Discover how Priors of West Lynn is combining generations of butchery expertise with modern Handtmann technology to support efficient, consistent sausage production.
A proud heritage, built over generations
For generations, Priors of West Lynn has been a familiar name in the local food industry, establishing itself as an independent butcher and trusted supplier to the restaurant and catering trade.
The business has built its reputation through a combination of traditional butchery expertise, skilled craftsmanship and a strong understanding of its customers’ needs. While its roots remain firmly grounded in traditional methods and values, Priors has continued to evolve alongside the changing demands of the food industry.
Now in its fourth generation, the business is embracing modern production technology to support its continued development, investing in equipment that can improve efficiency, consistency and production capability while retaining the expertise and attention to detail that has shaped the business over generations.
This forward-thinking approach led Priors to Handtmann, bringing together traditional sausage production with modern filling, portioning and linking technology.
The result is a production operation that demonstrates how traditional craftsmanship and modern technology can work hand in hand – allowing Priors to build on its heritage while looking firmly towards the future.
Meeting the Demands of a Growing Business
As demand for its products continued to grow across both the retail and catering sectors, Priors of West Lynn faced a familiar challenge: keeping up with the increasing levels of sausage production.
The existing production process was becoming increasingly labour-intensive, with significant time spent manually making sausages and other products. Priors needed a solution that could help increase output, improve efficiency and reduce the time spent on repetitive production tasks.
The key requirement was not simply to produce more, but to find a reliable technology solution that could increase production capacity while giving the team greater flexibility across its wider product range.
The Handtmann Solution
To support its growing production requirements, Priors invested in the Handtmann VF 608 Vacuum Filler.
Initially, the machine was purchased primarily with sausage production in mind. However, the Priors team quickly discovered that its capabilities extended far beyond their original requirements.
The VF 608 has enabled Priors to significantly increase the scale and quantity of its production, while reducing the amount of labour time required to produce sausages and other products.
As the team has become more familiar with the machine, they have continued to explore new applications. Today, the VF 608 is also being used for portion control and products such as kofta kebabs, demonstrating the versatility of the technology within their operation.
What began as an investment specifically for sausage production has developed into a much broader production solution, giving Priors the flexibility to explore new products and processes as their requirements evolve.
The Result: More Production, Less Labour
The investment in the Handtmann VF 608 has helped Priors increase production volumes while reducing the labour time involved in making sausages and other products.
By automating key stages of the production process, the team can produce greater quantities more efficiently, helping them keep pace with demand from both retail and catering customers.
Perhaps most importantly, the machine has also opened up new possibilities. Rather than being limited to its original purpose, Priors is continuing to discover ways to utilise the VF 608 across its product range.
For a growing business, that flexibility is proving just as valuable as the increased production capacity.
What Gives Priors Confidence in Handtmann?
For Priors, the investment is about more than the machine itself. The support behind the technology is equally important.
Three areas have been particularly important in building their confidence in Handtmann:
- Aftersales service – For a busy production environment, having access to reliable aftersales support is essential. Priors values knowing that when they need assistance, advice or technical support, the Handtmann team is available to help keep their production running smoothly. This ongoing support provides reassurance as the team continues to develop its use of the machine.
- Communication – Clear and responsive communication has been an important part of Priors’ experience with Handtmann. From the initial discussions through to ongoing support, having a team that listens, understands their requirements and communicates effectively has helped build a strong working relationship as they look forward to the future.
- Machine quality – The reliability and performance of the VF 608 have also given Priors confidence in their investment. The machine has not only delivered the increased production capacity they initially needed but has also introduced them to applications and possibilities they had not originally considered.
Together, these factors have given Priors the confidence to continue exploring what the VF 608 can offer and to consider how the technology can support the next stage of their future growth.
