The CPS cheese tower features two knives, which, according to processing equipment provider Carlisle Process Systems (CPS), makes the concept unique. The innovative design provides a safe method of cutting the specified amount of cheese, saving hours in cleaning spillage and waste costs.
"We believe we are the first company in the world to have produced this type of tower," said the head of the CPS product group for cheese making systems Dave Shaw.
The tower has been installed by The Cheese Company, the second largest cheese producer in the UK, in order to boost both production and further enhance the quality of its winning Cheddar, Red Leicester and Double Gloucester cheeses.
"The real key to the CPS tower is its quality together with the added bacteriological improvements which it will bring to our operations," said site general manager of Taw Valley Creamery, Jim Dunlop.
"There really will be a major improvement in having state-of-the-art equipment."
Dunlop says that the installation will mean a small increase in production capacity, little more than from 5.25 to 5.5 tonnes an hour, but will later lead to a 60 per cent increase in production.
"So far, we will have improved product control and that in turn will provide more room for consistency in the cheese which leaves Taw Valley," said Dunlop.
The Cheese Company is part of Milk Link, the UK's third largest integrated dairy business. Milk Link is an integrated dairy business, owned by around 2,500 British dairy farmers who produce around 10 per cent of the UK's annual demand for milk - 1.6 billion litres.
The group manufactures a complete portfolio of dairy products including long life milk, cheese, creams, flavoured milks, custards, milk powders, yoghurts and soft cheeses.