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5 Things to Keep in Mind When Buying Seafood Equipment

5 Things to Keep in Mind When Buying Seafood Equipment

Contributed by;

Skylar Moreno

Graduate Student of Food Science | Class of 2023

University of Florida

 “5 things to keep in mind when buying seafood packaging equipment”

As the demand for convenient and ready-to-eat seafood products grows, it is increasingly important for seafood finishing plants to have cleanable equipment that can ensure product safety and quality. The Lenexa manufacturing company is no exception, and their packaging of salmon burgers requires equipment that is specifically designed for the clean-up process. Here we will discuss the top five considerations that the Lenexa manufacturing company should keep in mind when building cleanable equipment for their seafood finishing plant.

 

  1. Material selection

One of the most important aspects to consider when building cleanable equipment is the material used. It is important to select materials that are resistant to corrosion and can withstand frequent cleaning and disinfection without degrading or contaminating the food product. Stainless steel is a popular choice due to its resistance to corrosion and its ability to maintain its integrity under high temperatures.

 

  1. Design for accessibility:

Equipment should be designed with easy accessibility in mind. This means that all areas of the equipment should be easily reachable for cleaning and inspection. Equipment with nooks and crannies that are difficult to reach are likely to harbor bacteria and other contaminants, making the cleaning process more difficult. Additionally, equipment should be designed to be easily disassembled to allow for thorough cleaning and inspection of all components.

 

  1. Sanitary design:

Equipment should be designed with a focus on sanitary principles. This means that the design should minimize the risk of product contamination by incorporating features such as sloping surfaces to prevent water pooling, eliminating dead zones where bacteria can grow, and incorporating smooth, non-porous surfaces that can be easily cleaned and disinfected. Protecting the equipment from airborne contaminants, as well as the use of sealed bearings and motors to prevent the intrusion of moisture and debris are additional ways of ensuring a sanitary design.

 

  1. Automation:

Automated equipment can help reduce the risk of human error and improve the efficiency of the cleaning process. For example, equipment with automated cleaning cycles can help ensure consistent cleaning and sanitization, while reducing the need for manual cleaning and reducing the risk of operator error.

 

  1. Training and documentation:

Finally, it is important to ensure that all personnel who work with the equipment are properly trained on its operation and cleaning procedures. This includes providing documentation such as standard operating procedures and checklists to ensure that all cleaning steps are properly followed. Regular training and refresher courses should also be provided to ensure that personnel are up-to-date on the latest cleaning protocols.

 

In summary, the Lenexa manufacturing company incorporates these five considerations when building cleanable equipment for their seafood finishing plants. Material selection, accessibility, sanitary design, modularity, and automation are all important factors to keep in mind when designing equipment that will be used in the packaging of salmon burgers. At Lenexa, we prioritize cleanable equipment by using materials resistant to bacteria, designing equipment with sanitation in mind, and establishing strict cleaning protocols. By doing so, we are able to provide our customers with the best possible product and continue to be thought leaders in the industry.

 

 

References

https://www.fda.gov/food/hazard-analysis-critical-control-point-haccp/haccp-principles-application-guidelines

 

https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/current-good-manufacturing-practices-cgmps-food-and-dietary-supplements

 

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/compliance-guidance/sanitation-performance-standards-compliance-guide

 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Designing_Food_Facilities_Planning.pdf

 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/GMPAuditStandard.pdf

 

https://www.ncagr.gov/MeatPoultry/pdf/Facility%20Guidelines.pdf

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Helpful Online Resources Focused on the Baking Industry

Helpful Online Resources Focused on the Baking Industry

In the US alone, the Bread & Bakery Products segment amounted to $66.17bn in 2022. This is a highly competitive industry, so you need every possible edge you can get to make your bakery stand out.

Thankfully, the internet is full of helpful online resources that you can use to improve your recipes, keep up with market trends, and grow your business. Here are just a few of our top picks to support bakers across America.

Baking Business

This organization is a complete source of news, insights, and trends for the grain-based food industry. As well as reading hundreds of articles on ingredients, markets, and innovations, you can also use Baking Business to locate associations, manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers to expand your network. It’s a one-stop resource for product development and business strategy that gives you the insider knowledge you need to reach the top.

Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery

Much like Baking Business, Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery is an excellent source of production, technology, and product news. But rather than focusing on the industry at large, this organization offers plenty of niche resources tailored to individual products and ingredients. And if you don’t have the time to search through all of their material, you can follow their monthly eMagazine for a valuable snapshot of the latest baking developments.

American Society of Baking (ASBE)

The goal of ASBE is to share knowledge, promote skills development, and encourage networking to help bakeries grow. It’s a highly collaborative community with plenty of membership options that provide education, networking, visibility, credibility, and discounts. Even if you’re not ready to join, their freely available Workforce Gap studies and ANSI-approved Safety and Sanitation standards are excellent tools for meeting industry needs.

Bakerpedia

From baking ingredients and processes to FDA guidance and sanitary advice, Bakerpedia has a page or video for almost any baking topic. It’s a free resource seeking to educate, inspire, and empower bakers with cutting-edge food science and solutions that every bakery can benefit from. Bakerpedia even offers professional development programs such as:

  • BAKER Academy – A free membership service that provides exclusive content and connects you with other professionals through interactive seminars and forums
  • BAKERcertified – A catalog of affordable online certified bakery training courses that you can use to upskill your employees

Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds (BEMA)

BEMA gives its members an overwhelming competitive advantage through professional development courses, networking opportunities, and industry events such as the International Baking Industry Expo. Bakers can master valuable leadership and sales skills through BEMA University, and their Baking Industry Forum (BIF) discusses key challenges facing the industry. The organization also publishes a quarterly Intel Industry Summary, a report on trends for US economic and commercial baking industry indicators.

American Bakers Association (ABA)

As North America’s only bakery-specific national and state trade association, ABA represents more than 300 companies in public policy advocacy. They provide resources that discuss key issues, consumer trends, and economic research to better educate both professional bakers and policymakers. If you’re looking to make changes, you can also take action through their American Bakers PAC, Grassroots Advocacy, and Political Education Fund programs.

Lenexa Manufacturing Company (LMC)

While our main goal is to supply mid to large-size bakeries with fully automated bread-slicing, bagging, and sealing equipment, we also strive to provide accessible education. On our website, you’ll find lots of concise, easy-to-read content covering topics such as:

And if you ever need expert advice on finding the ideal machinery for automating your bakery, all you need to do is get in touch.

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Types of Bread Packaging

Types of Bread Packaging

The packaging you use for your bread doesn’t just help it stand out on store shelves. It also protects your products against contamination during storage and transportation and prevents moisture loss to keep your bread fresh for as long as possible. That’s why choosing the right packaging is just as important as creating a great recipe.

There are several types of bread packaging to choose from, each with its own benefits. Below, we cover some of the broad categories to help you find the best fit for your products.

3 main types of bread packaging

Folding packaging

The packaging of bread doesn’t necessarily need to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s enough to simply pop your bread into a brown paper bag or parchment paper and fold it shut.

The main benefit of folding packaging is the cost. There’s no need to invest in hi-tech bread packing equipment, and the materials used to make it are both inexpensive and recyclable.

However, since folding packaging isn’t airtight, it doesn’t extend shelf life in the same way as other types of packaging. That’s why it’s most popular in smaller bakeries, where bread is freshly baked and customers tend to eat it on the same day.

Shrink packaging

Shrink packaging involves placing bread in a polymer plastic bag and applying heat to shrink it tightly over the product. Then, you can close it with a heat sealer to make the packaging airtight.

This is a fantastic option for single-serving breads, as they will only be exposed to the outside air before they’re consumed. That means your customers can always enjoy your bread at its freshest, even after transportation.

Bag packaging

The classic bread bag is perhaps the most iconic form of bread packaging. The bread is placed inside a thin plastic bag and sealed with a wire twist-tie or plastic clip.

Bag packaging doesn’t offer the same protection as shrink packaging, as the tie or clip doesn’t create an airtight seal. But the ability to reseal the packaging after opening makes it much more suitable for multi-serving products such as sliced loaves. And since that seal is usually very narrow, bag packaging still offers outstanding freshness for several days after opening.

3 main types of the bread packaging process

Just as different types of packaging suit different needs and products, the packaging process of bread affects your ability to meet hygiene and throughput goals.

Manual packaging

If you only manage a small baking operation, you might be able to simply package your products by hand. This is significantly cheaper and more flexible than bread packaging equipment and doesn’t require much floor space.

That said, you’ll need to enforce strict product handling rules to ensure you continue to meet minimum requirements for hygiene with this packaging process of bread. Similarly, it’s not possible to make your products airtight with manual packaging alone, meaning they will only stay fresh for a short time.

Semi-mechanized packaging

This type of bread packaging process introduces machinery to manual packaging. For example, you might have a bread bagging machine that packages your bread automatically before you seal the bag by hand.

Using machinery to limit your physical contact with the bread vastly improves packaging hygiene, provided you clean your machinery regularly. It’s also much faster than manual packaging, which allows you to keep up with higher demand.

Automated packaging

Completely automating the packaging process of your bread allows you to achieve the highest possible speeds, throughput, and hygiene standards. This means you can easily meet high demands, or even serve additional customers to grow your business. Automated packaging also ensures consistency between your products for maximum quality and brand recognition.

Automate your bread packaging process with LMC

Whether you’re moving up to semi-mechanized packaging or going fully automated, you’ll find the perfect new, used, or refurbished bread bagging machine in our range. Our baggers are suitable for all types of packaging of bread, and we even offer customization options to make sure they meet your precise needs.

Contact our expert sales team today to discuss which bread packaging machine would be the best fit for your bakery.

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Types of Bakery Packaging Machines

Types of Bakery Packaging Machines

Packaging is a vital step in the production of baked goods. Not only does it prevent moisture and contaminants like germs, bacteria, and insects from spoiling your products, but it also helps them retain their delicious flavors and aromas. The packaging itself allows you to display labeling, information, and advertising, and makes the product much easier to handle. Most commercial and industrial bakery equipment designed for product packaging uses 1mm thick low-density polyethylene plastic bags. These machines typically push the product into the bag or pull the bag over the product. Some bakeries even double-wrap their products with an inner wrap prior to bagging, particularly when producing variety breads. But not all bakery packaging machines are suitable for all types of products. So when you’re searching for automated commercial or industrial bakery equipment to boost your throughput and streamline your operation, it’s important to understand your options.

The two main types of bakery packaging machines

Wrapping machines

As your product passes through a wrapping machine, a length of wrapping is drawn or fed through a reel. Your product is then pushed in, and the ends are folded down and tucked in to surround it in a tube of plastic film. Finally, the ends are sealed with a heat sealer, creating an airtight package that provides maximum protection for your buns, bagels, and breads.

Bagging machines

To begin, a stream of pressurized air is used to blow the bag open within the bagging machine. A scoop then enters the mouth of the bag, expands, and grips it before pulling it from the wicket over your product. The machine gathers the bag’s mouth to form a neck, which is closed with a wire twist-tie or plastic clip. A standard twist-tie used in bagging machines is 4” long, with an all-plastic, all-paper, or laminated plastic or paper covering over the wire. The wire twist-tie is cut from the reel as it attaches to the bag’s neck. A plastic-clip closure, on the other hand, is typically made from resilient polystyrene. It can be imprinted to provide additional information, such as the price, sell-by date, or use-by date. Depending on the size of the clip, it can also create a near-airtight seal that offers better protection than twist-tie closures. In both wire twist-tie and plastic-clip closures, different colors can be used for coding or to help with product tracing when necessary.

How to choose the right bakery packaging machine

Matching your packaging machine to your product should always be your main priority. But there are many other factors to consider when you buy commercial or industrial bakery equipment. These include:

  • The price, based on your available budget
  • Maximum throughput speed, so you can keep up with demand
  • Whether there’s room for excess capacity to accommodate future growth
  • Ease of use, which can be improved through customization
  • How easy the machine will be to maintain and repair
  • Whether the machine has a hygienic design
  • The cost of supplies, such as product bags
  • The size of the machine compared to your available floor space
  • How much waste it’ll produce
  • The level of automation you want to achieve
  • Pneumatic requirements, such as for air-opened bagging

Specialized equipment retailers also offer customization to ensure your machine precisely meets your baking needs. For example, when you buy bakery packaging equipment from LMC, we can customize your machine based on:

  • Product size and thickness
  • Product shape
  • The orientation and positioning of your products at inlet
  • Desired bag fit
  • The timing between the pushing or pulling of bags and products

 

LMC’s range of premium bakery machinery

At LMC, we provide bakers worldwide with high-quality food-grade stainless steel bread bagger and bun slicer machines. Each one uses precision parts made in the US to give you superior performance, and can be custom designed and engineered to suit your operation. We have a comprehensive equipment catalog that provides descriptions, technical specifications, and key features across our range. But here are a few of our most popular automated commercial and industrial bakery equipment options:

Bun baggers

Every aspect of our bun baggers is precisely designed to deliver pristine and consistent bun bagging day-in and day-out. With mechanically distributed drivetrains, fixture-welded frames, matched safety sensors, and CNC-tooled servo rotary bag tables, you can expect smooth, superior production every time.

Bagel baggers

Our bagel baggers process up to 60 bags per minute and can be adjusted for different package sizes, groups, orientations, and more. Their mindful design and manufacturing help your bakery grow with efficient equipment that you can rely on.

Bread baggers

The primary design goal of our bread bagger is to make them intuitive. That way, your team can easily bag outstanding bread at a rate of up to 75 loaves per minute. The boxes, cams, and long-life high-torque pneumatic brake are built for high-speed production, and each machine features category 3 safety controls to protect your staff.

Bun slicers

Our heavy-duty bun and bread slicer machine options ensure your hot dogs, hamburger buns, hoagies, and more are perfectly sliced and ready for bagging. The talented engineering staff at LMC will also meet with you during the design process to maximize machine productivity and efficiency while minimizing key costs.

Enhance your products with industry-leading bakery packaging machines

In the words of culinary king Yotam Ottolenghi: “The first bite is with the eye.” As well as making sure your products maintain the highest quality for the longest time, a well-selected bakery packaging machine makes them irresistible on store shelves. And with LMC’s options for customization, you can tailor your machine to precisely suit your product needs. Get in touch with our expert team today to discuss your vision for the perfect bakery packaging machine and take another step toward your full production potential.

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Tips for Increasing the Lifespan of Your Commercial Bakery Equipment

Tips for Increasing the Lifespan of Your Commercial Bakery Equipment

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.

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Benefits of Used Bakery Equipment

Benefits of Used Bakery Equipment

When some people hear “used,” they think of something of lesser quality. But in many fields, including commercial bakery equipment, this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Many businesses do their best to keep their equipment running in peak condition, usually only changing it out due to perceived obsolescence or evolving business needs. This means that when they change their old equipment out, that second-hand equipment has been well maintained and is still of high quality.

But does buying used bakery equipment make sense for your business? Let’s look at the advantages of purchasing new and used bakery equipment and a commonly overlooked third option, refurbishment.

Pros and Cons of New and Used Equipment

When purchasing industrial baking equipment, it helps to consider if you’ll be buying either new or used. Both are valid options and have distinct advantages, as well as some cons you should consider before buying.

New Equipment Pros

  • It’s NEW! While it should go without saying, some people just like the idea of new equipment. Bright and shiny off of the factory floor, new equipment often offers the latest in technology and modern features. More recent machines also tend to be more energy efficient than their older counterparts, giving them the potential to help save on energy costs down the road.
  • Still Under Warranty. Next to wanting the newest thing, being under warranty is one of the biggest reasons some buyers purchase new equipment. A brand new piece of industrial or commercial bakery equipment is expensive, and a warranty helps alleviate the risk by ensuring that if the machine is defective in any way, it will be fixed or replaced at no cost.
  • Needs Less Maintenance. Another advantage of new equipment is that it requires less maintenance than older equipment. All the parts are new and set up for peak efficiency, meaning that you can let the machine do its job while performing basic, preventive maintenance.

New Equipment Cons

  • Very Expensive. One of the most prominent disadvantages of buying new equipment is the high up-front cost. For new business owners, the ability to outfit their factory or business with all-new equipment might not be an option because of budgetary constraints.
  • High Depreciation. Another issue to consider is that industrial bakery equipment holds its value like a new car driven off the showroom floor. Once your new equipment arrives in your building, it’s already worth less than half the price you just paid for it. Used equipment, in comparison, doesn’t lose its value nearly as much and may be an important consideration for some people.
  • Limited Availability. Another issue with new equipment is that of availability. Recent years have shown us that just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you can get it, and you’re out of luck if the manufacturer doesn’t have it in stock. Worse still is the dreaded “available soon,” which means that nobody, including the manufacturer, knows exactly when they’ll have it back.

Used Equipment Pros

  • Good Quality. As we mentioned before, companies often take good care of their machines and usually replace them for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the device itself. This means that when you buy used machines, they are still in good working order and have years of life left.
  • Available Immediately. New equipment can be hard to come by, and limited manufacturing runs, chip shortages, supply chain issues, and other global challenges can make new machines difficult to get. With used equipment, however, the machine is already present and available for sale.
  • Lower Price. Because new equipment loses its sticker price value so quickly, you can often buy used equipment for a fraction of the price. And because you’re buying from an individual instead of a manufacturer, you usually have some leeway to haggle, possibly getting an even better deal than the one originally advertised.
  • Older Equipment. Some people say they don’t make them like they used to. Older machines that have proven their worth over the years might become hard to replace because they become too old or outdated. However, suppose you like doing things the way you’ve always done them. In that case, second-hand industrial and commercial bakery machines may be the solution to replacing your older, hard-to-find equipment.

Used Equipment Cons

  • Limited Availability. Like new equipment, used equipment may have limited availability for different reasons. With used equipment, what you see available is what you can get. This limited selection can be a problem if what’s available doesn’t match your needs.
  • More Repairs. It’s a fact that older machines need more repairs, and they tend to break down more frequently and require more regular maintenance than brand-new models.
  • No Warranty. Depending on the age of the equipment, you may no longer be able to claim the manufacturer’s original warranty. So while used equipment may be cheaper, you run the risk of having to buy it “as is.”

The Overlooked Third Option: Refurbished Equipment

Deciding between new and used equipment isn’t your only choice. We’d like to discuss a third, equally viable option: refurbished equipment.

But what are the benefits of refurbished equipment?

Refurbished Equipment

  • Like New. When you buy used equipment, regardless of how well it’s been maintained, it’s often sold in the same condition it was in when it was retired. When you buy a refurbished machine, however, the company selling it has gone back and inspected the equipment and made any necessary repairs to ensure it runs like new.
  • Affordable. Because refurbished equipment is used, it is sold for a fraction of the original price. And depending on the seller, you may be able to negotiate, as they may be willing to settle for the best offer.

With refurbished equipment, you can get the best of both worlds: high-quality equipment (often still under warranty) for a fraction of the original price. Some companies specialize in refurbishing; it allows them to offer a wide range of affordable used and refurbished industrial and commercial bakery equipment at much lower prices.

LMC’s Used and Refurbished Options

At Lenexa Manufacturing Company, we’re proud to offer a wide variety of machinery, including bread slicers and baggers, heat sealers, autoloaders, robots, automatic closure machines, and used bagel equipment. On our website, you can find prices, descriptions, specifications, and condition notes on every piece of equipment we sell, as well as some select video demonstrations.

Contact us today if you’re interested in seeing how refurbished bakery equipment can help your business. We would love to discuss your bakery’s needs and help provide you with affordable and reliable custom equipment that will last for years to come.

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A Brief Introduction to the Lenexa Manufacturing Company

A Brief Introduction to the Lenexa Manufacturing Company

“At Lenexa Manufacturing Company (LMC), we provide mid- to large-sized bakeries across America with high-speed automated machinery, replacement parts, and maintenance services to supercharge their operations.”

That’s our 10-second elevator pitch, at least.

But any bakery equipment manufacturer can make their services sound fancy by dressing them up in exciting language. What’s important is for you to be able to understand what we do at a glance, and decide whether or not it matches your needs.

That’s why we’ve put together this short and simple introduction to help you find out about everything we offer in one convenient place in less than five minutes.

LMC’s background in bakery machinery manufacturing

Although LMC launched in 2013, our background in manufacturing bakery parts and machinery stretches back around 60 years.

In 1964, Frank Bastasch opened United Bakery Equipment (UBE), a leading manufacturer of bread slicing and packaging equipment that’s still operating to this day. When UBE’s Kansas facility closed in 2013, most of the Bastasch family moved over to the California facility. But Steve Bastach, Paul’s son, decided to stay in Kansas and open LMC using his own extensive experience as a UBE employee.

In the beginning, LMC consisted only of Steve and Paul Steinke, the company’s head mechanical engineer. But even with just two people, our parts were a hugely popular choice for bakers in just about every state. From there, we recruited the finest engineers around until we grew into our current team of 13 passionate, knowledgeable, and talented industry experts.

As well as replacement parts, we now offer a huge range of new, used, and refurbished bread slicers, baggers, autoloaders, and heat sealers. We also offer design, custom manufacturing, and installation, as well as comprehensive machine maintenance and servicing. In all of our services, we emphasize continuing technological innovation, forming close relationships with all of our customers, and delivering superior quality every time.

Our suite of bakery machinery services

Design

When you need specialized parts and components to customize your machinery, our engineers produce original designs using cutting-edge CAD software. We also make digital prototypes in SolidWorks 3D to test and improve their functionality before manufacture.

Manufacturing

Once you’ve approved our designs, we produce them to your specifications in our 10,000sq. ft. factory space. While most manufacturers keep you waiting for weeks or months, we offer a 24-hour turnaround on custom parts.

Sale

In our online shop, you can find new, used, and refurbished bakery equipment that can be customized to meet your precise needs. We also offer plenty of UBE replacement parts such as hinge blades and band blades, most of which can include next-day delivery. If you’re not sure what kind of automated bakery machinery would best suit your operation, take our 60-second bakery equipment quiz to find your ideal match.

Installation

Once you’ve ordered equipment from LMC, we send one of our technicians to install it for you free of charge. They’ll stay with you for as long as you need to test your machine and answer any questions you have.

Maintenance and servicing

No matter where in the world your bakery is, you can request a visit from an LMC engineer to perform maintenance and servicing for your machines. This extends your equipment’s lifespan, and ensures you maintain peak productivity for as long as possible. Our engineers also provide related services like staff training or a maintenance plan review to optimize your operation.

Why we specialize in refurbished bakery equipment

When bakers are looking to buy automated bakery equipment, they often ask us whether they should choose new or used.

New machines offer a guarantee of quality, and their warranties mean you can avoid expensive repairs if they start to malfunction. But they often have very high price tags which some bakers struggle to afford as a single lump sum payment. This is especially true with newer bakeries, who already have a lot of expenses to cover.

On the other hand, used equipment is far more affordable, letting bakeries limit their overheads. The problem is that it’s hard to tell how well the equipment will function and how long it’ll be before repairs need to be made. And if they break, you might end up spending more money than you would have otherwise.

But when you buy refurbished bakery equipment, you get the benefits of both new and used without the downsides of either. That means you can:

  • Enjoy outstanding performance that’s indistinguishable from new equipment.
  • Purchase with confidence, since many refurbished units are still in warranty.
  • Save a huge amount of money that you can reinvest in other business areas.
  • Avoid yearly depreciation to ensure you receive the highest possible value.
  • Choose your equipment based on several years of industry use and reporting.

Our range of refurbished automated bakery machinery includes bread slicers and baggers, heat sealers, autoloaders, twist tyers, robots, automatic closure machines, and more. Each listing features the price, description, specifications, and condition notes, and some also have video demonstrations. That means you can quickly find the most suitable addition to your bakery at a phenomenal price.

Contact us today to discuss your bakery needs

At LMC, we use our extensive engineering experience to provide a comprehensive suite of manufacturing services that takes you from idea to product in record time. Our range of automated bakery equipment boosts your rate of production while also raising quality, and our inventory of spare parts keeps downtime to a minimum. And even after the sale, our friendly and experienced team is always available to maintain your equipment, offer expert advice, and help you reach your goals.

There’s no need to hesitate. Contact us today to discuss the needs of your bakery, and we’ll provide affordable and reliable custom equipment that puts you ahead of your competitors.

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Join us at the International Baking Industry Exposition 2022!

International Baking Industry Exposition 2022

This year, LMC has secured a spot at the ground-breaking International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) – and we’d love for you to come and meet us in person!

You’ll find us at booth #3370, where we’ll be demonstrating how our automated bakery machinery can improve your line speed to an incredible one bag per second. On top of that, you can find out all about our replacement parts, maintenance, and servicing options to keep your equipment at peak productivity.

IBIE 2022 is taking place September 17-21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. As our special guest, you can even get a massive 20% discount when you book your ticket online. Simply use the code EXH3370 at checkout, and you’ll save up to $65.80 on your exhibit hall pass.

Register your place at IBIE 2022 today, and pay us a visit at booth #3370!

What is the International Baking Industry Exposition?

As the world’s largest trade event for the grain-based foods industry, IBIE is a chance for bakery manufacturers, suppliers, and product experts to:

  • Experience the latest innovations and technologies in baked goods production.
  • Discover revolutionary ingredient formulations to improve taste or boost shelf life.
  • Explore the latest game-changing insights for growing your business and profits.
  • Participate in forums and discussions to navigate the critical challenges we all face.
  • Connect with industry members worldwide to build a strong professional network.

But IBIE doesn’t just advance baking with all-new gadgets and strategies. There are also plenty of educational and interactive experiences to help you and your team refine your skills.

IBIEducate, for example, offers over 100 learning opportunities, from hands-on training and technical sessions to classes on business management and consumer trends. You’ll also find workshops, demos, and presentations from a wide range of industry experts to push your business to its full potential. And when you’re finished, you can relax and have fun with the expo’s artisan marketplace, best in baking awards, cake decorating competition, and more.

When it comes to networking, IBIE is also your chance to connect with prospective partners from around the world. In fact, in 2019, international attendees from over 100 countries made up almost 30% of the total attendance. That means you have the opportunity to expand your market into foreign territories to further boost your sales and develop a global reputation.

No matter what aspect of the bakery industry you serve, you’re sure to encounter valuable products, sessions, or people at IBIE 2022.

Why is LMC attending the International Bakery Industry Exposition?

Our main goal at IBIE is, of course, to spread the word about our bakery automation equipment, spare parts inventory, and maintenance and servicing options. But we’re also excited for the opportunity to engage with other industry professionals face-to-face. That way, we further develop our understanding of the obstacles bakers are trying to overcome, and work on tailored solutions to meet their needs.

When you visit booth #3370, you’ll find a lot of highly valuable products and information waiting for you. To give you an idea of how our attendance can benefit your business, it helps to know a little about who we are and what we do…

A quick history of LMC

The legacy of LMC started in the early 1900s, when Andrew Bastasch opened a bakery in Oregon. This bakery became Luxury Bread, which developed a powerful reputation for quality, passion, and customer satisfaction.

As automation became increasingly common, the Bastasch family moved from using bakery equipment to manufacturing it in 1964 under the name United Bakery Equipment (UBE). And when UBE closed its Kansas facility in 2013, Andrew’s great grandson Stephen Bastasch became an entrepreneur himself by launching the Lenexa Manufacturing Company.

As company president, Stephen leads a small team of homegrown industry professionals dedicated to providing outstanding customer service, high-quality machines, and innovative designs. Together, LMC supports mid- to large-sized bakeries across the world by designing, manufacturing, and servicing automated bakery equipment.

What we offer

In short, we help bakeries automate slicing and bagging by building and servicing high-tech packaging machinery. That way, you can minimize the effort, cost, and risky manual work involved in bread production while maximizing your production speeds and profits.

With LMC, you have access to:

  • Bakery machines: superior industrial bread slicers, baggers, and heat sealers to give your products the irresistible appearance that matches their mouthwatering taste.
  • UBE replacement parts: a wide range of blades, baggers, turners, rollers, and more to minimize your machine downtime and maintain exceptional quality.
  • Servicing and maintenance: our expert technicians travel anywhere in the world to install, audit, adjust, and repair your machinery, and stay with you as long as you need.

How we’re impacting the baking industry

LMC is moving the baking industry forward by inventing new technologies that improve production and equipment performance.

Our latest invention, a reusable hinge blade assembly, uses a lock nut to attach the slicing blade to the stem and hub, rather than joining all three parts into one component. When the blade wears out, you can simply unscrew the nut to replace the blade, rather than scrapping the entire unit. That lets you save money, reduce waste, and optimize your storage of spare parts.

(We also have a patent-pending slicing design that will vastly improve the quality of each slice. It’s not ready to unveil quite yet, but keep an eye out in the near future to upgrade your bread slicing machinery!)

Find out how LMC can help you become an industry leader

Can’t wait until the expo to meet us, explore our equipment and services, and supercharge your bakery with high-speed slicing and bagging machinery? Then skip to the front of the queue by scheduling a meeting with us right now.

Simply fill in our convenient contact form, and we’ll supply the equipment, parts, or service options that help you outpace your competitors.

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Top 5 Italian Bakeries in North America

Top 5 Italian Bakeries in North America

From focaccia and ciabatta to pantonne and merendines, Italy has a rich history in baking. Even in modern Italy, every city, town, and village has a wealth of bakers who carry on their culinary heritage with a range of traditional recipes and techniques.

These authentic treats and delicacies have even made their way to the United States and Canada. Walk down any main street, and you’re all but guaranteed to find baked goods stores that style themselves as Italian bakeries.

But with so many delectable options to choose from, it can be hard to know which bakery to pick – or, rather, which you should visit first. So, to help you find the most delicious pastries, cakes, and breads with no delay, here are the top five Italian bakeries in North America.

Liscio’s Italian Bakery & Deli

373 Egg Harbor Road, Washington Township, Wedgewood, NJ, 08080

3321 Route 42, Washington Township, Crosskeys, NJ, 08081

124 S Delsea Drive, Glassboro, NJ, 08028

With three retail locations to choose from, Liscio’s Italian Bakery & Deli serves New Jersey citizens the most mouth-watering pies, cookies, pastries, hoagies, sandwiches, and pizzas around.

For those with a special event on the horizon, they also offer an irresistible party menu, as well as cakes for birthdays, weddings, and special occasions. And if you’re in a gift-giving mood at any time of the year, Liscio’s phenomenal homemade bruschetta specialty tray is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.

As well as a wide selection of in-store items, Liscio’s also offers home delivery and bread wholesale. So whether you’re putting world-class breads and pastries on your shelves or just craving a tasty snack, make sure to stop off at Liscio’s Italian Bakery & Deli

Don’t miss out on Liscio’s… impressive 6-foot hoagie, the perfect way to kick off a party in style!

Rotella’s Italian Bakery

6949 108th St, La Vista, NE, 68128

Starting in the 1850s, the Rotella family of Calabria, Italy, made rustic loaves for the local townsfolk from a single brick oven. As the years went by, Rotella’s increased their production with high-tech modern equipment, but never let go of their insurmountable old-world skill. Today, this full-service specialty bakery supports the nation’s biggest names in the restaurant and food industry with quality Italian breads.

Rotella’s Italian Bakery has a massive inventory for bread lovers to choose from, with over 400 varieties available for national and wholesale distribution. Their stock of loaves, rolls, buns, breadsticks, ciabatta, and specialty breads are the perfect complement to any meal – and they even offer gluten-free products.

Don’t miss out on Rotella’s… Yellow Toast French Loaf, a classic addition to any luxury breakfast!

Calgary Italian Bakery

5301 5th Street, SE Calgary, Alberta

What sets Calgary Italian Bakery apart is its unwavering focus on the core of traditional Italian baking: to bake outstanding breads with simple, local ingredients to feed the community. With that goal in mind, this family-owned and operated bakery and deli delivers all across Calgary to help every meal taste better.

Calgary Italian Bakery produces a wide range of authentic Italian breads, buns, and specialty baked goods. Even though Luigi Bontorin – who founded the bakery with his wife Myrl – has passed, his passion for family and quality baking lives on in the bakery’s famous Famiglia Breads. With 14 Field Bread, Oat Bran Bread, Whole Wheat Bread, and Sunflower Flax Bread, this premium range elevates a staple food into an art form.

Don’t miss out on Calgary’s… delicious range of Famiglia Breads, available from Calgary retailers and national brands!

Cellone’s Italian Bread Co.

663 Napor Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15205

Even after over 100 years of baking fresh bread and rolls, Cellone’s Italian Bread Co. remains rooted in traditional Italian baking. They put their authentic recipes and techniques to good use in creating phenomenal artisan bread for groceries and restaurants across the United States.

As proof of their products’ superior taste, Cellone’s gladly invites retailers for a tasting session of their loaves, rolls, pizza shells, croutons, and more. And since their goods are a common sight in a baker’s dozen of big-name stores, it’s clear they’re simply irresistible!

Don’t miss out on Cellone’s… wide range of sliced Italian breads, which give you scrumptious meals in no time flat!

Ferrara

195 Grand St, New York, NY, 10013

As the city’s first Italian bakery, Café Ferrara opened its door in 1892 to provide delightful company and refreshment to opera goers in New York City’s Little Italy. Their combination of freshly ground coffees and wonderful Italian desserts offered the perfect cap to an already beautiful and enjoyable evening. Even today they remain in touch with their sweet side, baking a wide variety of cookies, cakes, and candies.

But Ferrara’s greatest claim to fame is creating a product so unbelievably delicious that it sparked an expression you’re sure to have heard before: HOLY CANNOLI! With their perfect blend of ricotta, pastry, and chocolate, Ferrara cannoli have been the treat of choice for chefs and celebrities worldwide. So, next time you’re in New York City (or shopping online for something sweet), do yourself a favor and grab a box or two.

Don’t miss out on Ferrara’s… unmissable, unmistakeable, world-famous cannoli!

Always meet customer demand with quality industrial bakery machinery

These five bakeries work hard to ensure the people of North America never have to go without delicious Italian breads and baked goods. And keeping up with that incredible demand is only possible through investing in the finest bakery automation equipment.

At LMC, we supply bakeries across the world with automated bread slicers, baggers, and heat sealers to boost their production rates and accelerate their operation. We even offer installation, servicing, maintenance, and spare parts to keep your bakery machinery in top shape.

To find out more about how LMC can help you pump out world-class bread like never before, get in touch with us today

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The History of LMC and How We’ve Impacted the Baking Industry

The History of LMC and How We’ve Impacted the Baking Industry

If you read about Lenexa Manufacturing Company online, it’s not hard to find that we were first formed in 2013. But that’s not quite the whole story. In fact, our history stretches back well over 100 years, with knowledge, skills, and values passing from one generation to the next.

And it all started with a little bakery in Oregon…

The history of LMC

In the early 1900s, a young man named Andrew Bastasch traveled from Eastern Europe to Oregon along with his family. There, Andrew set up a bakery that would become Luxury Bread, where he built a reputation for passion, integrity, and dedication to customer satisfaction.

As the years went by, Luxury Bread was passed down to Andrew’s son, Frank, and then to his grandson, John. And while the bakery’s reputation remained the same, their operation underwent a radical change.

Frank Jr.’s brother, Paul, had a particular talent for engineering. Struck by a spark of innovation, Paul combined that talent with his knowledge of baking to invent a brand new bun bagging machine. By automating their production, the bakery could pump out delicious bread like never before in only half the time. And as their productivity skyrocketed, so too did their profits.

Paul’s eyes had been opened to the astonishing potential of baking machinery. So, in Kansas in 1964, he became a leading manufacturer of automated slicing and packaging equipment by launching United Bakery Equipment (UBE). This marked the family’s transition from selling bread to servicing bakeries.

For over 40 years, UBE stood at the forefront of the bakery machinery manufacturing industry. But in 2013, the Bastasch family was forced to close its Kansas facility. While many moved over to UBE’s California facility, one man chose to stay behind: Paul’s son, Steve Bastasch.

Instead, Steve decided to follow in his great grandfather’s footsteps and launch a company of his own. But a lot had changed since the early 1900s, and Steve was free to dream a little bigger.

Using the skills he’d developed working at UBE, Steve started manufacturing and selling parts for bakery equipment in 2013 under the name Lenexa Manufacturing Company. At first LMC consisted only of Steve and Paul Steinke, who filled the role of LMC’s head mechanical engineer. But even with only two workers, bakeries across America were climbing over each other to get their hands on our parts.

In no time at all, LMC swelled to a close-knit team of 13 personable and passionate industry experts, with Steve Bastasch as company president. And as our workforce grew, so too did our goals.

Today, LMC satisfies the slicing and packaging needs of mid- to large-size bakeries worldwide with high-speed automated machinery. Even now we strive to expand our operation and offer a wide range of products and services to all our clients. And with our high standards for quality and keen eye for innovation, we’re confident LMC’s best days are still yet to come.

How LMC supports bakeries worldwide

Meeting our clients’ automation needs is about much more than selling equipment. Rather, LMC offers a full suite of services including design, manufacturing, sale, installation, and maintenance and servicing of industrial bagging and slicing machines, and their related parts.

Design

Using state-of-the-art CAD software, our engineers precisely design the components and machines bakers need to optimize their operation. We also test prototypes using SolidWorks 3D to ensure perfect working order before production.

Manufacturing

Our 10,000 sq. ft. factory space and expert manufacturing engineers make it easy to produce any bakery machinery components to our clients’ specifications. Rather than waiting months, we can produce these in mere days, and even offer a 24-hour turnaround time on parts.

Sale

From bread baggers, to bun slicers, to heat sealers, we offer all sorts of new, refurbished, and used bakery equipment. Bakers can easily find their perfect new addition using our 60-second bakery equipment quiz. We also supply plenty of replacement parts, including hinge blades and band blades, which can often be shipped with next-day delivery.

Installation

We don’t just wash our hands of you once you’ve purchased our bakery equipment. Instead, we send our engineers to install your new equipment for you, and stay for as long as you need to make sure everything works as intended.

Maintenance and servicing

Every machine needs a bit of TLC to stay in peak condition. So, our experienced technicians are available to visit your bakery anywhere in the world to provide on-site equipment maintenance and servicing. They also provide complementary services like reviewing your preventative maintenance plan and delivering staff training.

How LMC impacts the baking industry

As well as providing comprehensive services to keep your bakery in top shape, we also use our skills and resources to push the industry forward. For example, we currently have a patent-pending slicing design that we can’t wait for you to experience. But perhaps our most notable contribution is one of our simplest: the invention of a reusable hinge blade assembly.

When a blade snapped or lost its edge, bakers also used to have to replace the stem and hub even if they were in great condition, since all the pieces were connected. But by using a lock nut hinge, our invention allowed for the blade to be removed from the assembly, leaving the stem and hub intact. This reduces wastage, and saves bakeries a ton of money in replacement parts.

How LMC helps bakeries automate their operations

Upgrading your bakery with automated machinery is a great way to reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve the safety of your staff. Our machines remove the manual labor involved in bakery operations, and can improve line speed to one bag every second. We also work as an extension of your team, supporting you as you grow your business.

To find out more about how we can support and enhance the growth of your bakery, contact us today.