Heat Seal Success Stories: Clay Center Meat Locker
Dieck’s in Clay Center, KS packages meat cuts ranging from your typical burger to beef heart. They need a machine that is reliable and versatile to fit their operations. Before using Heat Seal machines, employees were manually wrapping each cut with butcher paper. Now, using the HDX-250 and HDX-350 models, they were able to cut packaging costs by nearly 60% while also packaging 3x faster!
The study compared the time spent and packaging material required to package the meat locker’s order of 300 burger patties. Wrapping with butcher paper involves an intricate folding process which needs to be executed correctly and precisely in order to create a good package. Meanwhile, using the HDX series machines, all the operator needs to do is place the patties in the wrapping material and cut it with the l-bar sealer. Not only is the process simpler–it is less time consuming. On average for batches of 10, it was 3 times faster than wrapping with butcher paper.
When considering the material used, we found that Dieck’s was using approximately 14″ of butcher paper per burger package, which came out to 8.75 cents per package considering the cost of one roll. HDX series used 8″ of film to package the same product, coming out to 3.55 cents per package.
In addition, shrink packaging gives a better shelf life to the product by keeping the meat free of freezer burn for up to one year. To achieve the same result, an already-wrapped butcher paper package must be additionally wrapped with plastic.
We Love our Heat Seal!
Clay Center Locker Employee
One benefit that is easy to overlook is the employee satisfaction. Workers at Clay Center Locker also reported that using HDX was easier on their arms and wrists. For laborers who are doing this for several hours a day, the difference in physical effort is an important factor. Compared to other equipment, Heat Seal machines rated higher for employee morale, for being consistent and easy-to-operate. The same workers also expressed that quality and ease of service helped Heat Seal stand out above the crowd.