Baking & Snack - November 2022 - 66

FINISHING/ICING/TOPPING
experiencing now. The labor shortages are
not going away. They will only get worse as
the boomers retire and the new generation's
interests lie somewhere other than working
in a baking manufacturing plant. "
But then there's always the sales pitch
that's making bakers give the latest technology
a second glance.
" On that note, if you are looking to really
ramp it up, the Deco-Bot is a no-brainer, " Mr.
Bobyk added. " The Deco-Bot is an all-in-one robotic
decorating station that is capable of accurately decoServo
motors
provide greater
accuracy and
repeatability when
depositing or finishing
products.
E.T. Oakes
tems like AMF's Smart Applicator on production lines,
but it requires a little longer for the machine to " learn "
how to target the desired amount of toppings onto a specific
crust or flatbread base.
" Sometimes the algorithm needs training, which we
can prepare together with the customer and operators, "
Mr. Besems said. " So the specs, defaults and products are
known, and machine learning can do its job onwards. "
For control and efficiency, several companies have
turned to phones and touchpads, while simplified or
standardized software allows finishing systems to be
more easily added to existing lines.
" New developments
include controls
from smartphones,
as well as easy integration with other equipment
providers, and compatibility with ethernet protocols
that allow for integration with centralized computer systems, "
said Mauricio Nahum, applications manager for
Unifiller Systems.
However, most new systems require training, especially
in bakeries that are in the beginning or middle of their
automation processes.
" Our technician will help program recipes into the system
and train the customer on recipe storage or how to
change from product to product with the touch of a button, "
he said. " We offer quick changeover of parts for
customers who have a lot of different products. "
While many companies are looking more
actively at every opportunity to automate
these days, what about bakers who continue
to invest? Has technology advanced
enough that they're considering upgrading
their systems from those they purchased
just 10 years ago?
" If you are happy with your current
technology and are achieving the desired
results, there really is no rush to upgrade
your system, " said Jamie Bobyk, marketing
manager, Apex Motion Control.
" Upgrading, though, can often help you
achieve better results than what you are
66 Baking & Snack November 2022 / www.bakingbusiness.com
rating cakes, cookies and cupcakes with that homemade
look. Write, draw, drizzle and decorate round or sheet
cakes with roses, or finish cupcakes with swirls, rosettes
and roses. "
Put it in tip-top shape
When it comes to automation, reinventing the wheel
isn't always necessary. Sometimes it's the new and improved
versions that provide the benefits bakers need to
operate more profitably.
At the 2022 International Baking Industry Exposition
(IBIE), Burford Corp. featured its Smart Seeder Plus that
relies on a new design that provides up to 20% greater
seed savings for applications on 4-inch buns than the
previous model. Specifically, the new design applies
seeds in a round pattern instead of a square.
" We designed a patent-pending rotary template that
slides in around the hopper and the mandrel. This servocontrolled
template is timed with the pan and as those
seeds drop out to the product, they fall through the roLabor-saving
icing and decorating systems can accurately mimic
the work by pastry chefs on a high-volume production line.
Apex Motion Control
http://www.bakingbusiness.com
Baking & Snack - November 2022

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