Conveyor system at a sea food processor operates at 48dBA - compared to the previous equipment operating at 130dBA - so staff no longer need to wear ear defenders.

Cox and Plant Products has helped a leading seafood processor to double efficiency and significantly reduced workplace noise thanks to the installation of new ultra quiet conveying equipment. BB Prawns, which supplies frozen prawns and seafood to leading wholesalers and supermarkets across the UK and Ireland, has replaced 30 year old conveyor equipment at its site in Grimsby with a new range of equipment from the Stourbridge, UK-based manufacturer. The new equipment includes tippers and glazing conveyors which coat products to add value, increase longevity and prevent dehydration of products.

Glazing conveyors have also been installed to facilitate the company's new prawn coating process which incorporates a wide variety of flavours and sauces such as marie-rose, salsa, garlic and madras curry.

BB Prawns managing director David Pinkney said: 'The equipment we replaced was also from Cox and Plant and it was always reliable, performing well over its 30 year history'.

'However, when we read about the ultra low noise levels of the company's new range of equipment, we had to witness this for ourselves and so conducted trials at Cox and Plant's test facility.' Andy Cox, commercial director at Cox and Plant, commented: 'The new kit runs at only 48dBA, compared to the previous equipment operating at 130dBA.

This is practically the same level as a normal office working environment which means that staff no longer need to wear ear defenders.' The glazing conveyors can each handle up to 10 tonnes of frozen products per hour using a double bank overhead spray system to ensure that the product is coated on all sides.

This enables BB Prawns to achieve 35% glaze in a single pass, making it stand out from other processors in the industry.

Pinkney added: 'Cox and Plant's design and build quality is second to none and the new equipment has surpassed all our expectations'.

'What is more, we are well on target to achieve payback within a year, giving us an excellent return on investment.'