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Cuizina’s state-of-the-art plant was remodeled
from the ground up to meet the company’s
demanding standards. |
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Open
the door to Cuizina Food Company and you are greeted by the aroma of
simmering sauces and soups. Tucked into an industrial complex in
Woodinville, Washington this growing company has found a niche
market in creation, production, and distribution of gourmet
products. Owner Ric Ferrara took his restaurant background,
capitalized on the possibilities of internet marketing, and soon
found a need for production automation.
Assured of a solid customer base and steady growth, Ferrera
researched machinery to fit his needs. Proximity was a key but not
the only factor in his choice. Down the road in Bothell, Washington
Hinds-Bock Corporation, another Northwest company specializing in
food equipment became Cuizina’s machinery partner. The ever present
concerns of protecting the customer’s unique ingredients were a part
of the first discussions with Hinds-Bock sales manager Rod Gregg.
Ferrera says, “Hinds-Bock absolutely guaranteed drip-free filling
and gentle handling of our products and has made good on that
promise”.
The
challenges of protecting a customer’s product are not unique for
Hinds-Bock. “We engineer and manufacture custom equipment for
special needs” states Gregg. To answer Cuizina’s questions of how
to manage progressive growth, the team was careful to use standard
equipment that could be gradually implemented. A former and sealer
were recommended.
Standard SP-64 single-piston fillers with the addition of custom
spouting were tested successfully. Managing machinery acquisition
to parallel the growth of their market base became a requirement.
Eventually production space was acquired to make room for increased
production. From their original purchase of a single-piston filler,
Cuizina gradually added new lines.
Erik
Bugge, Cuizina’s Vice President, used the term “consultive
manufacturer” to describe their partnership with customers.
“Customers bring us their own sauces or ask us to create it for them.
Our aim is to always produce a quality product with quality
ingredients”. With an extensive nutritional data base they can
provide nutritional analysis as well. Gathering fresh ingredients
from across the country, spices from around the world, and putting
it all together makes for an exciting environment. Products ranging
from 2 to 64 ounces are ready to ship frozen to suppliers,
distributors, or direct to the customer within hours of their
creation.
With
their main emphasis on their product, reliability of machinery is
key. Because of standardization of equipment, parts are
interchangeable between machines. According to Ferrera the
availability of ready parts, a service manual that is user friendly,
a staff that has been responsive to all their questions has made
this partnership valuable. “New tastes and new market demands are
constantly a challenge. We rely on our machinery to help us meet
deadlines”. Cuizina operates with a just-in-time inventory system
which requires reliability.
Both
Cuizina and Hinds-Bock have met the challenges of progressive
growth. Hinds-Bock has been a machinery builder for over 30 years
and Ric Ferrera has been creating these special food aromas for over
20 years. Hinds-Bock equipment is USDA approved and has always been
designed with ease of sanitation and maintenance in mind. Cuizina
operates under the USDA HACCP Program and Certified Organic by the
State of Washington. With good management, enthusiastic and well
trained staffs, and solid partnerships, they have each survived
national economic fluctuations. Ric Ferrera remembers, “After 9/11
people tended to seek out “comfort foods” and our products met that
need”. Automation has only enhanced that ability to bring those
products to market.
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Custom
Combination HB SP-64B / Key-Pak.
Cuizina Italia took the next step towards automation by
purchasing a Hinds-Bock model SP-64B Custom Single Piston base
mounted filler to work with a new Key-Pak Machines (Lebanon,
NJ) vertical form, fill and seal machine. The Key-Pak unit was
manufactured and shipped to Hinds-Bock where the custom filler
was integrated with the bagger by Hinds-Bock and a complete
turn-key automated packaging system was then delivered to
Cuizina Italia. Hinds-Bock and Key-Pak Engineering departments
worked together sharing information so that both pieces of
equipment could be seamlessly integrated.
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The custom single
piston filler was specifically designed to work with the Key-Pak
former and the bag sizes that Cuizina required. The filler
features a very custom long reach vertical positive cut-off
/blow off spout which is a key factor in maintaining a clean
seal zone for the bag former to produce an acceptable seal and
quality finished product.
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The Hinds-Bock
machine comes apart in minutes for ease of sanitation and
maintenance and can handle many flowable and semi flowable
products.
