BlogDivider Rounder Buying Guide

Episode Description

On this “Short & Sweet” of Baker’s Insight, we discuss purchasing a divider rounder. Join us as our host Carl Rinaldi, Support Manager of Erika Baking Equipment discusses some of the key areas you should consider when deciding to purchase a divider rounder for your bakery operation.

Construction & Durability

Ultimately you will want to find a machine that is well built, that can withstand the rigors of daily use by a variety of different personnel. Some criteria to consider include:

• What materials are being used to build the machine?
• How durable is this machine?
• How long does the manufacturer state it will last?
• What is this machine’s reputation within the industry?

Production Requirements

You will also want to ensure that the machine you select is able to meet your production demands. Some criteria to consider include:

• Are you making a small or large amount of product?
• Regardless of the manufacturer, the most strenuous aspect of the dividing and rounding process is typically the pressing of dough prior to dividing rounding.
• Will your staff be able to meet the physical demands associated with manually pressing the dough?
• Have you considered exploring a model that reduces the amount of physical labor required?
• Typically, as automation increases so do production rates and output.
• Are you looking to automate production?

Product Types

You will also want to ensure that the machine you select is able to produce the various types of products your bakery produces. Some criteria to consider include:

• Are you producing a single product or multiple products?
• Are you producing multiple products with varying weight ranges?

Considerations When Making Multiple Products
If making multiple products, you may want to consider a model with a removable knife head assembly system. This will enable you to produce a variety of products with varying weight ranges, using one machine in a single footprint (as opposed to multiple machines with different head configurations). Some criteria to consider with regards to knife head assemblies include:

• Consider how user-friendly it will be to remove those knife head assemblies.
• Consider how durable those knife head assemblies are.

Warranty & Support

Equipment is often a lifeline for bakeries. It is critical to consider the level of support you will receive with your equipment purchase. Some criteria to consider include:

Consider Where You Purchase

• Is the unit being purchase directly from the manufacturer?
• If the manufacturer, is based overseas you may encounter some difficulty in being able to quickly source spare parts.
• If purchasing from a U.S. based distributor, ensure that the distributor used stocks critical spare parts.
• Again, you may encounter difficulty in obtain key spare parts if the distributor does not maintain adequate stock.

Manufacturer Reputation
It is important to evaluate the reputation of the manufacturer of the machine you are purchasing. Some key considerations include:

• How long has the manufacturer been in business?
• Does this manufacturer have a reliable track record of conducting business in your country?
• Do their machines have a reliable track record once put into production?
• What kind of warranty comes with the machine?

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