Unique know-how in small batch production
Woochun Foods Company Co., Ltd., started out as a small tofu factory in Seoul, South Korea in 1975. Today, they have grown into a prominent food company and contract packers for the Asian market, specialising in processed soybean products, including fried tofu. The company has unique know-how in small batch production, managing more than 60 SKUs in a single factory.
Woochun Foods produces an average of 200,000 pieces of tofu per day, this includes fried tofu packaged in flexible plastic bags. On the fried tofu production line, Woochun Foods has installed three Vx150i thermal transfer printers, equipped with a pillow wrapping machine, to print the manufacturing and expiry date on the flexible packaging. The company also produces silken tofu products that require a maturation period, which and are packaged in rigid plastic containers. For these products, Woochun Foods is considering the introduction of additional Domino printers utilising hard-wearing inks that will last the full maturation period and shelf life of the final product.
Productivity improvement
“Domino’s thermal transfer overprinter Vx150i is reliable, which minimises downtime and reduces the cost of parts replacement, reducing total cost of ownership (TCO). In particular, from the operator’s point of view, productivity has greatly improved due to improved convenience. In the past, it was necessary to frequently clean the printhead from dust as a capstan roller was used. In the Vx150i, the capstan roller has been eliminated and this significantly reduces the need for cleaning. The cassette on the Vx printer has also made it very easy to change ribbons. Also, the larger touch screen makes it easier to edit the date"
Taewon Cho, Director of manufacturing & planning department of Woochun Foods.
Rapid support for fresh food packaging lines
Since tofu is a fresh food manufactured and delivered daily, the reliability of the printers and prompt service are very important in ensuring that products do not spoil or go to waste. In addition, support was needed to respond quickly to changes in the production line to accommodate different products, and respond to regional packaging restrictions. Domino Korea responded to Woochun Foods needs by preparing spare parts in advance for a quick response, and providing bespoke solutions to optimise the printing direction.
The fact that the Vx150i works without factory air, reducing overall energy requirements, was another key factor in Woochun Foods final technology choice.
Fast Facts
- Woochun Foods produces an average of 200,000 pieces of tofu, including 10,000 pieces of fried tofu, per day and supplies them to Korea’s leading food brands.
- The company handles more than 60 SKUs, and so requires a printing solution suitable for small batch production of various products.
- After switching production methods and installing Domino’s Vx150i, Woochun Foods experienced a 15% increase in sales compared to the previous year.
