The four-star Carlton Hotel, Edinburgh, overlooking the Royal Mile, is benefiting from the installation of a Meiko conveyor dishwasher that was painlessly installed and commissioned by ScoMac Catering Equipment at one of the busiest times of the year for any hotel – the week before Christmas.
Livingston-based ScoMac were contacted in September 2012 by Stephen Harris, Maintenance Manager of The Carlton to provide a competitive quotation for the supply and installation of a new conveyor dishwasher to replace an existing model, which was more than 12 years old. The new model had to be reliable and capable of coping with 300 breakfast covers and constant usage throughout the day.
David Nisbet of ScoMac explains: “Stephen Harris had already obtained two quotes from other manufacturers/distributors, and ScoMac, as a Premier Partner Dealer, was keen to promote Meiko as a suitable alternative to these options. After carrying out a site survey of the existing installation, notes were forwarded to Michael Boyd, Meiko Sales Director for Scotland & Ireland to request his assistance in identifying the most suitable Meiko model to quote on and to provide associated costs.”
A K200KVP rack transport conveyor with a WR1 heat recovery condensing unit was specified because it offered an increase in capacity while at the same time reducing the energy consumption of the machine that was being replaced. Savings on fresh water, detergent and rinse aid consumption were also key factors with the selection of the new machine and since installation, the wash results have proved to be first class. The WR1 heat recovery condenser fitted to the top of the machine captures the waste heat and steam vapours from the wash and rinse process and uses the energy recovered to preheat the incoming cold water to around 43°C, reducing the connected load of the integral booster heater considerably. Vapour discharge into the main exhaust ducting has also greatly reduced and the working environment for the wash-up operators is much-improved. Together ScoMac and Meiko presented the proposal to Stephen Harris and ScoMac was successfully awarded the order.
David Nisbet, who project managed the installation says: “It involved quite a lot of planning due to the difficult access into the kitchen area (several floors up and with narrow staircases and a small goods lift). ScoMac called on Meiko to assist as the machine had to be delivered in manageable sections with the control panel disconnected and we required their in-depth knowledge to reassemble it. We also had to break down the old machine and remove that in sections, too. Existing tabling was removed as well as the outlet table which had to be altered at our factory where it was reduced by 50mm.
“Delivery and installation took approximately four days and the job was completed and went live on 21 December just in time for the busy Christmas and New Year period. Following the successful post installation testing, commissioning and handover process, extensive staff training was provided by Michael Boyd of Meiko.”
Meiko UK Limited, 393 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 4UF
Email: MeikoUK@meiko-uk.co.uk
Tel. +44 1753 215120
Website: www.meiko-uk.co.uk
H&C News recently met with Meiko’s Nick Falco to get a better understanding of the business and the full interview can be seen here