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New Vibratory Conveyor Resolves a Sticky Situation

With their sanitary design and compact footprint, robust vibratory conveyor systems move fruit snacks correctly, safely, and efficiently for a top candy producer.

Pouched Welch’s Fruit Snacks are ready for cartoning at PIM Brands.
Pouched Welch’s Fruit Snacks are ready for cartoning at PIM Brands.
Joyce Fassl

Located in the heart of New Jersey is the maker of Welch’s Fruit Snacks. Founded in 1979 as Promotion in Motion by CEO Michael Rosenberg, the company was renamed PIM Brands last year. With its large customer base and multiple product offerings, including Welch’s Fruit Snacks, Original Gummi FunMix, Sun-Maid Milk Chocolate Raisins, Sour Jacks, Nuclear SQWorms, Toggi Fine European Wafers, and Tuxedos Chocolate Almonds, the company is one of the largest candy and snack makers worldwide.

PIM Brands recently upgraded the packaging lines at its Somerset, N.J., facility, where it produces different varieties of Welch’s Fruit Snacks. Because of the challenging nature of the product, standard belt conveyors and transition points present many difficulties with conveying.

The fruit snack maker was looking for a vibratory conveyor solution when Layton Systems happened to cold call PIM Brands about its manufacturing equipment needs. After vetting other vendors, PIM Brands chose Layton Systems to provide a vibratory conveyor to resolve the sticky situation.

One plus with Layton machinery is its design, according to Chris Greco, engineering project manager for PIM Brands. “The Uni-Vibe conveyor doesn’t have a bunch of rubber strips or something that they have to hang in,” he states. Layton’s design includes a post that is connected to the vibratory motor. “It’s a very compact piece of equipment that doesn’t have many moving parts at all,” he adds.

One of the Layton Systems Uni-Vibe conveyors installed at PIM Brands safely moves fruit snacks.One of the Layton Systems Uni-Vibe conveyors installed at PIM Brands safely moves fruit snacks.Joyce Fassl

Another feature of the Uni-Vibe is sanitary design, Greco says. “I see it as more sanitary than a belted conveyor. You can truly wipe down a Uni-Vibe, where with a belt conveyor, you’d have to take it apart and clean the machine and rollers.”

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