Case Study: UTZ achieves increased throughput and reduced footprint with Honeywell Intelligrated VRC solution

Unique Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Bakes in Efficiency for UTZ

Utz sought to improve operational efficiency at its chip manufacturing facility in Hanover, Pennsylvania and needed a compact, reliable way to feed varied carton sizes into downstream processes. Utz turned to Honeywell Intelligrated USS (Honeywell) for a vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) solution to handle the facility’s space constraints and broad carton range.

Honeywell supplied eight VRC units that fit around structural columns, conveying 9–42 inch cartons from a 36‑inch infeed to a 19.5‑foot discharge using a two‑zone, zero‑pressure accumulation shelf in a Z‑style configuration. The design moves one to two packages per cycle, mounts motors at the base to eliminate overhead maintenance, and provides a steady stream of product to downstream systems—delivering a smaller footprint, improved throughput and reduced maintenance needs for Utz.

Utz