At PACK EXPO International in Chicago, Unifiller Systems demonstrated its new +Series Depositors, digitally controlled pneumatic depositors designed to deposit batters and other products with more ease and precision. The system brings into reach technology that often only large-scale customers have access to.
Launched in September at the International Baking Industry Expo (IBIE) in Las Vegas, the +Series Depositors combine pneumatic machines with smart control. Using a smartphone or tablet connected via Bluetooth, users can control speed, volume, splash reduction, pre-charge, and deposit pressure profiling for the most accurate deposits.
The new depositors connect to Unifiller’s cloud-based Total Care App, which provides real-time data analytics. Hundreds of recipes can be stored in the Total Care App’s cloud. Any machine settings and recipe adjustments can be digitally controlled through the app.
“This is the first time we are offering a smart controlled depositor with built-in Bluetooth features,” commented Sonia Bal, director of global marketing for Unifiller. “It’s a very low-cost program. Usually, this kind of technology is reserved for more complex systems owned by large-scale customers. However, we’ve been able to develop it for our standard machines, as small as the Compact depositor, which means that even operators at a retail level can afford this innovation.”
Compared to previous depositors, the +Series can handle more complex applications, in part because of its connection to the Total Care App. “The +Series combined with the Total Care App allows for recipe storage, so complex recipes (deposit speeds and volumes) can be fine-tuned one time and stored for easy recipe recall in the future,” Bal explained.
The +Series Depositors are built for ease of use and cleaning. No special training is required to operate the machines, and detailed explanations and video instructions are provided for advanced functions. All electrical components are enclosed in a washdown case that will withstand tough, industrial washdown conditions, meeting IP69 standards.
This kind of connected technology is already in demand for large-volume producers, Bal noted. “We wanted to extend the same innovation to even our simplest machines. Customers have responded very well and are keen to try it out. We have already completed successful field testing,” she said. “What’s great about the Total Care App is that not only does it work with the +Series Depositors, but with a simple add-on, it can actually turn previously owned manually adjusted pneumatic depositors into smart controlled depositors.”
