Article by Olivia Rabbi
The HoReCa sector asks food service technologies for solutions with high flexibility of use, intuitively accessible by all operators. And it asks technologies capable of efficiently managing energy consumption. Digital technologies are key elements that enable innovation in process, product and – also – use.
Usability and energy saving
The world of coffee for the HoReCa sector demands from the appliances usability and result in the cup. This even with inexperienced operators and fast processing times. Besides, it demands careful control of energy consumption. This is the message of Dalla Corte for the production of the latest generation coffee machines (Icon and Zero).
«We are constantly striving to improve the user experience of our high-end coffee machines, focusing on several key aspects», explains Giovanni Giaquinta, marketing manager at Dalla Corte, «including automation and user–friendly operation. Our company designs its machines for great usability and to allow real–time monitoring of the extraction parameters, reducing manual intervention to a minimum and optimising beverage preparation and service time. We know how difficult it is to find qualified personnel, which is why, in addition to technological solutions for trained baristas, we also try to propose automations suitable for less trained operators».
Maximum attention, also, on energy saving. «We have introduced automatic energy saving systems with stand by – on/off devices to lower consumption in the event of prolonged inactivity of the machines. The design of our machines guarantees less consumption for heating water for coffee extraction».
Besides, digitalisation stimulates new steps of technological innovation. «Thanks to the introduction of advanced digital technologies, our machines can be monitored and controlled remotely, allowing proactive management and predictive maintenance thanks to the Online Control System. This approach allows us to minimise downtime and optimise maintenance scheduling, both preventive and post-alarm. Furthermore, by analysing the data collected, baristas can monitor the performance of the machines».
Process intelligence for the oven
In the food service, technologies for the baking, bakery and pizza sector focus on ease of use, great flexibility and process intelligence. This is what the field of research and innovation for Italforni focuses on. «In recent years we have been working on baking performance, energy efficiency and simplified heat management», says Andrea Ricci, general manager of Italforni. «The solutions we have designed allow intuitive temperature control, with the ability to easily adapt to the different production types that vary in the pizza and bakery world, without the need for highly specialised operators. We have also improved processing speed, optimising baking cycles to reduce time without compromising quality. Energy efficiency is also a key issue for us, with the implementation of thermal insulation systems that reduce consumption while promoting sustainability».
In a constantly changing production and business scenario, digitisation has transformed the way ovens are used and managed. «With the adoption of IoT systems, our ovens are connected and able to monitor cooking parameters in real time, enabling optimised management and remote control. This innovation reduces error margins and also improves the quality of the final product». In addition, «digitisation enables predictive maintenance, which reduces downtime and increases the overall lifespan of an oven. This process makes our ovens ideal for food service and semi-industrial production lines, where efficiency and speed are essential».
