Confectioners eye small machines bought from cash flow
Set against the backdrop of contracting European economies, their comment reflects a growing need for solutions on the production line to bolster the margins.
ProSweets cites one process technology supplier that identified a trend of combining various production processes in order to lower costs.
"We are currently experiencing a strong demand for smaller machines that the manufacturers can purchase from their cash flow and therefore don’t need to find any extra means for financing," explained the supplier, which was not identified by ProSweets.
The supplier added that as a result of the current economic situation their business “has changed” with "many enquiries directly involving the reduction of costs in all areas of the value chain".
According to the show organisers, machine manufacturers presented their innovations and improved products on "noticeably larger stand areas" at ProSweets Cologne 2009.
Cold stamping technology
Continuing ConfectioneryNews.com's coverage of products presented at ProSweets, Germany's Buhler Bindler showcased its cold stamping technology for the forming of shells.
Their CoolCore or cold stamping process allows the production of thin-walled and precise shells, said the firm. Tempered chocolate mass is fed into a mould and a cooled stamp is lowered for a few seconds.
Buhler Bindler, whose products span laboratory-scale machines to high-end industrial equipment for confectioners, claims the innovation of CoolCore lies within the chocolate forming process.
When the shell has enough strength to prevent it from collapsing, the stamp is removed again. This is followed by the usual cooling process. The shell can then be filled and covered with a lid, or two halves can be joined.
The firm received the Ringier technology innovation award in China last year at the 3rd Food Safety Technology Forum in Shanghai. Winners, according to Buhler Bindler, were chosen for their ‘for their technical and product excellence, for making a significant technological contribution to China’s food and beverage industry’.
The German firm with over 6000 employees commented at the time: "CoolCare is running at the site of one big customer in China, who is very satisfied with the results."
