Ingredient handling systems are designed to make bakers' lives easier, and manufacturers continue to produce more innovative and advanced systems in pursuit of this goal.

“In recent years, there has been an increase in more technically sophisticated computer programming and PC integration,” says Kevin Rohwer, vice president, Contemar Silo Systems, Concord, Ontario, Canada. But developing a cutting-edge tech system shouldn't be manufacturers' first priority, he warns. “The real talent lies in system design and in putting together the right components to produce a high-quality and reliable system that meets a customer's specific requirements, at the same time remaining cost effective.”

Deron Seibert, regional sales manager, Spiroflow Systems Inc., Monore, N.C., echoes this emphasis on the needs of the operator.

“What we are seeing in the industry is a trend in operator safety. Instead of operators climbing stairs with sacks of ingredients and dumping them into the mixers or blenders, many companies are installing equipment at the ground level,” he explains. “This lets operators remain on the ground floor and safely discharge the sacks into an elevating conveyor. We feel that this greatly enhances operator safety, efficiency and the general working environment.”

In addition to creating more operator-friendly systems, manufacturers also are responding to the demand for equipment to handle the growing whole grain trend.

“With an increase in consumer demand for whole grain products, we have witnessed food manufactures respond to this change in consumer taste,” Rohwer says. “We have seen a rise in demand for bulk ingredient systems required for whole grain flours, and in particular, increased demand for our indoor flexible fabric silos for whole grain applications.”

Bakers' needs are wide ranging, but ingredient handling systems manufacturers are on top of industry trends and demands, creating equipment to ease bakers' workloads.

SYSTEMS CUSTOMIZED FOR YOUR NEEDS

Contemar Silo Systems assesses bakers' needs and creates ingredient handling systems customized to fit their space and production requirements. The equipment pictured features a closed loop pressure conveyance system with three 70,000-lb. silos to hold three different types of flour.

Contemar Silo Systems Inc.
800 567 2741 www.contemar.com

EASIER BULK INGREDIENT HANDLING

Spiroflow manufactures a range of standard and custom powder handling equipment, specializing in bulk bag dischargers and fillers, mechanical and pneumatic conveyors, 50-lb. bag packing/unloading equipment and flexible storage silos. T6 bulk bag dischargers can be used to produce crumpets, pancakes and potato cakes, among other products.

Spiroflow Systems Inc.
704 291 9595 www.spiroflowsystems.com