Accurate real-time information and complete process control help baking technology take one more step toward sustainable baking.
The first step to profitable sustainability is managing the energy used for baking. Bakeries have several ways to approach and plan their improvement efforts. Staff training, audits and optimized scheduling are often the on-switch to start savings. The next steps include better controls, better insulation, or heat recovery systems. For another level of commitment (and investments), projects to improve baking efficiency can bring even bigger savings, by introducing the latest generation equipment, retrofitting existing systems with improved features, or smart tools and services for tighter process controls and continuous adjustments. Combining the most beneficial opportunities and investments can offer double-digit energy savings.
New Amigos
Middleby Bakery’s Swedish oven specialist, Sveba Dahlen, recently perfected its own new efficiency improvements. At iba this spring, the company introduced SD Amigo, a smart control panel that is built to simplify operations and keep track of weekly schedules, as well as time settings. In addition, it also, “Saves parameter adjustments during power outages – an invaluable feature for efficient baking,” Sveba highlights.
“With SD Amigo, we have created a control panel that truly makes bakers’ daily work easier. We know that time is crucial in a bakery, which is why we focused on simplicity, smart and smooth basic functions, and an intuitive user experience – all included as standard with every new deck oven purchase,” says Åsa Ericsson, Marketing Manager, Sveba Dahlen.
Smart solutions hold real potential in the bakery. Sveba Dahlen also presented its latest intelligent solution dedicated to energy management together with the Danish company Exodraft. It is a smart add-on that can be used for all kind of bakery ovens and tunnel ovens to help optimize their energy use by minimizing waste. It features the latest advancements in heat recovery technology and not only reduces energy consumption and operating costs, but also lowers CO2 emissions. “By utilizing excess heat from the baking process, the Exodraft solution creates a more sustainable and cost-effective energy solution for the bakery,” the company underscores.
The project was driven by several key issues, from stricter demands for more climate-conscious solutions, to rising energy costs, carbon footprint management and increasing efficiency in baking. The Exodraft system is complete with a circulation pump and can be mounted on existing ovens to enable smarter heating. Sveba Dahlen ensures seamless integration for any type of setup, making it available for bakery ovens in both electric, oil and gas versions.
The Exodraft solution helps recover up to 90% of the flue gas heat and operates continuously, with bypass systems in place to ensure no interruptions. It is also designed with removable heat exchangers for easy maintenance and to be compatible with new and existing ovens.
The recovered energy can be channeled into multiple uses in the bakery: for cleaning, for heating, for absorption chillers, to preheat the ovens, in offices, or other production processes. It can also be sold, the company notes.
Exodraft heat recovery system for Sveba Dahlen bakery ovens
Available setups:
+ SP80 Unit: Top-mounted with hydraulic system, circulation pump, three-way valve, and piping.
+ BP250 Unit: Wall-mounted with water circuit, pump, and bypass damper – ideal where overhead space is limited.
In addition, Sveba Connect cloud solution can help make the Exodraft even smarter. Sveba Connect monitors all the ovens that are connected to it from any device, collecting information about the usage and performance of each through real-time statistics and data about the oven’s energy consumption, running times and downtimes, with a complete history of system shutdown and turning on cycles.
The data gathered can be downloaded to local systems and used to calculate running costs and optimize procedures. The Sveba Connect also allows recipes to be shared between ovens securely and downloaded for uniform and fast utilization.
There are several ways available to approach baking efficiency, and the new developments show a clear trend: smart solutions work for bakeries and make day-to-day operations easier. The right choice is available for each type of oven, bakery or network, and production environment.
The article is part of an extended feature on the topic of baking efficiency, published in Baking+Biscuit International, issue 4.
