New DTG FINN product development initiatives create further dealership opportunities
Following the implementation of various product enhancements – and the introduction of a new compact chocolate coater, UK-based DTG Engineering, manufacturers of the globally acclaimed FINN range of chocolate coating, polishing, belt panning, batch cooking and continuous cooking technologies are seeking to further expand their international dealership base.

Commented technical sales specialist, John Roscoe, “For over thirty years, the FINN name has been synonymous with the finest confectionery machinery and has revolutionised the way numerous confectionery manufacturing processes take place. Today, with a choice of fully automated chocolate coating and polishing machinery and various new products all set to further endorse our market leading credentials, we now seek established, reputable
distributors with the dexterity, vision and capability to deliver the high standards of sales and service that are associated with the DTG FINN name.”

The backing of Diamond Precision DTG Engineering is a member of Diamond Precision, an organisation that has been delivering client success for over 25 years. Through clear-cut expertise in electrical and mechanical engineering, bespoke machinery design and individually tailored facilities management solutions, Diamond Precision has gained a reputation for excellence across an impressive portfolio of internationally recognised markets, technologies and clients.

DTG has once again increased the customer base of the Diamond Group with the acquisition of a new contract to provide Finn Coating and Polishing Machines to the Ukraine.

Finn Coaters are already world-renowned, with hundreds in operation in the UK, France, Canada, the USA, Chile, Brazil, Lebanon, Australia and Japan. They are more efficient than traditional panning machines, and provide confectionery manufacturers with a faster, more consistent result every time.

This new contract follows on from a recently finalised French contract to see DTG going from strength to strength into 2010.

Manufactured by DTG Engineering Ltd., of Merseyside, a company with a 50-year pedigree of excellence in the design, manufacture and supply of confectionery equipment – as well as quality manufacturing solutions for many other industries – the FINN name represents the very highest standards in chocolate coating, polishing, belt panning, batch cooking and continuous cooking technologies.

In production for over 30 years, however – and with more than 400 machines in reliable daily operation around the world – it is the FINN range of Chocolate Coaters for which DTG Engineering Ltd. is perhaps best renowned.

Prior to the introduction of FINN belt panning, confectioners had done their coating in traditional rotating pans – a method of coating that was noisy, required skilled operators and presented difficulties during loading and unloading. Precision engineered to the highest standards, embracing the latest CNC technology, and hand assembled by DTG craftsmen, FINN Coaters – like all DTG machinery – are designed to deliver the round-theclock reliability and performance as demanded by modern production facilities.

About the FINN Coater

Since their introduction, DTG’s FINN Coaters have revolutionised and continually developed the production of coated confectionery across the world. The advent of belt panning with the FINN Coater was a major breakthrough for the confectionery industries. Loading and unloading became a simple, straightforward process; the noise in the panning rooms was greatly reduced and the need for
highly skilled operating personnel was negated.

In today’s manual and automated models, the loading and unloading process is simply a case of opening the front door to enable product to be emptied into the machine from trays or fed by a conveyor system.

White milk, plain, yoghurt or compounds

All variants of chocolate and compounds can be applied with the FINN Coater. For efficiency, however, it is recommended that batches of the same chocolate are produced for as long as possible to keep system cleaning to a minimum. Naturally, essential cleaning is required before a colour change, but – because of the nature of the process – a small amount of remaining chocolate in the system should not pose a problem.

The coating process

After the product to be coated has been deposited in the coating chamber, the Coater’s belt is run in the forward direction at sufficient speed for the product to tumble in a smooth flow. Refrigerated air is then turned on and the supply of coating chocolate is pumped in from a freestanding kettle at a very slow set speed. The initial coating takes place over a five-minute period, during which each Dragee is applied with a very thin film of chocolate. The chocolate pump is then turned off and the product continues tumbling in the cold air for a further two minutes, a process that greatly reduces the likelihood of pieces of product sticking together. The chocolate pump is then re-started and the speed increased. If product begins to stick together, either the pump speed is too high or the airflow needs to be increased. As each Dragee in the batch increases in size, the pump speed can be increased slightly. The coating process continues until the desired weight and size of the batch is complete.

Menu-driven technology

The already simple process offered by the DTG FINN coater has recently been further simplified by the introduction of a HMI controlled menu-driven model which enables the full coating cycle to be programmed with up to one hundred different recipe opportunities.

Located on four highly sensitive load cells, with exact product weight displayed on a touch screen, this latest innovation reduces operator involvement, displays the exact amount of chocolate deposited at any one time, ensures parity of batch sizes and removes any likelihood of excess chocolate being deposited. Once the desired
weight and product characteristics have been achieved, the machine will auto-stop and offload/reload automatically where this process has been specified.

Fitted with Intralox polypropylene belts with rotating wheels on either side, FINN Coaters allow for coating with the very smallest products. Each machine is constructed of 316-grade stainless steel for total washdown or steam cleaning, as
required in a food manufacturing environment.

Available in size ranges from 78 – 710 litres, with output dependant on which product is being handled and the quantity of chocolate to be applied, batch process times range from 20 – 55 minutes.

Centres covered include:

About the FINN Polisher
Developed to run in conjunction with the FINN Coater, with compatible batch sizes and production times for streamlined product manufacture, FINN Polishers are today widely accepted as the leading chocolate finishing treatment, are available in capacities ranging from 78 litres up to 710 litres, and are purpose-designed to polish chocolate-covered Dragee assortments.

Why the polishing process?
After a product has been chocolate-coated, polishing is carried out for three main reasons. Firstly, it makes the product visually more attractive to the consumer. Secondly, it leaves a resilient glaze on the exterior of the sweet. Finally, it helps to prevent a residue of molten chocolate being deposited on the fingers.

Stainless steel construction
Again constructed from 316-grade stainless steel, the FINN Polisher is supplied complete with rotating side wheels and Intralox polypropylene belt. The belt is manufactured with raised ribs, evenly spaced across its width. This enhances the collection of the polished product to create a similar tumbling motion as provided by the coater.

The polishing process
In the polishing process, the coated product is loaded into the polishing chamber with the belt running in the forward mode and the cold air turned on. The ‘polish’ is then applied by hand by pouring a small amount across the width of the polisher. The product is then allowed to tumble until the polish coating has dried, with the process repeated (normally twice) until the desired level of sheen is achieved.
After the final polishing coat, an alcohol-based glaze in then applied in the same manner as the polish, with the machine operated in forward mode for a few seconds to ensure base evaporation and to prevent sticking. The polishing process is then complete.

Simple, user-friendly PLC control
Every FINN machine, whether manual or automatic is controlled via an Allen Bradley PLC system which provides semi-automatic programmable coating control. The menu-driven automatic models combine both HMI and PLC for operation, monitoring and control supported by easy-to-read graphics. All processing functions can be pre-programmed with different recipes for precise repeatability, with each recipe
stored on an internal compact flash card which is removable for PC-backup via a spreadsheet package.
Intelligent design
All machines are covered by extensive aftersales service opportunities, and consumables, such as replacement panning belts, are quickly and easily removed for cleaning and replacement. This attention to detail of design enables levels of coating and room humidity to be maintained and issues such as nut cross–contamination to be avoided.

The backing of Diamond Precision
DTG Engineering is a member of Diamond Precision, an organisation that has been delivering client success for over 25 years. Through clear-cut expertise in electrical and mechanical engineering, bespoke machinery design and individually tailored facilities management solutions, Diamond Precision has gained a reputation for excellence across an impressive portfolio of internationally recognised markets,
technologies and clients. Delivering detailed project and fully inclusive on-site facilities management, along with respective processing technologies, dedicated design & build capabilities, control
systems, products and support services, the Diamond Precision name is synonymous with the clear-cut expertise that today’s industry relies upon for ongoing success.

Thew Arnott and DTG have teamed up to bring customers from the both companies the benefits of an in house testing and operator-training facility in Deeside.

Two DTG Junior machines have been installed at the site, to allow an infinite variety of centres to be coated, polished and evaluated by prospective customers.

This will increase customer confidence in the DTG brand, and allow them to see the end result that the Finn Coating Machines can achieve. Interested customers should visit the DTG website, linked below, or call 0151 647 9050 to arrange a trial.

ThewArnott

DTG has once again increased the customer base of the Diamond Group with the acquisition of a new contract to provide Finn Coating and Polishing Machines to the Ukraine.

Finn Coaters are already world-renowned, with hundreds in operation in the UK, France, Canada, the USA, Chile, Brazil, Lebanon, Australia and Japan. They are more efficient than traditional panning machines, and provide confectionery manufacturers with a faster, more consistent result every time.

This new contract follows on from a recently finalised French contract to see DTG going from strength to strength into 2010.