Bakery Slashes Oil Use and Saves US$28,000 Annually with New Spray System

A commercial bakery applies release oil to pans prior to pouring cake batter to ensure clean separation after baking.

Problem:
A commercial bakery applies release oil to pans prior to pouring cake batter to ensure clean separation after baking. The spinning disc system in use was unable to maintain the proper oil temperature when additional oil was added to the system. The changes in oil temperature impacted the system flow rate and resulted in uneven coverage of the pans. In addition, oil use was high. Over-application of the oil created a messy and unsafe work environment that required excessive manual labor for clean-up.

Solution:
An AccuCoat® In-line Heated Spray System has solved the problem. The system uses a recirculation pump to move the heated oil through the system and back to the tank. When new oil is added to the tank, it is blended in the tank with the existing heated oil to ensure uniform viscosity. As the oil moves from the tank to the PulsaJet® electrically-actuated spray nozzles, an in-line heater provides heat on demand to warm the oil to the proper temperature. The AutoJet® spray controller ensures coatings are applied consistently, even when operating conditions like line speed change.

Results:
The AccuCoat® In Line Heated Spray System provides effective temperature control of the oil and precision application with minimal waste. Oil use has decreased by 25%. Maintenance time has been reduced by two hours per day due to the elimination of overspray. Worker safety has improved as well now that oil is no longer present on the floor around the conveyor line. The bakery is saving US$28,000 annually and recouped the cost of the system in less than seven months.

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