Austrian premium chocolate manufacturer Zotter Chocolate has equipped its production facilities with Ishida multihead weighers to improve weighing accuracy and efficiency across its extensive confectionery portfolio.
The Styria-based company, which produces more than 500 chocolate products ranging from bars and pralines to chocolate-coated snacks, uses two Ishida multihead weighers to ensure consistent fill weights while minimising product giveaway. According to the company, the systems achieve weight deviations of less than 0.5% from the target weight for products weighing between 20 g and 130 g.
The weighing systems also support frequent product changeovers, with rapid setup and easy cleaning helping Zotter maintain production flexibility while packing between 20 and 30 packs per minute.
Zotter operates a fully integrated bean-to-bar production model, overseeing every stage of manufacturing from roasting cocoa beans through to packaging finished products. The company says all ingredients are sourced through fair trade and organic farming as part of its sustainability strategy.
Gerald Prasch, Production Manager at Zotter Chocolate, highlighted the importance of accurate weight control: “If the packaging states 100 grams, we guarantee at least 100 grams – for every product.”
The two Ishida systems serve different production lines. A 14-head multihead weigher packs products such as chocolate-coated popcorn and miniature chocolate “light bulbs” into pouches, while a 10-head model fills cartons with the company’s Balleros range of chocolate-coated fruits and nuts.
The Balleros line is fully automated. Cartons are erected and lined with film by a robotic system before being filled by the multihead weigher. According to Zotter, the line processes an average of 6,000 to 7,000 cartons per day, with two or three product changeovers during a typical production run.
Despite operating in production areas with different levels of automation, both weighing systems have delivered consistent performance, the company said.
Prasch added: “We are very satisfied. The service requirement is minimal, the weighing results are precise. Both Ishida multihead weighers meet our high quality standards.”
