FA-MD + FA-CW Combo System: Streamlining Poultry Production for High-Volume Processors
For family-owned poultry producers scaling to meet demand from major retailers, balancing high throughput, diverse SKUs, and strict quality control is no easy feat. This is why Cheshire Poultry Ltd.—a UK-based manufacturer supplying roasted, steamed, marinated, and sliced chicken portions to retail giants like Lidl, Aldi, and Morrisons—partnered with Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd. to deploy our FA-MD Metal Detector + FA-CW Checkweigher Combo System. The integrated solution transformed their operations, cutting floor space usage by 25% while boosting efficiency and reducing product giveaway across 15 production lines.
Company Background: A Legacy of Poultry Excellence
Founded in 1972, Cheshire Poultry is a family-run business processing 60 tonnes of chicken daily into 128 unique SKUs. With customers spanning major UK retailers and foodservice companies, the brand has built its reputation on consistent quality and reliable delivery. As demand grew, however, the company faced critical operational bottlenecks that threatened to slow its growth.
The Challenge: Speed, Space, and Simplicity
Operating 15 production lines with a vast range of packaged chicken products, Cheshire Poultry needed an inspection solution that addressed three core pain points:
- Inefficient Product Switching: With separate metal detectors and checkweighers from different vendors, operators struggled with time-consuming changeovers between SKUs (e.g., 100g chicken slices vs. 500g marinated portions).
- Wasted Floor Space: Dedicated metal detection and checkweighing units took up valuable production floor space, limiting room to expand lines or improve workflow.
- High Product Giveaway: Inconsistent weighing accuracy led to over-packaging, cutting into profit margins.
- Training Complexity: Operators required separate training for two different systems, increasing the risk of human error and slowing onboarding.
“Our goal was to simplify our lines without compromising on safety or accuracy,” says Sarah Jones, Operations Manager at Cheshire Poultry. “We needed a single solution that could handle metal detection, checkweighing, and quick product switches—all while fitting into our tight space constraints.”
The Solution: FA-MD + FA-CW Integrated Combo System
After a rigorous tender process, Cheshire Poultry selected Fanchi-tech’s combo system for its competitive performance, space-saving design, and user-friendly operation. The solution combines the precision of our FA-MD Metal Detector with the accuracy of the FA-CW Checkweigher into a single, compact unit—tailored to the unique demands of high-volume poultry processing.
Key Features of the Combo System:
- All-in-One Inspection: Simultaneously detects metal contaminants (ferrous, non-ferrous, stainless steel) and verifies weight accuracy in a single pass, eliminating the need for separate machines.
- Space-Saving Design: The integrated unit reduces floor space usage by 25% compared to standalone systems, freeing up room for Cheshire Poultry to optimize production flow.
- Intuitive Single Touchscreen Control: A unified, icon-driven interface simplifies operation—operators no longer need to learn two separate systems. The auto-learn function stores settings for up to 100+ SKUs, cutting product changeover time by 60%.
- Hygienic, Durable Build: Designed for poultry processing’s rigorous cleaning requirements, the system features a sealed control panel and smooth stainless steel construction to resist moisture and bacteria buildup.
- Precision Weighing to Reduce Giveaway: The FA-CW Checkweigher delivers 0.5g accuracy, ensuring compliance with retail weight standards while minimizing over-packaging and unnecessary product waste.
The Outcome: Efficiency, Savings, and Smiles All Around
Since deploying 8 FA-MD + FA-CW combo units (with plans to roll out to all 15 lines), Cheshire Poultry has achieved transformative results:
- Faster Changeovers: Auto-learn functionality and a single interface reduced product switch time from 5 minutes to 90 seconds, boosting overall line throughput by 15%.
- Reduced Product Giveaway: Precise weighing accuracy cut over-packaging costs by £12,000 annually, directly improving profit margins.
- Simplified Training: Operators now only need to master one system, reducing onboarding time by 70% and minimizing human error.
- Lower Maintenance Costs: A single maintenance regime for both metal detection and checkweighing reduced service time and spare parts inventory costs.
“The Fanchi-tech combo system has been a game-changer for us,” says Sarah Jones. “It’s incredibly easy to operate, and we no longer need to train our team on two different machines. The visibility it provides—with set tolerances stopping unnecessary giveaway—has saved us real money. From ordering to installation, Fanchi-tech’s attention to detail was reassuring, and we’re so pleased with the performance that we’ve accelerated our rollout to all lines.”
She adds: “The space we’ve saved has let us reorganize our production floor for better workflow, and our operators love how intuitive the touchscreen is. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Why Fanchi-tech Combo Systems for Poultry Processors?
For high-volume poultry producers like Cheshire Poultry, our FA-MD + FA-CW combo system offers unmatched value:
- Space Efficiency: 25% smaller footprint than standalone units, ideal for crowded production floors.
- Operational Simplicity: Single interface and auto-learn functionality reduce training time and human error.
- Cost Savings: Reduced product giveaway, lower maintenance costs, and faster throughput deliver a rapid return on investment.
- Compliance Assurance: Meets global food safety standards (FDA, EU HACCP, BRC) to ensure retail-ready products.
- Tailored for Poultry: Optimized for high-moisture, fatty poultry products, minimizing false alarms and ensuring reliable metal detection.
Take the Next Step: Streamline Your Poultry Production
If you’re looking to save space, boost efficiency, and reduce costs in your poultry processing line, contact Kerry Wang (Food Processing Equipment Specialist) to schedule a free virtual demo of our FA-MD + FA-CW Combo System. We’ll tailor the solution to your SKU range, line speed, and space constraints—with free sample testing to prove performance.
Shanghai Fanchi-tech Machinery Co., Ltd.
- Email: fanchitech@outlook.com
- Website: www.fanchitechnology.com
Post time: Dec-26-2025