MANNERS MEATS GETS IN FIRST TO ADOPT SMI TRACK RACK BEFORE GENERAL RELEASE

Almost before Seymour Manufacturing’s new, no nonsense racking system Track Rack had been generally released to the market, leading meat processor R Manners & Sons, ordered a system and had it installed in its Ponteland, Newcastle-upon-Tyne meat processing plant.  Manners is the first major company to adopt the SMI racking system.  The company has been using SMI insulated divider curtains in its vehicles, to run chilled and frozen in the same space, and Cold Stop curtains in chill rooms and freezers for a considerable time.  The quality, ease of installation and fitness for purpose of Track Rack was the decider for the Manners’ management team.

Manners initial installation in a chill store is 4.2 metres long with a 2 metre leg to form an “L” configuration, four shelves high.  It follows successful trials and it is planned to fit out larger stores on the site in due course. 

SMI’s Track Rack is a lightweight assembly which clicks together using anodized aluminium frames with high impact, washable blue plastic ventilated shelves.  These can incorporate a unique ‘Rear Guard’ shelf back stop which prevents stock falling off the back of the shelf, thus reducing waste and improving hygiene. The system is hard wearing and modular and is delivered in flat pack form for easy assembly.  It is simple to erect, extend or re-erect without tools, although a plastic mallet is an advantage.   There are two depths and six convenient lengths for assembly in any size of room.  For right-angled runs there are corner fittings. Shelves may be fitted eleven high or at any single height to suit demand.  If mobility is required braked and swivel wheels can be fitted to the bottom of the upright supports.

R Manners & Sons was established over 80 years ago and is still a family run organization that is now one of the leading catering butchers in the North East of England.  The current production facility at Ponteland processes beef, lamb, pork and poultry along with catering and traditional hand-made sausages for a customer base of over 2000 outlets.  This ranges from large local authorities, NHS and private hospitals to industrial caterers and small hotels, restaurants and bistros.

The company uses different chill rooms for different products.  Raw materials are in chill as is the processing plant.  Chill temperatures range from zero to +3ºC whilst freezer store rooms are controlled to between minus 16ºC to minus 20ºC.  All the units are equipped with Cold Stop curtains dramatically improve retention of cold air inside the stores. 

Previously this was an issue but now Manners is deriving energy savings.  Expansion makes it difficult to compare like with like but management is aware that savings are being made as evaporators run for shorter periods to maintain optimum temperatures.

Manners initial installation in a chill store is 4.2 metres long with a 2 metre leg to form an “L” configuration, four shelves high