Choosing the Right Bakery Conveyor for Your Application

Bakeries are very fast-paced environments that process a variety of delicate products prone to damage. Soft bread, bars, and packaged cookies are particularly vulnerable when mishandled.

Conveyors are vital in minimizing damage, adapting to diverse product mixes, and maintaining efficient production flow. However, selecting the right one can be challenging due to numerous considerations.

Read on to learn how to choose the right bakery conveyor for your operations.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA FOR SELECTING THE RIGHT CONVEYOR 

Evaluating conveyors requires a thorough assessment of several critical factors. These include:

Product Type & Mix

Bakery products change significantly throughout production – from ingredients to raw dough to a prepared product to a baked product to packaging. It’s essential to consider where a conveyor will be to determine the right solution, belt, and components.

Conveying systems need to adapt to not just one product, but many. Adjusting to different products and recipes is important for maintaining productivity and meeting changing consumer demands. A versatile conveyor system can help streamline production by allowing seamless transitions between various product types without compromising efficiency or quality.

Production Volume & Uptime

The dimensions of the conveyor will need to accommodate the flow of products based on your production capacity. For example, a wider belt may be necessary for higher volumes to ensure efficient processing and minimal downtime.

High performance and minimal downtime are essential for maintaining productivity in fast-paced bakery processing environments. Choosing a reliable conveyor system that consistently delivers on uptime can help ensure smooth operations and reduce the risk of costly disruptions to your production schedule.

Sanitation Requirements

A sanitary design avoids harmful bacteria and allergens such as nuts and gluten. Conveyors must have easy-to-clean surfaces and components to minimize contamination risks and ensure compliance with BEMA design standards.

It is imperative to opt for materials and designs that are food-safe, resistant to corrosion, and capable of preventing bacterial growth. These features allow for quick and thorough cleaning to maintain food safety.

Space Constraints

Bakeries with limited space may require elevating solutions or creative configurations to maximize footprint utilization. For instance, a Curveyor can help meet production needs in confined spaces by navigating around processing equipment, facility walls, columns, and doorways.

Tight Transfers and Integrations

Proper connections between equipment prevent product damage during handling and maintain overall efficiency throughout the processing line. Conveyor system designs often incorporate retractors or other specialized components at various production stages for smooth transitions.

Maintenance

Regular maintenance checks ensure minimal downtime and efficient production. This includes inspecting belts for wear, lubricating moving parts as needed, and addressing any issues promptly before they escalate into more significant problems that could disrupt operations.

Ease of Cleaning

Easy-to-clean machines reduce downtime and contamination risks by allowing quick washdowns with minimal effort. Features such as positive drive belts, modular belt designs, and easily accessible components can all contribute to more efficient cleaning processes.

Choosing the right conveyor system is crucial for your bakery’s success. Careful consideration of these factors will help you find the right equipment that boosts efficiency, quality, and profits.

TYPES OF FOOD PROCESSING CONVEYORS 

At PFI, we offer a wide range of conveyor systems designed specifically for bakery processing applications. Each one offers unique benefits that make it suitable for different stages of production or particular product types:

Belt Conveyors

We equip our most common bakery conveyor solution with positive drive belts. These help with sanitation because they have fewer moving parts, smooth surfaces, and less horsepower. They also feature tight transfers to prevent damage during handling.

Our belt conveyors are ideal for many bakery processing applications, including:

• Raw dough (buns, biscuits, bread): The Eleveyor and PURlift (commonly referred to as a “dough lift”) is a vertical lift conveyor with a positive drive that efficiently elevates raw dough 90 degrees to a chunker or divider. Positive-drive flat belts also transfer raw dough between equipment.

The Troughveyor excels at transferring large volumes across long distances with no loss. It features an open frame that allows for fast and thorough cleaning.

• Bars/Packaged Bakery Items: The Curveyor uses specialized timing sequences to orient and alight bars, individual pancakes, and other bakery items for packaging purposes.

Modular belt conveyors have an open design that enhances airflow for faster product cooling. They efficiently manage items at different temperatures, including those needing to be cooled after par-baking.

Retractors and Curveyors help to ensure the alignment, positioning, and orientation of bakery items during the processing or packaging stages. This maintains product quality, prevents damage, and facilitates efficient production workflows.

Bucket and Incline Conveyors

Eleveyor and PURlift conveyors are very common in the baking industry. They can elevate dough or baked goods to mixers, dividers/chunkers, ovens, tall equipment, or a platform/mezzanine.

Vibratory Conveyors

They’re mainly used for sprinkling toppings over products or mixing/blending recipes of granola-type products. They provide gentle handling and precise control over the distribution process, ensuring consistent results every time.

All PFI conveyors meet exceptional sanitation standards. They comply with various regulations to maintain cleanliness and safety in bakery processing environments.

EVALUATING CONVEYOR OPTIONS AND MAKING THE RIGHT PURCHASE DECISION 

Choosing the right bakery conveyor system is not as easy as it may seem. Every bakery has unique needs and challenges that influence this decision. Understanding these specifics is crucial to finding the perfect fit.

Choosing a supplier that can provide customized solutions tailored to your unique requirements is essential. Look for an experienced partner with engineering expertise to design innovative solutions and a willingness to meet your exact needs.

Additionally, ensure you opt for features like belt scrapers to remove residue or belt lifts and Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems for cleaning. These enhancements improve sanitation efficiency and reduce downtime. Efficient cleaning processes are crucial for maintaining high production standards.

PFI’s experienced team works closely with clients to design and manufacture conveyors that meet their exact specifications. Our comprehensive approach ensures optimal conveyor selection for each unique bakery operation.

OPTIMIZE YOUR BAKERY PRODUCTION LINE WITH PFI CONVEYORS 

Downtime, product loss, and recalls are very expensive. Loss of reputation or contracts often leads to long-term market share erosion and a competitive disadvantage. This is why selecting the right bakery conveyor solutions is crucial to ensuring efficiency, product safety, and regulatory compliance.

PFI stands out as a leader in providing bakery conveyor solutions. Our expert team designs and manufactures conveyors that meet the highest standards of sanitation and efficiency.

Click below to explore our equipment and discover how we can help optimize your processing line.

View Our Bakery Solutions