Western Mechanical Handling UK Ltd

The food industry has been a late adopter of robotic technology for many reasons. WMH respects the cautious nature of many production facilities and will only recommend a robotic solution if we really feel that it is the best solution for the operation and will give you the payback and benefits required.

Robotic solutions offer a flexible solution to the automation of repetative production line tasks where multiple product configurations are needed for future proofing your line.

WMH Automation is the controls and automation division of WMH which offers a high level of service to clients based on many years of expertise in automation of bespoke manufacturing systems.

WMH Automation provides in-house control system build and design for all WMH mechanical handling and production line equipment and attends on site with WMH systems to ensure systems integrate seamlessly with other line processing equipment. WMH Automation will also carry out commissioning and factory acceptance trials for WMH lines. WMH Automation engineers are also able to provide on-site and remote support for non WMH machinery. For more information or to discuss a specific requirement please email WMH Automation at: automation@wmh-uk-ltd.com

WMH ready meal assembly lines are designed to offer flexible assembly of your ready meals whether you require manual operator positions, fully automated depositor locations or a combination of both WMH can provide you with a line that works for you.

WMH Ready meal assembly lines are:

• Designed to fit your range of tray sizes
• Single or twin lane configuration
• Continuous or indexing operation
• Fitted with electrical and pneumatic service outlets
• Outfeed lane merging option
• Touch-screen menu driven operator control

Adding Colour to Ready Meals.

WMH inline industrial grilling units are designed to add colour to the top of ready meals and convenience foods without increasing the core temperature of the product. The specialised infrared heater panels provide even consistent heat across the width of the grill and the quick reaction time enables panels to be at optimum operating temperature almost instantaneously.

All WMH inline grill units as designed to suit the specific browning requirements of your product and the required throughputs for the line. Prior to specifying a unit WMH will carry out extensive product trials both at their test facility in Callington and onsite at your factory to determine the best size machine to achieve the required throughput and colouration of the product.

Flexible and reliable cutting solutions

Whether you are looking for a compact standalone unit for batch production or a fully automated inline solution the WMH flexible ultrasonic cutting range has a model to suit our requirements.

Developed over a number of years in close cooperation with Mitsubishi Electric Automation and Telsonic Ltd, the WMH range offers a reliable and flexible solution to your cutting requirements that will enhance the quality of your product and reduce the cost of product wastage.

Developed for a range of product formats.

Working with large bakeries WMH has developed oven loading and unloading systems for a range of product formats from pies and quiche in foils, to individual sausage rolls and pasties and baking trays of batter puddings and strap tins of bread and cakes.

Running at speeds of 5000 units/hour WMH oven loading and unloading systems will gently handle and collate even the most delicate products and transfer them from assembly line to oven and beyond without damage to ensure your line runs efficiently with optimum product loading to achieve the maximum throughput for your production line.

WMH works closely with the supplier of your oven to develop a solution that best suits your product and production requirements.

Developed for a range of product formats.

WMH provides spiral freezer and chiller loading and unloading systems to large commercial bakeries. Systems are designed to handle many formats of product from chilling of freshly baked goods to freezing of ice cream.

Our solutions seamlessly convey your products from oven to freezer and or freezer to packing line. WMH takes care to gently collate or lane products across the chiller belt. This ensures your line runs efficiently with optimum product loading. Maintaining the maximum throughput for your production line.

QR code scanning developed by WMH.

Working with major suppliers WMH has developed a QR code scanning system to enable producers to check and verify QR codes between products and their lids. Using groups of cameras the system generates a 360 degree view of the product to ensure codes are viewed no matter the orientation of the product.

Output data can be used to flag or reject mis-matched products to minimise the risk of product defects which can lead to costly product recalls.

High care end of line packing systems.

Finished products require careful handling to ensure the best quality product reaches the consumer. WMH has developed a range of packing systems to suit various product packing requirements.

Whether your line requires a fully automated robotic pick and place system or lower cost alternative with operator intervention WMH will be happy to provide a cost effective solution tailored to your specific product and production requirements.

Hygienic multi-lane depositing systems

WMH hygienic multi-lane depositing systems are engineered for high-speed, accurate depositing of hot or cold liquid sauces. Designed for consistent and repeatable performance, these systems can be supplied as mobile standalone units or fully integrated into existing production lines.

Configurations range from single-pump systems with six chambers to multi-pump setups, each offering up to 32 chambers. They can operate independently or be installed inline within extended production lines, depositing multiple products in each cycle.

WMH has developed an advanced servo-driven control algorithm that delivers exceptional deposit weight accuracy of ±0.1g. This control technology is included as standard on all new peristaltic depositing systems and can often be retrofitted to existing WMH equipment.

Unique tailored solutions for customers.

WMH develops special purpose machinery tailored to customers often unique product handling and processing requirements. If you have a complex handling issue that you are looking to automate then WMH may be able to help.

WMH engineers will work with you to develop a solution utilising a range of tools from layout drawings and 3D models, visal simulations and trial rigs and mock ups to prove the process prior to development of the final production unit.

Developed high-tech handling solutions.

Working with major blue-chip pharmaceutical companies WMH have developed high-tech handling solutions to a range of handling requirements. As a design and build company WMH is happy to work in partnership with clients to develop specialist machinery for very specific handling needs.

As with all our food handling equipment WMH prides itself on designing and building high quality machinery that is robust, hygienic and flexible and adaptable to changes in production requirements.

WMH understands the demands of a clean room environment and designs all machines to be cleanable and where possible minimises the areas where build-up of debris can occur, with sloping surfaces and spacing off of bearings and joining brackets and support frames.

The world’s choice in cheese packaging systems                               

For over three decades, the BetaVac design has earned the trust of the dairy industry, renowned for its durability and reliability.  WMH are pleased to able to supply and support these machines across the UK and Europe.

With installations spanning the globe, BetaVac has become a trusted partner for some of the most prominent names in the dairy sector.

The versatile BetaVac range is capable of packaging:

• 20lb/10kg cheese blocks
• 40lb/20kg cheese blocks
• Cheese offcuts
• Other loose products
• Additionally, it is well-suited for packaging meat and other perishable items.

BetaVac Key Features

• Advanced Connectivity: Ethernet communication enables seamless data capture and integration with other plant systems.
• Low Maintenance: Rugged stainless-steel components minimize upkeep costs.
• User-Friendly Design: The fully automatic pneumatic belt tensioner simplifies cleaning and belt replacement.
• Enhanced Operator Comfort: Soft vent vacuum valves and a silencer reduce noise exposure for better operator well-being.
• Customizable Configuration: Seal bars can be left-handed, right-handed, or both, to suit your layout needs.
• Reliable Operation: Auto-calibration runs via the HMI (Human-Machine Interface) whenever elements are changed.
• Effortless Diagnostics: The HMI displays fault areas on a circuit diagram when the temperature controller detects alarm conditions.
• Flexible Options: Explore the range of BetaVac models by downloading the brochure for more details.

Compact Mobile Palletising Solution

The mobile robotic palletiser is designed to stack finished, boxed products onto pallets. Compact and user-friendly, it provides an accessible way to introduce robotics into your factory without the investment required for a fully automated, fixed palletising system.

End-of-line carton palletising is a repetitive process that is ideal for automation. The WMH mobile palletiser can be easily wheeled into place and connected to an existing packing line, allowing operators to be reassigned to higher-value tasks. Its mobile design also enables the unit to be shared between multiple lines. With simple docking and positioning adjustments, it can be set up to palletise different product formats on another line in just minutes.

Palletising areas are often confined, leaving limited room for traditional automated systems. To overcome this, WMH’s compact and adaptable design integrates a robotic arm, docking mechanism, and safety controls within a small footprint. By utilising the robot’s built-in safety zones and features, the system operates without the need for bulky safety fencing.

Custom Conveyor Solutions for Food, Pharmaceutical & Industrial Applications

At the heart of every automation system is conveyoring. For over five decades, WMH has been designing and manufacturing conveyor systems that improve productivity, product handling, and process efficiency across the food, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors.

As conveyor technology has evolved, so too has the range of belt materials and conveying solutions available. Today, selecting the right conveyor system requires careful consideration of the product being handled, the production environment, hygiene requirements, throughput demands, and client preferences.

The world’s choice in cheese packaging systems                         

For over three decades, the BetaVac design has earned the trust of the dairy industry, renowned for its durability and reliability.  WMH are pleased to able to supply and support these machines across the UK and Europe.

With installations spanning the globe, BetaVac has become a trusted partner for some of the most prominent names in the dairy sector.

The versatile BetaVac range is capable of packaging:

• 20lb/10kg cheese blocks
• 40lb/20kg cheese blocks
• Cheese offcuts
• Other loose products
• Additionally, it is well-suited for packaging meat and other perishable items.

Supplying bespoke access steps, walkways and platforms                              

WMH designs and builds bespoke access platforms and stairs to minimise inconvenience to workers and to maintain safe access and egress routes around food factory automation systems. WMH offers bespoke steel fabrications designed for daily operation and emergency escape routes.

WMH platforms and stairs are designed in-house in Callington and provide safe personnel access routes. WMH platforms and walkways are designed with all the hygiene features demanded of a wash-down food production or clean room production environment.

The WMH spiral conveyor is designed specifically for use in a wash-down food processing environment and offers a compact solution to elevating and de-elevating products within a high-care location.

The benefits of using a WMH spiral conveyor include:

• Compact footprint takes up minimal floor space
• Freestanding stainless steel construction
• Open framework allows easy access for cleaning
• Perforated, hinged under guards combine safe operation with easy cleaning
• Hygienic modular belt suitable for direct food contact
• Robust construction for many years of unfailing operation
• Range of belt widths to suit your products
• Bespoke design to integrate with your production line

As with all WMH equipment our spiral conveyors are designed to be washed down and where possible minimise the areas where build-up of debris can occur, with sloping surfaces and spacing off of bearings and joining brackets and support frames.

Western Mechanical Handling (WMH) has been a trusted partner to farmhouse cheese producers since the 1980s, beginning with bespoke equipment for a local Cornish dairy. From the start, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with cheese makers to bring their ideas to life—designing and manufacturing essential tools like cheese presses, mills, curd knives, agitators, and a wide array of custom components to support growing operations.

Support long-term running and maintenance of your production line

WMH will support the long-term running and maintenance of your production line.  Our manuals provide recommended cleaning and maintenance procedures for optimal use of the machinery and site training of operatives and team leaders can be included in the commissioning process.  If well maintained a WMH production line will stand the test of time and still be in production after 15 years and many systems are still running after almost double this period.

Ongoing support can be in tailored to your needs, WMH offers;

• 12-Month Warranty
• Supply of spare parts
• Ad-hoc maintenance visits
• Scheduled inspection and servicing
• Full overhaul and refurbishment
• Remote diagnostics and controls fault finding

Efficient product handling is essential in modern food manufacturing, and WMH has extensive experience in developing bespoke stacking solutions tailored to the unique requirements of each production environment.Over the years, WMH has designed and supplied a wide range of automated packing and stacking systems capable of handling products of varying shapes, sizes and packaging formats. Whether stacking boxed pizzas, frozen pancakes, fajita wraps or other packaged food products, our systems are engineered to maximise throughput while reducing manual handling and labour requirements.Every production line presents its own challenges, which is why WMH works closely with customers to develop solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing processes. From simple stacking applications to fully automated end-of-line packing systems, our equipment is designed to improve efficiency, maintain product quality and support consistent production output.