The site up in Thetford process’ over 4000pigs a day.
I look after their Vacuum and Compressed air systems. And the boosters are directly under the production line.
I have to get all dressed up in sterile equipment just to go in and service these machines while Percy is coming past my head on a hook.
I also work with a site in Haverhill that makes processed meats... now THATS and experience - actually put me off of pork for 3 months. But that’s another story.
Good luck buddy, and if you need help In the areas I walk, holla, I’ll happily give you some insider knowledge
@Prisce I should be good, The team are fantastic. All the engineers are on point and the business is growing. I asked about boots today and he just laughed. Said pick what you want from the catalogue and it'll be here the same day. Same for tools, If I need something, Ask and it'll be en-route.
I can imagine what Haverhill is like. I did a stint with a stainless fabrication company back in the 90's. And they serviced 2 factories that classed as grim.
One was a frozen turkey processing centre. Live came in, Frozen came out... The highlight of the day been the lung sucker. The whole place smelt like rotten blood. It actually smelt like death.
The second was a processed food company doing cheap ready meals... Oh my. I have never eaten anything by that brand, and never will.
The place I'll be working at is nothing like either of these. It's clean and smell free. Surprisingly so. It takes about 1 minute on the line for your loin to come in frozen, Get formed, Stripped of plastic, Sliced and packaged. The total time exposed to air is very short, and it's frozen when sliced. It goes directly into the package you buy in the shop, formed on the same line.
@L3wisD I don't even know if we can buy bacon yet! I suspect if we can it'll be the gammon joints I go after for sunday dinners!
@Albiscuit The national heard is about 5.5 million pigs. 4000 a day is more than sustainable I bet they turn away farms and have a waiting list to get on. It'll be spikey as well. Once those pigs hit size every farmer is going to be trying to get in first so they don't have feed costs. So there will be a seasonal crazy period. The numbers always look overwhelming but just think like this. There's only 12kg's of bacon on a pig and 2 gammon/ham joints. That's a lot of pigs every Sunday.
I work with a pork processing plant near Thetford, it’s a real eye opener what goes on In there and the equipment they use.
Talking from experience, your gonna have your hands full!