industry full of fantastic people but that doesn’t mean to say it’s for everyone. We’ll provide support from inception to success and everything in between. We’ll even set-up a fully-working production line so those considering making the switch can see what is involved, learn, and then make a decision from there.”

Machinery World was established in 1999 with the primary aim of providing the dairy industry with access to expertly sourced and competitively priced secondhand dairy machinery of the highest quality. Today, with over ten years experience within the industry, Machinery World has bought and sold machines in over 90 countries worldwide and has built an extremely valid reputation as a respected and professional outfit.

Furthermore, contrary to a common misconception, buying secondhand machinery doesn’t mean that the standard of equipment is any less than that of a new machine. At Machinery World, every machine is meticulously tested and cleaned and, should any parts need replacing, then they are done so before the machine is re-sold. Another huge advantage is the price with it not being an uncommon occurrence for machines to sell for half the price of the new equivalent.

However, if it’s new machinery that’s sought after, Machinery World can also easily fulfil the requirement. It has long acted as the sole UK agent for a number of globally renowned manufacturers including Cattabriga, Promag and the industry’s premium brand, ROKK-Processing.

 “We can’t of course guarantee success but we can certainly increase the chances of it by offering guidance on every aspect of operating within the sector.” Added Paul “With the primary ingredient on their door step, ice cream production could be seen as an almost natural progression for milk farmers, and it could be the progression that offers a fresh start and ultimately, the opportunity to change their fortunes for years to come.”

Engineering a Global Reputation  20 Sep 2012

Machinery World’s engineering department is quickly building a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable, trust worthy and pro-active around with its engineers being booked months in advance to service or repair machines – some of which weren’t bought from Machinery World and in some cases, even still holding a valid manufacturer’s warranty.

The department has provided an unfaultable service to its clients for many years which, especially during times of economic frailty when extending the lifespan of any machine is of the utmost importance, has been the primary catalyst for the increased trust and subsequent demand for its services.

Unusually, the department is receiving more and more enquiries from ice cream manufacturers who bought machines outside of the umbrella of Machinery World, but still want its engineers to perform services and repairs, rather than rely on those from the place of purchase. Furthermore, many of the machines the team now service are even still under manufacturer’s warranty which is testimony alone to their skills and growing reputation.

Machinery World offers its engineering services to any ice cream manufacturer, not just those who purchase machines from it and, cover all brands including Promag, Soren, APV, WCB, GRAM, Tetra Pak, Cattabriga, Technogel and ROKK Processing to name but a few.

For more information about its services and how it can help you return your machines to their original condition, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Engineers Develop In-house Testing Rig  15 Aug 2012

In a move to further increase its customer service and reputation for perfection, Machinery World’s engineering department has recently built its first ever in-house testing rig that will allow it to analyse the performance each and every continuous freezer in full production mode before returning it to the client

The new testing facility means that greater and more accurate information can be gathered about the machines they are working on. This first structure allows for continuous freezers to be ran as they would be in production conditions, meaning any problems can be spotted and rectified before the machine is transported back to the client.

Sean Dughan, engineering manager at Machinery World, commented: “Experience often tells us what is wrong with a machine but being able to see it up and running before we transport it back to the customer just provides that extra assurance that everything is in full working order and that the client will be able to return to production as soon as it is reinstalled.”

“The testing unit has already given us a good return on our investment so we’ll definitely be building more in-house facilities to allow us to test a greater range of machines under full working conditions.”

A periodic check-up of machinery can provide many years of trouble-free operation, preventing expensive downtime and potential product contamination issues including the consequential possibility of costly product recalls. Additionally it gives manufacturers peace of mind that their products are continually being produced to the highest possible standards, while ensuring that expensive long-term or even irreversible damage is avoided.

Machinery Worlds engineering department motoring ahead  24 Jul 2012

Machinery World’s engineering department has invested in a new, fully modified servicing van to increase its mobility and successfully manage the increasing demand for off-site machine repairs, services and installations that it is currently experiencing.

The increased demand has been cited as a possible result of the continually shifting strength of European and global economic markets which is causing manufacturers to steer clear of what is seen as unnecessary or ‘luxury’ purchases, rather opting to keep and maintain their machines for longer periods of time.

Consequently, with demand soaring and an understanding that any delays in the department can have serious and lasting ramifications on the business at hand, Machinery World has invested in a new state-of-the-art van to avoid an unnecessary back-log of jobs.

Modified to carry all the spares and tools required to perform the toughest of engineering tasks, the new addition means that Machinery World can now provide a more reactive and comprehensive service to all of its clients.

Sean Dughan, engineering manager at Machinery World, commented: “Machinery World’s engineering department was born out of necessity over 10 years ago and has been an eminent part of the business ever since. With demand as high as it currently is, it’s a rare occasion for us to have less than two engineers on the road every day, whether that’s in the UK or abroad. The investment in the new van is going to make a huge difference to our clients and the level service we are able to offer them. We’re now in a position to be able send more engineers out on the road; dealing with more problems in less time.”

If you have any questions, would like to know more about the new van or, Machinery World’s engineering department, please don’t hesitate to contact us on (0)1455 220 179 or sean@machineryworld.co.uk

Engineering in the Rain  13 Jun 2012

We’re now half way through June and despite the weather not representing the ‘traditional’ British summertime of old, it certainly has represented a ‘typical’ British summertime of new – cold with momentary patches of sun, followed by light drizzle and ending in dramatic flood warnings and high winds.

Whatever the weather has been, it hasn’t dampened the spirit and just as importantly, the UK populations’ ability to put away eight litres of ice cream every year - each. With demand seemingly high as ever, have you had a machine MOT recently? The last thing any manufacturer needs is for machine downtime to have a knock-on effect on production and sales at this busy time of year!

Machinery World has a highly trained team of engineers that are able to perform comprehensive onsite maintenance tasks and, are trusted by manufacturers around the UK and indeed the world to keep machines in optimal working condition.

The saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ is particularly pertinent when it comes to maintaining the health of a machine so if you haven’t had a recent check-up, please do get in touch for an informative conversation and a quote.

Machinery World is the exclusive UK and Ireland Authorised Service Centre for Tetra Pak Hoyer, Soren and ROKK as well as being UK sales and service agents for both Cattabriga and Promag artisanal machinery. The team also cover the large majority of other makes of dairy and ice cream production equipment.  

Lovely Jubilee, a long Weekend Ahead  01 Jun 2012

60 years at the British helm, royalist or no royalist, there’s no denying that the milestone much of the country will be celebrating this weekend is a remarkable achievement.

Queen Elizabeth was handed the throne on the 6^th February 1952 at the age of just 25 and over 22,000 days later, she’s fast approaching Queen Victoria as the longest reigning British monarch, which currently stands at 63 years 216 days.

Facts such as these have got the Machinery World office asking myriad royal related questions and as we’re pretty sure that we’re not the only office with such questions flying around, below are a few historical facts that we hope can put a few questions to bed.

·         Longest reigning British monarch: Queen Victoria – 63 years 216 days

·         Shortest reigning British monarch: Sweyn Forkbeard – 40 days. Crowned King on Christmas day 1013 and died 3^rd February 1014.

·         Current longest reigning monarch: King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) of Thailand (Queen Elizabeth holds second place) 

·         Longest reigning monarch of all time: Sobhuza II, King og Swaziland (a small African country that boarders Mozambique and South Africa) – 82 years 254 days

·         Shortest reigning monarch of all time: King Luis Filipe of Portugal – 20 minutes, 1^st February 1908

We hope these little facts have helped settle any office queries but more importantly, we hope everyone’s Jubilee celebrations go well – we are keeping our fingers crossed that this great weather continues.

Like most of the country, Machinery World will be closed from 5.00 on Friday 1^st June and will open again after the bank holiday on Wednesday 6^th June. If you have any questions in this time, please don’t hesitate to send us an email and we will respond as a matter of urgency on our return.

Happy holidays to one and all.

Machinery World goes social with new campaign  16 May 2012

Machinery World understands the time constraints placed upon every dairy producer so, to make the lives of its clients that little bit easier, has now undertaken a new social media campaign to keep them abreast every new machine it has for sale, in real-time.

The vast majority of equipment Machinery World has for sale is sold within a very short timeframe hence time is often of the essence if the perfect machine is going to be captured. As a result, Machinery World’s new Facebook and Twitter profiles will be updated with every new machine that enters the warehouse to ensure that the online community never misses out on an opportunity to purchase a piece of equipment.

In addition, the latest company news will also be published on each profile alongside any suitable industry news, making the platforms one-stop-shops for all things dairy and dairy machinery. They will furthermore act as a extension to Machinery World’s CRM (customer relationship management) systems, giving clients another easy and instantaneous means of engaging with the company directly.

Paul Crowter, managing director of Machinery World, commented: “Social media has been around for a while now but one thing that we’ve always noticed, especially on Facebook, is that too many brands don’t seem to know why they are on there. Apart from the fact that their competitors are, they have a distinct lack of objectives.

“We on the other hand will use the platforms to provide an extra service. We want each and every one of our clients, past and present, to have an easy way of keeping up-to-date with the equipment we have coming in to stock so, should a suitable machine be added, it can be bought before it’s too late. The news aspect brings suitable stories from around the web to a single location to save users having to trawl the web themselves and, not moving too far from social media’s original concept; it allows our client base to liaise with us quickly and simply.”

To become a part of Machinery World’s online community and receive all of the updates, simply go to the new Facebook and Twitter pages and click ‘like’ or ‘follow’. 

Machinery World Negates Spare Part Minefield with the Launch of E-Commerce Site, DairyBits.co.uk  30 Apr 2012

Machinery World is delighted to announce that it has launched its sister company, DairyBits.co.uk, a new simple-to-use platform which makes sourcing a wide range of cost-effective replacement machinery parts for a variety of dairy machines, quicker than ever before.

Replacing machine parts has traditionally always been a drawn out, convoluted and at times, confusing process but now, it’s never been easier. DairyBits.co.uk allows manufacturers to search 1,000’s of both original and replica parts via categories and sub-categories such as electrical, mechanical and liquid, the part required or the machine in question. Once located, the part can be simply added to the ‘basket’ and bought, leaving the user with peace of mind that the part will be delivered quickly, by courier, to anywhere in the world.

Mark Gudgeon, managing director of DairyBits, commented: “We fully appreciate that when it comes to locating spare parts, time is of the essence. If a machine isn’t fully operational then neither is the company itself and, if it continues for an extended period of time, then there’s a good chance that it’s going to have a lasting knock-on effect on profits or reseller relations – or at worst, both. As such, not only do we continually keep a large stock, we also always use couriers to aim for next day delivery.”

To speed up the process even further, for repeat buyers, DairyBits.co.uk also stores a purchase history which can be set as a reminder if the products were, for example, an annual purchase. This consequently allows manufacturers to concentrate on other areas of the business and, when it comes to re-ordering the parts, they receive an email which they simply follow, click ‘purchase’ and wait for the parts to arrive.

Alternatively, manufacturers have the option to set-up trade accounts where they can select, place and save parts into personalised, individual groups. As a result, when the time comes to purchasing the items again, the user doesn’t have to repeat the search, rather click on their predefined groups which will already hold the required items. However, for those that would rather order by telephone, DairyBits also has an experienced team who are on-hand and always happy to take orders or answer any queries.

Paul Crowter, managing director of Machinery World, commented: “Having worked in the industry for many years now and also having a busy engineering department as part of the business, I’m more than aware of the problems that have been traditionally associated with sourcing and buying replacement machinery parts. We wanted this vital, but currently almost counter-productive exercise, to be as trouble-free as possible and, with DairyBits.co.uk, I truly believe we’ve delivered a platform that will change the way replacement parts are bought. It’s simple and quick to use, cost-effective, there’s always an abundance of stock and orders are delivered, globally, overnight. As such, lengthy spells of downtime can be avoided and businesses can continue to operate at full capacity.”

For more information about DairyBits, please visit www.dairybits.co.uk or call 01455 222 089.

Hiring machinery allows businesses to continue production without immediate bulk financial commitment  27 Jan 2012