Berkshire Foods expands low-fat snacks with the help of Watson-Marlow Bredel pumps

Berkshire Foods, Gosport, Hampshire, has installed a Watson-Marlow Bredel 313S/D manual control pump on its low-fat snack production and packing line.

The line, which was built in a new 15,000 sq ft unit in January 2002, produces a range of low-fat snack products for major UK multiples.

The combined fat content of the initial ingredients and flavourings must be less than 3% for the product to be classed as "low-fat". The Watson-Marlow 313S/D manual control pump is fitted to an airline and spray head which sprays the oil, at a rate of just 16g/minute, into the flavour drum. The oil evenly coats the surface of the snack food as the drum rotates, allowing the seasoning to stick to it.

Technical manager Rebecca Burton explains: "The Watson-Marlow 300 series pump has been a key factor in the development of our low-fat business. The accuracy of the pump means we can be confident that we meet our customer's requirements for the manufacture of truly low-fat products. The quality and performance of the pump, coupled with Watson-Marlow's experience in the industry, has made it the perfect choice for our application".