The West Virginia Potato Chip Company Opted for a TNA Packaging Solution

To transform the way snacks are made and help Mister Bee Potato Chips achieve its lofty future objectives, TNA Solutions has teamed up with the company. The Parkersburg, West Virginia, manufacturing facility was entirely planned and optimized by TNA, leading to an impressive 400% capacity gain.

The West Virginia Potato Chip Company, the Mister Bee's new owners, realized that the obsolete frying and packaging equipment needed to be completely upgraded to keep up with the needs of the expanding market. The goal was to establish a production environment that could support growth while producing products of the highest caliber.

TNA's specialist engineers identified critical process improvements and presented a bespoke solution in collaboration with Mister Bee's operations manager. The partnership started with a comprehensive redesign of the manufacturing facility using cutting-edge technologies like Microsoft's Hololens. This stage guaranteed that the newly renovated facility was optimized for efficiency and production before TNA's incorporation.

Following the layout of the area, the TNA robag® 3ci, a cutting-edge vertical form, fill, and seal (VFFS) packaging system, was installed. The robag® 3ci can operate at extremely high speeds of up to 150 bags per minute (bpm) because of its rotary double jaw and innovative stripper tube closure. Operations were simplified by the use of TNA's unique auto connect and unload help technology. It made seamless switchovers possible with little additional labor, thus enhancing overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

The partnership produced amazing outcomes. The output of Mister Bee's chip capacity increased dramatically, enabling it to satisfy rising demand without sacrificing the caliber of its goods.

Mary Anne Ketelsen, President of Mister Bee, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome.

“Previous machinery could only run 20-25 bpm, whereas now with my new TNA machines, I can run 100-115 bpm. A very big upgrade,” Ketelsen added.

Furthermore, TNA’s turnkey, end-to-end, single-source approach means the company stands by every element, and this was demonstrated by its swift action in rectifying a small design defect during the integration process. Welders were promptly dispatched at TNA's expense to ensure the optimal functioning of the machinery, leaving Mary Anne Ketelsen and her team impressed by TNA's dedication to their success.

Mister Bee has since invested in further TNA apparatus, including a new fryer, demonstrating its continued confidence in TNA's exceptional service, great machinery, and consistent results. Mary Anne Ketelsen anticipates that this productive relationship will continue to drive their growth and innovation for many years to come.