Variable Mixer

The Danish manufacturer Varimixer A/S BÄR makes planetary machines with bowl volumes from 10 to 140 liters, allowing their use in a wide variety of company sizes.

+The Danish manufacturer Varimixer ( part of the Middleby Group) offers the ERGO Series of BÄR planetary machines with bowl sizes up to 140 liters to produce large batches of batters and filli ngs. 60-liter, 100-liter and 140-liter models of the ERGO are used in the fine pastry and confectionery departments of large artisan businesses and in large and industrial operations. These models have stirrer tools that are clamped into the stirrer head shaf t simply by bayonet connector, and the bowl is moved into the working position by a lever or electronic push-button function. The tool-to-bowl ratio is exactly matched to allow the whole of the batter to be processed without the tool touching the bowl wall.

Movement pattern

Planetary machines have stirrer heads that turn clockwise, while the tool rotates around its own axis in the opposite direction at the same time. This planetary movement pattern allows the whisk tool to quickly whip batters, egg white, crèmes, cookie batters and cream, which need a high rotation speed.

The stirrer can be used to homogeneously blend crèmes, pound-cake batters and fillings. For this task it is advisable to use the scraper, which additionally scrapes batter from the bowl edge and returns it to the rotating tool in the other direction, thus ensuring an optimum result of the stirring.

The stirrer tool on the ERGO series of models can be clamped in position at working height. The bowl is simply moved into the gripper arms by a bowl trolley, and is raised to working height by the lift system. The stirrer tool rotates slowly and gently into the batter just before the bowl reaches its final stirring position. When the stirring process has finished, the bowl is automatically lowered and can be moved out of the machine again without previously removing the clamped tool. For example, various bowl tippers matched to the bowl system can be used to pour batters, e.g. into a filling machine.

For rational cleaning in a bowl-washer, the protective screen is opened horizontally and can be removed with a single hand movement. Internal magnetic scanners allow the smooth surfaces to be cleaned easily. The programmable electronic controller has an impervious stainless steel surface and is equipped with a remix function: if a stirring process has proved to be optimum, the procedure can be saved. The inclined operator panel is controlled by piezoelectric push-buttons, is easy to clean and is dust and water-resistant. ERGO models conform to protection class IP53. These stirrer machines are also available with a watertight stirrer head and additional seals in accordance with protection class IP 54 as options. +++

++ Bühler appoints Mark Macus as

new CFO

Change in Bühler top management: Andreas Herzog (61), who has held the CFO position for 17 years, will retire for age reasons effective September 1, 2019. His successor is Mark Macus (47), who was employed at Bühler before for five years and who currently serves as CFO of the Vitra Group. Mark Macus will take charge of the CFO function of Bühler effective September 1, 2019.

++ MULTIVAC signs an investment agreement in China MULTIVAC signed an investment agreement to establish a new production company in Taicang in China. The new production facility will enable MULTIVAC in future to react to the requirements of customers in China with even greater speed and focus. The production of packaging machines and their peripheral components is planned for the new site. In addition to manufacturing, the Taicang facility will also have development and design departments. Steven Shen, who has worked for MULTIVAC since 2012, most recently as

Technical Manager for the MULTIVAC sales company in China, will take over the management of the new company.

++ Collaboration between Böcker and AB Mauri in the UK

The German sourdough specialist Böcker and the international yeast producer AB Mauri have actually already worked together for eight years. Now, however, they have concluded a formal alliance to push ahead with the development of new sourdough-based raw materials for bread and fermented foodstuffs. Commenting on this, Böcker’s Managing Director Dr. Georg Böcker said: “The agreement with AB Mauri involves collaboration between two experts in the fermentation sector that is limited exclusively to UK market activities. The aim is to launch joint products with “Böcker inside” onto the UK market, and thus to establish the large-scale use of sourdough in the UK. We are a family business successfully managed by the fourth generation. None of this will change in the future either. The management is now responsible for 170 staff. Part of this responsibility is visionary entrepreneurial action that also includes working together with large, successful companies like AB Mauri. We are well-known in the sector beyond Germany’s borders as a sourdough

Russia: Exhibitors were pleased with Modern Bakery

The Modern Bakery trade fair took place in Moscow from March 12 to 15, 2018. The event organizers gave a figure of 16,048 visitors to this year’s leading trade fair for the Russian baked products sector, meaning the number of trade fair visitors stayed constant compared to last year. The 231 exhibitors, slightly fewer than in 2018, were generally satisfied with the event, and described the “quality” of the visitors, i.e. their position in bakeries and their influence on potential investment decisions, as good. However, the Russian scenario has become tougher, especially for capital goods suppliers. Many companies in the USA and Western Europe want to continue to observe the market and wait, and/or have reduced their commitment or are repositioning themselves. For example, persistent currency fluctuations are said to have shelved numerous major projects. On the raw materials side, there has also been an observable trend for a number of years for many internationally active baking materials producers, normally well-frequented contact points at the trade fair, no longer to take part in the fair. Suppliers from Russia and Eastern Europe now partly fill the gaps. +++ specialist and, as an opinion leader and soundly-based fount of knowledge, we have shaped industrial sourdough production with continuous innovative power for more than a century. That’s also the reason why AB Mauri was interested in working together on the exciting UK market. After collaborating for a while, during which we successfully tested mutual competences and the type of collaboration, it was now time to officially communicate the partnership to the English media face to face.” +++

++ Reading Bakery Systems to Partner with Incomec

entered the British bread market’s mainstream. In an interview with journalists from Bakery and Snacks, Chris Hook, Director of the Free From Division, named two big challenges facing such products: a) wider availability through all food channels, and b) good products for the To-Go market. As well as glutenfree goods, the Newcastle factory also produces a “Pharmacy Range” aimed specifically at genuine celiac disease sufferers.

++ Mexico: USD 15 billion for Grupo Bimbo

Reading Bakery Systems (RBS), a world-leading manufacturer of innovative baking and process systems, has announced it will partner with Incomec, a Belgium-based manufacturer of popping/puffing equipment, to supply popped snack systems within the United States. In this partnership, Incomec will supply Pellex C+ and Cerex Processors, and RBS will supply the auxiliary equipment required, including conveyors, feeders, and seasoners. In addition to sales support, RBS will also provide installation and technical support for the systems. Incomec offers two machines depending on final product to be produced. These machines create unique and healthy snacks: the Pellex C+ produces light, crunchy chip products, and the Cerex creates puffed cakes, cracker or biscuit type products. “We are excited to be partnering with Incomec to offer customers in the U.S. specialized equipment to create popped snacks,” said Shawn Moye, Vice President of Global Sales, Reading Bakery Systems. “These healthy snacks are becoming popular in the good-for-you segment, and these systems fit nicely in our range of baked snack production options for our customers.” RBS recently installed a Pellex C+ Processor at the company’s Science and Innovation Center in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, for demonstrations and product development testing. This new capability expands the facility’s existing production lines for testing crackers, pretzels, cookies and other baked snacks. The RBS Science and Innovation Center is available for food manufacturers looking to test and develop new products and processes. +++

++ UK: Gluten-free has become mainstream

The British group Warburtons operates a bakery in Newcastle, England, that was set up for gluten-free and wheat-free products. It has since turned into a business unit that has now reached retail shelves under the name “Warburtons Gluten Free”, with sliced bread, whole loaves, bread rolls, wraps, thins and crumpets. The fact that the commercial side of the business has been integrated into Warburtons’ headquarters shows how much the product range has

The presentation of figures for the fourth quarter of 2018 revealed that the bakery giant Grupo Bimbo, originally from Mexico, has successfully increased its worldwide sales revenues to almost USD 15 billion, which according to company calculations corresponds to a 4.5% share of the worldwide baked products market (industry, artisan, private label). Turnover has grown by 63.8% since 2013, which is an annual average of 10.4%. The EBITDA rose by as much as 83.2% since 2013, i.e. by an average of 12.9% per year. The Group, majority-owned by the family, generates less than one-third of sales revenues on the Mexican market. Around half originates from the USA and Canada, and one-tenth from Latin America. So far, the contribution by Europe, Asia and Africa to the 2018 figure is nine percent, of which Europe represents 7%. +++

++ Finland: Developments at Fazer

The Fazer Group, originally from Finland and with its bakeries in Scandinavia, the Baltic and Russia, generated sales revenues of EUR 552.3 million in 2018, which is around 5.3% below the previous year (EUR 583.2 million). According to Fazer, in addition to the hot summer which impaired sales everywhere, the reason for this trend is country-specific and partly the effect of currency parities. In 2018, for example, the Swedish Krona lost around 6% of its value relative to the Euro. Fazer says business ran positively in Finland and the Baltic States, while Russian consumers are turning to the low-price range.

These figures do not include revenues from baked product shops belonging to the newly-created Fazer Retail business unit, or revenues from Alkuporridge that are attributed to Fazer Lifestyle Foods. Fazer Retail’s 52 shops in Finland and Sweden trade under the name Gateau, and offer artisan baked products, high-quality pastries and hot & cold drinks. In addition, there are 13 Fazer cafés in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere. The newly-created unit generated sales revenues of EUR 46.4 million in 2018.

There is a growing instore bakeries business in Finland. Turnover with prepacked goods is declining. Fazer currently operates 64 instore bakeries in Finland, with 450 employees. The plan is to increase the number of instore bakeries to 100 by 2021, and for the number of staff to rise to 600. It’s one of the reasons underlying Fazer’s intention to close its bakery in Oulu, Finland, in September 2019, which will affect 83 employees. +++