When it comes to slicing machines, bakers demand flexibility, quality and ease of use. Manufacturers have recently trended toward machines with fewer moving parts that rely more heavily on automation. Fewer moving parts also aid in ease of cleaning and maintenance. Newer slicers contain fewer extraneous snags, such as bolts and screws, as bakers demand wash-down capability.

“More slicer components are being designed to have tool-free removal to further assist with the ‘deep cleaning’ cycles,” says Bob Grote, president of Grote Co., Columbus, Ohio.

Also, bakers are becoming increasingly familiar with ultrasonic slicing technology. As bakers come in contact with these cutting systems, they can see the quality of the results and are sensitive to the machines' low operating and maintenance costs.

“More and more projects require higher speed but also flexibility in their machines. We achieve this by delivering solutions with several blades that, thanks to servo-drives, can be operated independently,” says Frank Coenmans, director of industrial sales for Bakon, Torrance, Calif.

Manufacturers also are scaling up their stroke sizes to meet bakers' demands. “Slicers designed for pizza production also are being asked to deposit meats and cheeses over a larger diameter crust, forcing larger stroke slicers,” Grote adds.

REDUCED LABOR COSTS

Take advantage of reduced labor and maintenance costs with a slicer from Ryan. Ryan offers an in-line slicer with a blade-change-on-the-fly feature that allows operators to clean the blade without shutting down the line. The feature is available on all 890 series models. Ryan's slicers are versatile, highly adjustable and capable of slicing at speeds up to 500 pieces per min.
Ryan Technology Inc.
800 277 2290
www.ryanslicer.com

SLICER/APPLICATORFOR PIZZA LINES

Grote's slicer/applicator is now available with stroke capability in excess of 7 in., making it ideal for slicing/applying pepperoni onto larger crusts. With multiple head units, the 7-in. stroke slicer can provide maximum pepperoni coverage on pizza crusts up to 16 in. in diameter. The slicer/applicator features stainless-steel construction, and operation is easily controlled with a user-friendly keypad. With its cantilevered design, it can be rolled over production belts of 22 in., 30 in. and 40 in. in width.
Grote Co.
888 534 7683
www.grotecompany.com

SLICE BREAD

AMF Bakery Systems offers bread band slicers that provide superior slice quality. The AMF Saber 75 Bread Band Slicer provides quality slicing, ease of operation and reduced maintenance and sanitation costs. Features include open design for easy access to all sanitation and maintenance points; heavy duty, pull-out lattice assembly to assure the highest quality slice over a long machine life and easy access for lattice maintenance and sanitation; cantilever drum design for easy blade removal and installation; electronic synchronization between the Saber 75 Slicer and the bread bagger that eliminates high maintenance chain and shaft drives; operator interface controls for easy product set-up and machine monitoring. AMF also offers the Saber 75 in a “wide model” for a broader slicing thickness range for specialty products, such as Texas toast. AMF has just introduced a new slicer, the Saber 60 Band Slicer, designed for lines with a maximum speed requirement of 60 loaves or less per minute.
AMF Bakery Systems
800 225 3771
www.amfbakery.com

HIGH VOLUME READY

Erika Record offers a fully automatic slicer, the ideal machine for small to medium wholesale bakeries that need to slice 3,000 to 10,000 loaves per day. Top and bottom belts hold the loaves. Simply place the bread on the conveyor; the machine does the rest.
Erika Record LLC
800 682 8203
www.erikarecord.com

ULTRASONIC CUTTERS

Bakon offers its line of ultrasonic cutting machines to the U.S. market. The machines are available as in-line solutions or stand-alone models. The ultrasonic technology features a titanium blade that oscillates at 20,000 cycles per second. At such frequency, the friction is nearly zero, creating a clean and accurate cut. The machines combine ultrasonic technology with servo-drives to allow for fast and precise positioning of the blades. The Bakon cutters are equipped with a modem line to allow for remote support and reprogramming.
Bakon USA Food Equipment
800 879 2256
www.bakonusa.com