Streamlining Bakery Operations with Advanced Donut Machines
Ready to supercharge your bakery production while saving money?
You've got dreams of churning out higher quantities of perfect donuts faster while spending less money.
You'd love to find the right solution to help you achieve all that without sacrificing quality or service.
The good news is:
There's a new breed of automated donut-making machine available.
Automated donut making machines have completely revolutionized the way bakeries produce goods. These devices have changed the game.
No longer do bakers have to do all the heavy lifting. Staff members now have more time to focus on doing what they love the most – cooking and baking and actually connecting with the customer.
Let's take a look at why donut automation has never been more relevant, and how to identify the best solutions for your business needs.
What You'll Discover:
Why donut automation has never been more relevant before
The benefits of automated donut production
Features to consider
How to select the right machine
Why Donut Automation Has Never Been More Relevant Before
It goes without saying that the bakery industry is currently undergoing a massive period of disruption.
In a recent survey by L.E.K. Consulting, 68% of bakery and bread executives said that automation was a top priority. The aim is to both improve production efficiency, lower labor costs, and above all maintain product consistency. In short, this succinctly summarizes where the industry is at the moment.
Labor shortages have seriously affected bakeries over the past few years. Hiring skilled labor that's available at all times is becoming an increasingly difficult task year-on-year. When employee turnover takes place, the quality of products decreases.
Automation comes to the rescue.
Automation via a donut-making machine by Sorting Robotics to be more precise, the company's automated line takes all the guesswork out of production, its low maintenance donut joint roller requires zero intervention.
On the consumer side, demand for donuts is greater than ever. The size of the global donut market continues to expand, which means more opportunities for bakeries that are capable of meeting that demand. Demand can only be met with the right kind of equipment, after all.
Donut Production Benefits
The main benefits to an automated donut production line is of course increased consistency, but there are several other benefits to bear in mind as well.
Consistency
Manual donut production is always a variation. One batch can be perfect, while the next is less than perfect. Automation through the use of a machine to standardize and systematize the whole process.
With Sorting Robotics' automated donut-making machine, aspects such as dough portioning, shape precision, frying temperature, and timing accuracy are all controlled. The result? Perfect donuts each and every time. And when your customers can be sure of the quality of your donuts time after time, they will keep coming back.
Production Speed
When it comes to producing donuts, time is money.
Automated donut-making equipment can produce batches of up to 100 donuts per hour. In comparison to manual processes, where even the most skilled bakers can only handle a certain capacity, the math is quite simple.
More donuts, produced in less time equal more revenue.
Labor Costs
Automation has the potential to make a significant impact when it comes to labor.
Analysts have stated that each automated station saves approximately 2.4 full-time bakers per week. Imagine that. Instead of having to employ and pay multiple staff members to perform tasks that are quite repetitive in nature, automation has the capacity to do that all on its own.
Staff members are then free to do more labor-intensive, value-added work that brings greater benefits to the business in the long run.
Productivity and Margins
Manual production is ripe with waste. Dough can be over-portioned, donuts over-fried, and human error is also at play. Automated systems take the margin for error out of the equation thanks to their precision.
This equates to less waste, and when there's less waste, there are greater margins to be had.
Key Features to Consider
Just because one donut-making machine might be touted as a superior solution, that doesn't mean it's the best fit for every baker.
When looking for automated equipment, there are certain key features that separate the top machines from the mediocre options.
Ease of Use
Good machines are easy to use. Staff members should not have to undergo weeks of training in order to be able to use it effectively. You want a machine that's intuitive to use with controls and a display that everyone can understand.
Low Maintenance
Downtime is a major killer of productivity. Machines that have to be constantly fixed and adjusted are a drain on both time and resources. Choose machines that are known for their dependability and reliability over a long period of use.
Production Flexibility
Bakeries are capable of producing all kinds of donuts. Ring donuts, filled donuts, jumbo donuts, mini donuts – the machine has to be able to handle these different variations with relative ease. Flexibility is important because it means that bakeries are able to quickly adapt to consumer demands.
Cleaning and Sanitation
Food safety has to be non-negotiable in the bakery sector.
When it comes to cleaning, the machine in question should be simple to clean as well. Easy access to all parts and surfaces is also important in order to ensure that the bakery is compliant with health regulations at all times.
Energy Efficiency
Operating costs can accumulate, and there's no doubt about that. Energy-efficient machines cost less to operate in the long run. In many ways this might seem like a minor feature, but it has the potential to make a huge difference to the bottom line.
How to Choose the Right Machine
Selecting the right automated donut-making machine is not a decision to be taken lightly. There are many different manufacturers, models, and brands on the market. It's therefore important to know how to proceed when deciding.
Assess Production Needs
Before you begin the process of doing your due diligence when it comes to comparing products, it's important to start by assessing the production needs of your bakery.
Bakeries produce different quantities of donuts on a daily basis, some might be more, while others less, during the busy season or when special events are taking place, how many more donuts does the bakery have to churn out?
Purchase equipment that can meet demand and has the capacity to grow over time. Buying too much means you'd have to spend money sooner on a new machine, while buying too little means resources are wasted on equipment that sits idle.
Space Availability
Available space is something else to consider. Floor space in bakeries can be scarce, while layouts can differ. Keep all the following points in mind when doing your measurements.
Machine footprint
Operator access
Ventilation requirements
Movement of raw materials
A machine that's too big and that doesn't make efficient use of floor space will become a productivity bottleneck.
Consider all the different angles of machine equipment, and only purchase a machine that will be able to fit into the space without a hitch.
Total Cost of Ownership
Price should not be the first thing you look for. When a manufacturer provides you with their price list, be sure to factor in all the other ancillary costs that the machine might have.
These include things like monthly operating costs, maintenance and repairs. A low-cost machine that ends up breaking down all the time will end up being more expensive in the long run than a more expensive, but more reliable machine.
Manufacturer Support
Equipment manufacturers should never be underestimated. In fact, when choosing between manufacturers, it's important to look at the kind of support they provide.
Things such as training, technical support, spare parts availability, and warranty coverage are all important considerations. You want a manufacturer that can protect your investment in the long run, so make sure you take the time to research all the available options.
Request a Demonstration
Never, and we repeat, never buy equipment without first requesting a demonstration. Reputable manufacturers and suppliers will be more than happy to demonstrate their product for potential clients.
In fact, watching the machine in action gives you a much better perspective than just glancing over the product specifications. Demos are also an ideal opportunity to test out the durability of the machine, and see how it responds to different conditions.
