If you own a commercial bakery, you likely need to create an efficient commercial bakery equipment layout. When you do this, you need to consider many different factors, such as the type of equipment, market demand, and your output needs.
Whether you are a small, midsize, or large commercial bakery, it is often worth investing in custom industrial bakery equipment. Custom equipment provides a variety of benefits, especially if you want to stay competitive and grow your company.
In this article, we will discuss how to create a bakery equipment list that will cover all of your needs. We will also discuss the best type of equipment layouts and why you should invest in custom equipment.
Bakery Equipment List: Determining What Your Bakery Needs
One of your top priorities should be to create a bakery equipment list before you start investing in equipment. Especially if you are just starting or upgrading your entire layout, it is essential to have an accurate understanding of your needs.
Here are some of the main equipment options you should consider, especially if you want to increase your output.
Cheese/Topping Applicators
Cheese/topping applicators are an important piece of equipment for all commercial bakeries. These applicators automate the process of topping baked goods with things like shredded cheese, dry ingredients, vegetables, and IFQ ingredients. This will help to reduce the risk of human error, cross-contamination, and ingredient waste.
At Quantum, we provide eight different types of cheese/topping applicators. Many of our applicators use waterfall technology and recirculation systems to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Dry/Granular Ingredient Applicators
Although similar to cheese/topping applicators, dry/granular ingredient applicators are slightly different. This equipment automates the topping process for baked goods that require smaller toppings, such as granules, seeds, salt, parmesan cheese, and spices. You may need to invest in a dry/granular ingredient applicator if you have to dispense ingredients that are too small or granular for other types of topping applicators.
At Quantum, we provide two different models of dry/granular ingredient applicators that are highly customizable. Both models feature a cantilevered design, allowing the applicator to be positioned over your existing bakery line.
Circle Placers
Circle placers are an often overlooked type of industrial bakery equipment. These machines automate the process of placing the corrugated cardboard onto the conveyor belt, where the baked goods will be positioned. Circle places are essential in making sure everything is lined up correctly, so that your products are of high quality and can be packaged safely.
At Quantum, we provide two different models of circle placing machines that can handle round, square, and rectangular corrugated cardboard.
Finding the Best Layout For Commercial Bakery Equipment
When you are upgrading your bakery machines, you also need to consider the layout. The layout of your work environment can have a surprising impact on efficiency, employee wellness, and quality. This is especially true if you have a relatively small or midsize commercial bakery and are working with limited space.
The best way to determine a more effective work layout is to evaluate your current layout and how it is performing. You could even ask your employees for their input, as they are more likely to be aware of areas that could be improved upon.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when determining your layout needs and how this impacts the type of equipment you need to purchase:
- How much available space do you currently have?
- How many employees will be working at one time?
- Do certain machines require more room for safety or hygienic reasons?
- Do employees have enough space to move between equipment and throughout the bakery?
- Do certain pieces of equipment need to be kept separate to prevent cross-contamination?
- What are your current output needs, and how many baked goods do you need to create per minute?
- Is your current layout intuitive, allowing employees to work as efficiently as possible?
- Do you have any specific safety concerns?
At Quantum, our customizable equipment can easily be adapted to different bakery environments. Many of our machines can also be adjusted in size and can be integrated with your current system and equipment.
Benefits of Investing in Custom Industrial Bakery Equipment
When you are investing in commercial bakery equipment, it is always better to look for customizable options. Your needs will likely change over time, especially as you are matching your output with the market demand. To stay competitive and scale your company, you need to be able to adjust your equipment as your needs change.
Here are some of the benefits of investing in customizable equipment:
- Flexibility: Customizable commercial equipment often provides a variety of settings and features that allow for greater flexibility. This can help you adjust production speed, utilize different ingredients, and create new products.
- Scalability: If your industrial equipment isn’t customizable, this is most likely going to create a bottleneck in the future. By investing in customizable equipment, you will be able to scale your company by adjusting the equipment to fit your output needs.
- ROI: Although customized equipment may seem more expensive upfront, it will likely pay off over time. You won’t need to upgrade your equipment for quite a long time, as the equipment you have can be adjusted to fit your needs as they fluctuate.
- Competitive: Investing in customized equipment will also give you a competitive edge, as you can adjust to the market demand. For instance, as health trends progress, you can continue adding new products to your line, such as gluten-free or dairy-free baked goods.
Invest in the Best Custom Equipment With Quantum
If you’re ready to take your commercial bakery to the next level, you need to invest in Quantum equipment. At Quantum, we provide commercial equipment designed for high-speed production, allowing you to increase production while maintaining quality. We provided customizable features as well as a range of additional services, such as operator training and equipment maintenance. Contact our experts today to learn more about how we can customize our equipment to fit your needs.