When investing in food production equipment, you have to consider the layout of your facility and your manufacturing needs. Every facility is unique, so you may have to do a bit of troubleshooting, especially when deciding between compact applicators or conveyorized sauce applicators.
In this article, we will discuss the difference between compact and conveyorized sauce applicators and how they impact pizza automation. We will also explore how Quantum Technical Services can help you invest in the best food production equipment suitable for any facility layout.
What Are Conveyorized Sauce Applicators?
Pizza automation involves many moving parts that require a variety of machinery. One of the best options for food production equipment, specifically for facilities with less space, is a conveyorized sauce applicator.
A conveyorized sauce applicator combines targeted sauce application with the benefits of a conveyor system. It works by precisely aligning products under the application head using a continuous motion conveyor. This process makes sauce application continuous, precise, and fluid.
You can find a variety of conveyorized applicators offering different benefits, depending on your production needs. For example, at Quantum Technical Services, our QTMC series can reach speeds of 80 feet per minute, while our QTSA series can create up to 100 pizzas per minute, per lane, and features an easy-to-use design.
What Are Compact Sauce Applicators?
On the other hand, compact applicators do not use a conveyor system and focus more on precise and continuous ingredient dispensing. There are also many different types of compact applicators, such as waterfall designs and cantilevered target designs.
A cantilevered sauce applicator allows for easy use and installation as it positions over your existing conveyor system. And in instances where it isn’t possible to position products on conveyor lanes, a waterfall design creates a continuous curtain of sauce that goes on the products.
Here are some examples of the compact sauce applicators we offer at Quantum Technical Services:
- WS1000 waterfall
- C120 series
- QTPP series
Conveyorized vs. Compact Applicators: What Food Production Equipment is Better?
Now that you know what conveyorized and compact applicators are, how do you choose the right option? The answer isn’t always simple since it is unique to each facility. But there are a few things that you can consider to help you make the best decision possible.
Workflow
Before purchasing any new food production equipment, you need to consider the workflow of your facility. Every facility layout has a workflow, even if it hasn’t been intentional.
The workflow is a set of processes that guides products through the production line and creates step-by-step tasks for your team. You need to choose an applicator that fits seamlessly into this workflow to cause as little friction as possible.
In some facilities, the best way to support your current workflow is with a conveyorized applicator. Especially if you have a small team, these types of applicators have a simple, easy-to-use design, making high-speed production more attainable.
Available Space
Another thing to consider when trying to improve your food production is the available space. Depending on the size of your facility and the extent of your manufacturing processes, you may have limited space available.
Firstly, you need to decide where the applicator will go and how much space you have available. Once you do this, you can move forward with looking for the right applicator with the correct dimensions.
At Quantum Technical Services, many of our equipment options offer extensive customization and configurations to help fit your facility’s needs. This includes applicators with multiple lanes that you can configure, such as our QTIA and QTTS series.
Future Goals
The equipment you invest in will have a significant impact on the future goals of your manufacturing company. Because of this, you need to know how you will use the sauce applicators for future production.
For example, will the applicator need to assist in speeding up the manufacturing process as your demand increases? Or do you plan on moving to a different facility and need the applicator to fit that layout as well?
This is another example where finding equipment that provides customization can come in handy. Having the ability to customize your equipment allows you to make small adjustments depending on your projection or facility needs.
Current Equipment
You most likely already have a production line in place that the new equipment needs to accommodate. Usually, this means that you will need to find equipment that offers configuration options, ensuring that it will work hand-in-hand with the equipment you already have.
Generally speaking, compact applicators are easier to integrate with your current production line, especially if they feature a cantilevered design. But if you don’t have a reliable conveyor system or want to replace it, a conveyorized sauce applicator may be the right fit.
What Matters Most For Food Production Lines
Choosing between conveyor and compact sauce applicators can be challenging, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution. In many instances, either option might be suitable, especially since different models have added features.
The main things you need to take into consideration are the applicator’s ability to:
- Speed up production
- Integrate with your current production line
- Improve accuracy and reproducibility
- Provide speed and output customization
- Improve and maintain quality standards
- Reduce the need for manual labor
- Minimize cleaning time
Other Sauce Applicator Features to Consider For Pizza Automation
Aside from choosing between compact and conveyor models for pizza sauce applicators, you may also want to consider the other features these models offer. At Quantum Technical Services, all of our equipment comes with unique features that set it apart from other options.
Some examples of features to consider include whether the applicator uses targeted application to ensure product consistency. This often includes border-free application, no matter the speed of production.
Additionally, you may want to look for an applicator that is washdown compatible or features multiple lanes. Some applicators even come with touchscreen control, allowing your team to easily manage how the machine runs during production.
It’s also important to invest in equipment that can keep up with your current and projected demand. For instance, it’s usually best to choose equipment that can create at least 100 pizzas per minute, so you have the ability to scale production as needed.
Improve Food Production Through Pizza Automation at Quantum Technical Services
Quantum Technical Services is a leading provider of frozen food production equipment using the latest automated technology. We’ve designed our equipment with the goal of improving food production, maintaining quality, and increasing volume.
Whether you are looking to invest in compact applicators or conveyorized sauce applicators, we provide a variety of models to fit your needs. Contact our team today to learn more about our pizza automation equipment and our customization options.