Automating your bakery with commercial or industrial bakery equipment is an excellent way to boost your throughput, raise product consistency, and improve workplace safety. However, when you rely on machinery, the more preventative care you need to take in order to avoid costly issues and downtime.
Not only does equipment failure grind your production to a halt, but replacing large parts or entire machines carries a huge cost. This is particularly problematic for smaller bakeries who might be forced to take out a loan, which adds further delays and risk.
However, while no bread slicer or bagel bagger will last forever, there are plenty of quick, simple, and affordable ways to extend the lifespan of your machines. Follow our tips below to ensure you get the maximum value, quality, and longevity from your bakery equipment.
1) Review the owner’s manual
Perhaps the single most informative (and overlooked) action you can take to improve the lifespan of commercial bakery equipment is to read the owner’s manual. Inside, you’ll find instructions on how to correctly operate, service, and maintain that specific machine. By following this information, you can achieve a manufacturer-recommended level of care that keeps your equipment in top condition.
2) Perform regular servicing and maintenance
Implementing a preventative servicing and maintenance program allows you to spot and resolve smaller problems before they seriously threaten your equipment. This lets you avoid unexpected machine downtime and maintain a high level of quality in your products. Regular servicing and maintenance can also make your commercial bakery equipment more efficient, so you can save money on energy costs.
In general, it’s recommended that you thoroughly service your machinery every 6 to 12 months. During the service, you should:
- Check for wear, tear, and rust
- Make necessary adjustments
- Replace worn components
- Lubricate moving parts
- Tighten screws and fasteners
However, unless your team has been trained to service and maintain commercial or industrial bakery equipment, you’ll achieve better results from hiring a professional team. Take a look at our comprehensive maintenance and servicing options, and schedule your preventative care appointment today.
3) Deep clean and sanitize your equipment
Daily wiping and cleaning of machinery is essential for preventing debris buildup and cross-contamination. But just like servicing and maintenance, it’s important to schedule regular times to deep clean and sanitize your commercial bakery equipment.
In short, this process involves deconstructing the machine, clearing crumbs and other soil, and scrubbing each component with suitable cleaning chemicals. As well as contributing to exceptional hygiene standards throughout your facility, deep cleaning removes corrosion and prevents debris from jamming or damaging the machine.
For more detailed instructions on deep cleaning and sanitization, read our blog on how to clean and maintain your commercial bakery machinery. There, you’ll find a checklist for before, during, and after cleaning, and advice on creating a Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure (SSOP) to extend equipment lifespan.
4) Stock up on replacement parts
Over time, the blades and other components on your bakery equipment will wear down. Continuing to use them will not only result in lower-quality products, but may also damage the machine itself. It’s a good idea to keep an inventory of replacement parts on hand so that you can swap out worn parts right away.
It’s very easy to buy replacement parts online, and certain retailers even offer overnight delivery. If you can’t find the right OEM parts, you can arrange for custom-engineered parts that offer precise control over your products and their quality.
5) Train your employees thoroughly
One of the biggest benefits of using automated bakery machinery is that you can assign your workforce to other tasks. But just because your team won’t be operating the machinery by hand, it doesn’t mean they don’t need to understand it.
When training your employees, teach them how to use the equipment effectively, spot defective or broken parts, and identify early warning signs. You should also make sure up-to-date documentation is available to provide additional guidance, including the owner’s manual and SOPs. This allows you to address potential issues preemptively, limiting their impact on your production and equipment lifespan.
6) Partner with a reliable equipment retailer
Even with regular checks, cleaning, and maintenance, your equipment will eventually break down. Before that happens, it’s important to connect with a knowledgeable and responsive equipment retailer so that you can replace broken machinery with minimal delays.
Here at LMC, we provide bakeries across the country with high-quality new, used, and refurbished commercial bakery equipment that suits their needs and budget. Once you’ve found your ideal machine, our expert engineers will visit your facility to install it at lightning speed. That means you can continue producing delicious baked goods as quickly as possible with absolute confidence in your equipment.
Protect your commercial bakery equipment with full service solutions
Increasing the lifespan of your commercial bakery equipment doesn’t require any trade secrets or unorthodox techniques. By training your staff to operate them correctly, keeping them clean, and using decent components, your machinery should produce fantastic products for many years.
What can make a significant difference, however, is whether you perform these actions yourself or hire an outside team. While some bakery managers don’t want to pay for professional training, servicing, maintenance, and cleaning, the additional years these can add to a machine mean they typically pay for themselves. So, as well as limiting hassle and preventing delays, full-service solutions can also save a significant amount of money.
For almost 10 years, LMC has been providing commercial bakeries with a wide range of vital full service solutions. We offer:
- Preventative care, on-site auditing, and recipe setup reviews
- Custom manufacturing for parts to offer superior performance
- Replacement parts with same-day quotes and overnight delivery on parts
- New, used, and refurbished bakery equipment retail
- Training maintenance teams on timing, function, setup and more
To ensure your commercial bakery equipment reaches its maximum lifespan, contact us today.