Baker Perkins unveils depositing system
Baker Perkins has introduced a flexible depositing system capable of producing a range of hard and soft candy and lollipops at outputs of up to 10,800 pieces per hour.
The ServoForm Mini uses the same process and control technology as the high-output ServoForm range of candy depositors. The firm says it brings the benefits of depositing to companies producing confectionery in small batches, including manufacturers of medicinal and healthcare products.
Compared to 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. According to Baker Perkins, the process results in minimal waste, low production costs and a hygienic operation.
Piece weight ranges from 3-8g (0.1-0.28oz) for candies and 8-30g (0.1-1.05oz) for lollipops. At 54kg/hr (120lbs/hr), this translates to 10,800 pieces per hour of 5g (0.17oz) candies or 5,400 pieces per hour of 10g (0.35oz) lollipops.
The potential product range includes hard candy, lollipops, jellies, gums, caramels, fudge and fondant. The system is useful for functional and medicated products such as vitamin and mineral supplements, cough candy and throat pastilles; candies can be made with sugar or be sugar free.
Moulds are loaded manually onto an indexing conveyor that is synchronised with the depositing head to ensure 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.
