Baker Perkins Ltd.
Small batch confectionery depositor
A new flexible depositing system capable of producing a wide range of hard candy, soft candy and lollipops at outputs up to 54 kg/hr (120 lbs/hr) is being introduced by Baker Perkins.
The ServoForm Mini uses the same process and control technology as the well-established high-output ServoForm range of candy depositors. It brings the benefits of depositing – high quality, high efficiency and versatility – to companies producing confectionery in small batches, including manufacturers of medicinal and healthcare products. It is also an ideal development tool for established producers.
Compared to the conventional methods such as die forming, starch mogul or cut-and-wrap, depositing provides a high quality, smooth product with accurate weight, size and shape characteristics. The process offers rapid payback through minimal scrap, low production costs and hygienic operation.
Piece weight range is 3 to 8 g (0.1 to 0.28 oz) for candies and 8 to 30 g (0.1 to 1.05 oz) for lollipops. At 54 kg/hr (120 lbs/hr) this translates to 10,800 pieces per hour of 5 g (0.17 oz) candies or 5,400 pieces per hour of 10 g (0.35 oz) lollipops. The potential product range includes hard candy, lollipops, jellies, gums, caramels, fudge and fondant.
The ServoForm Mini is ideal for functional and medicated products such as vitamin and mineral supplements, cough candy and throat pastilles. The candies can be made with sugar or be sugar-free. Simplicity of operation, flexibility and rapid change-over are the main benefits. Control of the depositing process is fully automatic with recipe storage and recall enabling the depositor to be set up at the touch of a button. Batch or continuous cooking may be used.
Moulds are loaded manually onto an indexing conveyor that is synchronised with the depositing head to ensure that the cooked syrup is placed accurately into the mould with no waste. Cooling can be ambient or refrigerated, using either rack or tunnel coolers. The candies are then demoulded by hand and passed to the wrapping station.
