If you run a meal kit manufacturing company, you may be interested in using modular equipment for more scalable food production. Especially when it comes to meal kit manufacturing. You are most likely relying on a variety of industrial food machinery to create different types of meal kits.
Modular equipment is an ideal solution for companies that need different types of equipment while maintaining the scale of production. Keep reading to find out what modular equipment is and how it can help with food production.
The Role of Modular Equipment in a Food Assembly Line
Modular equipment includes machinery or systems that have been designed in modules or self-contained units. They are created independently and can be added onto a larger system or food assembly line.
If you are a smaller or mid-sized meal kit manufacturing company, you will likely need to invest in modular equipment. This allows you to purchase equipment to add to your existing line without having to replace everything. Because of this, you can scale production and increase the types of products you create while still utilizing the equipment you already have.
In many cases, modular equipment works much like building blocks, allowing you to build onto your base food line. It is primarily used by growing companies but is also a good option for those looking to stay up-to-date with the latest automation technology.
At Quantum, we offer a variety of modular equipment with a cantilevered design, that easily fits with an existing conveying system. These pieces of equipment are highly integratable, easy to use and come with customizable features. Also, they are suitable for a variety of food manufacturing companies.
How to Create an Efficient Manufacturing Layout
If you’re considering investing in modular equipment for your prepared meal manufacturing business, there are several factors to keep in mind. The manufacturing layout is very important as this can impact efficiency and overall workplace safety.
For example, if a meal doesn’t have enough salt, the manufacturing layout is something that no one will notice unless it hasn’t been done correctly. Here are some aspects of a manufacturing layout that you should consider:
- Production Flow: To maximize efficiency, determine the production flow of your manufacturing plant. The flow will dictate how the layout should look so that production is seamless. This will also help your employees to work more efficiently by creating as little friction as possible during production.
- Room For Growth: If you plan on investing in modular equipment, you need to leave room for growth. Thankfully, when you invest in Quantum equipment, our cantilevered design doesn’t take up much room and can easily fit over your existing system.
- Food Safety: Your manufacturing layout also needs to be designed in a way that maintains food safety. Especially when it comes to cross-contamination, you may need a layout with multiple lanes or segregated sections to keep certain ingredients apart. You may also want to have specific teams designated for segregated sections if you are dealing with common food allergens.
- Employee Comfort: It is also a good idea to consider the comfort of your employees when creating a layout for your manufacturing company. An ergonomic design will improve employee comfort, safety, and encourage better productivity.
Industrial Food Machinery: What Equipment Should You Invest In?
To stay up-to-date with food processing industry trends, invest in the right equipment. After all, food processing industry trends favor companies that can speed up output while maintaining quality and offering a diverse range of products.
Below are some of the main pieces of equipment you should invest in. Whether you are a small, mid-sized, or large prepared meal manufacturing company.
Meat Slicers
If you are still relying on manual labor in food production, now is the time to upgrade to automation, especially when it comes to slicing meat. Automated meat slicers help ensure quality and consistency by slicing and applying meat ingredients to your products.
At Quantum, we offer six different meat and pepperoni slicer models, with different features to fit the needs of your food production line.
Sauce Dispensers
Depending on the types of meals your manufacturing company creates, you may need to invest in sauce applicators. These applicators are responsible for dispensing sauce on products as they move down the conveyor line, ensuring targeted application every time. Unlike manual labor, these automated applicators help to create a border-free application and reduce waste.
Topping Applicators
Similar to sauce dispensers, topping applicators are responsible for dispensing toppings onto meals as they move down the food production line. Consider investing in cheese/topping applicators, dry/granular ingredient applicators, or both. These topping applicators are designed to handle different types of ingredients, ensuring they are clump-free and the same amount is dispensed on each meal.
At Quantum, we offer various different models of topping applicators that have additional features to improve quality, speed production, and reduce waste. Also, most of our topping applicators feature a cantilevered design, allowing them to fit on or over your existing system.
Conveyors
Also, we can’t forget about the main component of a food assembly line: the conveying system. There are many different types of conveyors suitable for different production needs. For prepared meals, you will likely need a conveyor with multiple lanes, allowing you to produce several different types of meals at the same time.
At Quantum, our conveying systems are easily integratable and are available in custom lengths and widths, making them suitable for different-sized companies and different production needs.
Stay Up to Date With Food Processing Industry Trends With Quantum Technology
Do you want to scale your meal kit manufacturing company? At Quantum, we have designed a line of industrial food machinery to meet the needs of meal kit companies. Our equipment can help you scale production without sacrificing efficiency, quality, or draining your budget. Contact our team today to learn more about our modular equipment and how it can be customized.