PET Food Processing - September 2021 - 54

EQUIPMENT
done extensive work feeding our
ovens with low-pressure extruders
to create a different type of product
by combining two key systems in
the pet food market. "
A unique quality among RBS
ovens is the use of Thermatec tiles,
used in the place of dampers, to create
radiate heat. This method mimics
traditional fire brick ovens to
optimize heat transfer and contribute
to color development, as well as
reducing requirements for maintenance
and gas.
The company has incorporated
this technology into its new
Emithermic tunnel oven, utilizing
either direct or indirect baking to
Speaking to the
importance of
flexibility, Reading
Bakery Systems'
tunnel ovens are
compatible with
rotary moulders,
low-pressure extruders
and wirecut
machines depending
on what the
product demands.
Reading Bakery Systems
not only helps to preserve some sensitive ingredients but
can also result in lower fuel usage.
" Baking can be achieved at a lower temperature by increasing
the volume and velocity of the convection air, "
Winkle said. " This is enhanced by a return system that
quickly removes spent air from the baking surface and
prevents slowing of heat transfer to the product. Faster
baking and lower losses through the heating system lead
to minimized fuel consumption. "
In many modern baking systems, recipes can be
pre-programmed to reduce dependence on labor and
ensure consistency day in and day out. Baker Perkins
uses a touch-screen control panel to set up and run its
TruBake ovens, including programming recipes, managing
alarms and trending historical baking data.
TruBake ovens offer flexibility with modular builds
to meet processors needs today and in the future.
Depending on the recipe and baking profile of each
product, operators can adjust temperature, extraction
and airflow to fine-tune each cook.
Reading Bakery Systems (RBS), Robesonia, Pa., has
designed its ovens for flexibility as well. They are compatible
with a variety of forming equipment, Pallottini
explained, and other components,
moulder, low-pressure extrusion and/or wirecutting system,
can be easily swapped in and out.
" For example, a primary pet treat is produced with
a rotary moulder, " explained Sam Pallottini, director,
cookie, cracker and pet food sales, RBS. " If a customer
then wants to produce co-extruded products, the rotary
moulder can be moved out of position and replaced
with either a low-pressure extruder or wirecut machine
depending on the desired product. Our baking systems
are designed to achieve the desired bake and moisture
no matter what type of forming machine. We have even
54 PET FOOD PROCESSING | September 2021 | www.petfoodprocessing.net
such as a rotary
create a soft, radiate heat. Instead of having to heat the
entire baking chamber - which often necessitates heating
everything inside the chamber, including racks or
belts, using up more energy and heat - the Emithermic
oven and Thermatec tiles focus on a three-inch area
above the baking band, thus eliminating the need for
dampers. Pallottini noted RBS' tunnel ovens are up to
30% more efficient than rack ovens and require a fraction
of the labor needed to operate them.
" We're trying to
enhance the perception
that baked is better. "
Sam Pallottini, Reading Bakery Systems
The Emithermic oven features individual top and bottom
blowers inside the baking chamber, as well as an exhaust
blower, all controlled through variable frequency
drives (VFDs). Specifications for these blowers can be
saved by recipe, and the entire process is designed to be
more intuitive through the use of programming logistics
control (PLC), which controls the bottom and top blowers,
temperature and the exhaust.
" We find we're easily 10% more [energy] efficient in
the way we bake and our design, but you can find ways
to improve that efficiency, " Pallottini said. " When you
first start baking a product, most of the heat goes into
the belt or the mesh to heat it up, then it can start baking
the product. If you go to a thinner band or a lighter
mesh or a more open-weave mesh, it takes less energy to
heat that band up, then you can start baking your product
faster. "
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PET Food Processing - September 2021

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