Four ULMA FM305C flow wrappers give Eurilait a platform for growth

Oct 16, 2026
Eurilait is a leading provider of speciality dairy products in the UK, supplying the Retail, Wholesale, Foodservice and Industrial sectors with an extensive range of high-quality cheeses. With specialist cutting and packing capabilities, the company can tailor products to customers' specific requirements at its dedicated facility in Somerset. Its portfolio includes hard, soft and mould-ripened cheeses, with varieties such as Brie, Camembert, Cheddar, Red Leicester, Gouda, Manchego, Goat's Cheese, Stilton, Feta and Halloumi passing through its operation. The business handles around 300 live SKUs and experiences a significant seasonal increase in demand during the run-up to Christmas. Consistent presentation, dependable seals and accurate pack sizes are therefore essential, particularly when supplying exacting retail customers.

The Challenges

Eurilait previously operated flow wrappers from four different manufacturers. This created unnecessary complexity for operators, who needed to understand several different control systems and operating procedures, and for engineers, who had to maintain a much larger and more varied stock of spare parts. Downtime also put pressure on a demanding production schedule. With customer orders often received only shortly before delivery, an extended breakdown could affect an entire production day and put service levels at risk. Film loss during stoppages and restarts added to operational costs.

At the same time, Eurilait needed packaging that consistently presented its cheeses as premium products while helping the business reduce pack size and unnecessary material. The equipment also had to offer sufficient flexibility for the company's wide product range and future recyclable film developments.

The Opportunity

 Eurilait saw an opportunity to standardise its flow-wrapping operation around a single machine platform. This would allow operator skills to transfer between lines, reduce the number of spare parts required and enable the engineering team to respond more quickly whenever intervention was needed.

 The business also wanted dependable equipment with additional capacity available above its normal production rate. This would support seasonal peaks and the continued development of Eurilait's co-packing operation without compromising pack quality or the gas levels required to protect product shelf life.

The Solution 

 Eurilait began working with ULMA Packaging several years ago, initially installing one FM 300 flow wrapper. Its experience with the machine and the support received from ULMA led to further investment, bringing the total to four FM305Cs across the operation.

 The machines typically operate at around 55 packs per minute. Although the FM305Cs can run faster, Eurilait has selected this speed to maintain product consistency, achieve the required oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and deliver a reliable seal and premium pack appearance. The available headroom gives the company scope to increase output when required.

 Standardisation has simplified day-to-day operation. Employees trained on one FM305C can apply the same skills across all four machines, while the engineering team can support each line using a common stock of spare parts. Automated cutting processes now feed product directly to the flow wrappers, with automatic case labelling also incorporated at the end of the lines.

The Benefits

 The four ULMA FM305C flow wrappers have delivered a range of operational benefits for Eurilait, including:

  • Improved uptime - Eurilait estimates that machine uptime has increased by approximately 5-7%.
  • Reduced waste - The business has achieved an estimated 3% reduction in waste within the area handling mould-ripened cheeses, while improved reliability has also reduced film lost through breakdowns.
  • Simpler engineering support - Using one machine platform has reduced spare-parts requirements and made it easier for engineers to return equipment to production quickly.
  • Greater operator flexibility - A consistent operating platform means employees can transfer between the four machines without learning different systems.
  • Consistent pack quality - Reliable seals, controlled pack sizes and strong presentation help Eurilait meet the expectations of retail and third-party customers.
  • Capacity for growth - The FM305Cs provide additional line-speed capability and the flexibility needed to support seasonal demand and growth in co-packing.

"Working with ULMA has made our operation much simpler. Our operators only need to understand one machine, and those skills are transferable across all four. Our engineering team knows that one phone call will get the support it needs, while the reliability and spare capacity of the machines give us the confidence to grow."

Jamie McCabe, Head of Operations, Eurilait

Supporting more sustainable packaging

Eurilait is also working towards more sustainable packaging. The company has been trialling a range of recyclable films and the long shelf life required by some cheese products means each trial can take more than 100 days to complete. While these materials have not yet moved into live production, the flexibility of the FM305Cs gives Eurilait a platform on which to test future film structures in collaboration with ULMA's technical team.

The Summary

By replacing a mixed fleet with four ULMA FM305C flow wrappers, Eurilait has created a more reliable, efficient and straightforward packaging operation. Improved uptime, lower waste, fewer spare parts, and transferable operator skills help the company meet current customer demands, while available production capacity and packaging flexibility provide a strong foundation for future growth.

For Eurilait, the relationship extends beyond the machinery. Ready access to ULMA's sales and engineering teams, rapid technical support and a willingness to collaborate on potential projects have given Eurilait confidence that it has a long-term packaging partner.