The company had always wanted to
invest in metal detection, but needed a
business justification for the investment.
This rapid expansion provided the
opportunity and the commercial case that
Doughnut Peddler needed.
Word of mouth
“We looked at various options and
suppliers, gathered quotes and asked
colleagues in the industry to share
their experiences. We received positive
feedback from everyone who had owned
a Fortress unit – no-one had anything
negative to say about them,” recalls
Doughnut Peddler’s Jon Dairman, Senior
Operation Manager – Procurement.
Doughnut Peddler’s brief, in terms of
what it wanted from its metal detectors,
was straightforward. “Just to detect
metal. We didn’t want any bells and
whistles, just something reliable – I
wanted it not to be an issue, to be able to
set it and forget it,” says Jon.
From a metal detection perspective, the
project wasn’t entirely straightforward.
Doughnuts come out of the fryer and
onto a 12ft cooling conveyor made from
high temperature belting. Doughnut
Peddler wanted to mount the detectors
at this point, as it provides the last
opportunity to check the doughnuts
before they are packed into plastic trays
Fortress’ Stealth kit features FM Software to enhance the detector’s performance and stability
frequency operation facilitates automatic Some of the potential customers we
compensation for extreme product are reaching out to are even more
characteristics. All the processing power encouraged in working with us as they
is contained on one board, versus multiple learn of our use of the robust metal
boards often found on competitor detection HACCP plan we have in place.”
models. One of the technical Fortress COAST-TO-COAST DOUGHNUT
DELIVERIES
features - FM Software - also enhances
the detector’s performance and stability,
that sit in metal baskets. However, the especially in difficult applications.
combination of high temperatures and These technical and mechanical features
moisture creates a ‘product effect’ that ensure that signals, due to mechanical,
can confuse metal detection equipment, electrical, airborne and product, are
as it cannot discriminate between this cancelled out or eliminated. This allows
and actual metal contamination. This the detector to effectively identify signals
can result in frequent false rejects being created by the three types of metals
triggered. Ferrous, Non-Ferrous and 300 Series
With Doughnut Peddler’s lines running Stainless Steel, overcoming the risk of
continuously at speeds of 160 doughnuts false rejects.
per minute, the company could not Four full conveyor Stealth systems are
entertain the possibility of false rejects installed on lines in the company’s North
disrupting production. Carolina, Tennessee and Florida bakeries.
Fortunately, the Fortress Stealth As Doughnut Peddler continues to
metal detectors were able to achieve
reliable performance on this product.
The powerful digital signal processing
technology – a technical platform that
drives the detector - provides high-
speed precision detection, while the dual
pursue an ambitious inter-state growth
strategy, the ability to demonstrate
this level of rigour is proving beneficial,
states Jason: “We are already seeing that
having enhanced product protection in
place has the potential to unlock different
customers.
•
Just three years ago, Doughnut
Peddler was servicing the single
state of Arizona. At that time, the
company was delivering all over
the state with approximately 6,000
miles driven nightly.
•
Today, Doughnut Peddler drives
well over 25,000 miles every night
(the equivalent to circling the
circumference of planet earth),
delivering doughnuts to valued
customers.
•
Lined up end-to-end in a straight
line, doughnuts delivered by
Doughnut Peddler in 2017
would stretch from Los Angeles,
California, to New York and back
- the equivalent of 5,000 miles of
doughnuts being scanned through
Fortress metal detectors annually in
Doughnut Peddler facilities.
FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk 9