Buying bakery machinery is rarely just a purchase; it is a long-term production decision. Incorrect equipment can lead to production bottlenecks and unexpected maintenance costs. However, many purchasers make key decisions when buying machinery based on the price quoted or machine characteristics.
As demand grows, so does the need to enhance production efficiency and consistency. With so many bakery machinery suppliers, the choice can’t be made just on the basis of brochures. Buyers must be aware of their production needs.
Here are the most common mistakes buyers should avoid.
7 Common Mistakes Buyers Make When Selecting Bakery Machinery Suppliers
1. Choosing Machinery Based Only on the Lowest Price
Price is significant, but it shouldn’t be the only factor.
While a lower-cost machine may seem like a good deal when initially being procured, the benefits of the lower price may be lost if the machine consumes a higher amount of energy, needs more maintenance, creates more waste, or is less reliable in terms of output.
When looking for a supplier, the question should not be “which one has the lowest price”, but:
- How many years do you expect to use it?
- What is the energy use of the equipment?
- What are its maintenance requirements?
- Are spare parts readily available?
- What production capacity can it consistently achieve?
- Can the machinery be upgraded later?
For instance, an industrial biscuit line comprising dough preparation, sheeting, cutting, baking, cooling and associated handling of the biscuits must be operated as a coordinated system. The least expensive single machine may not necessarily have the best overall production economics.
The right approach is to compare total cost of ownership, rather than simply comparing purchase prices.
2. Not Distinguishing Between Product Types
A common error is assuming that bakery machinery can be chosen based on the volume of production.
There are various differences in the processing characteristics of bakery products. For hard dough biscuits and crackers, sheeting, lamination, gauging and cutting processes are necessary. For soft dough products, rotary moulding can be used and for cookies, wire cutting, depositing, or co-extrusion might be necessary.
Producing on a line designed for the wrong type of dough can lead to problems regarding shape, texture, weight and consistency.
So, you need to start from the product and not the machine. Establish products, recipes, dough specifications, target weights, product size, production capacity and anticipated SKU turnover before contacting suppliers.
3. Comparing Suppliers Without Evaluating Engineering Capability
Not every bakery machinery supplier will possess the same engineering expertise. Some can supply individual machines, others can provide the entire production systems according to the needs of customers.
This difference can be especially important when it comes to medium and large bakeries.
The production line can consist of several linked-up stages. These components need to be well interconnected, or one successful machine can’t make up for the other parts of the system that are subpar.
Therefore, it is crucial for the buyer to check with the supplier to see if they can offer:
- Complete line engineering
- Process integration
- Production-line layout planning
- Automation and control systems
- Installation and commissioning
- Product-specific configuration
- Technical troubleshooting
For example, a cookie production system that can produce wire-cut cookies, deposited cookies and co-extruded cookies, such as that of New Era’s system, provides more product development flexibility than one that can produce just one type.
The complexity of the bakery being planned should match the engineering ability of the supplier.
4. Overlooking Scalability
A frequent mistake in procurement is buying the machine to meet the current year’s production needs.
Suppose a bakery is currently making 500kg/hr of cake and it is planning to increase this to 1000kg/hr in 3 years. If there are no practical expansion possibilities for the system selected, the business may be forced to incur an additional major capital expenditure before they have intended.
Scalability should be addressed prior to purchase.
Buyers should evaluate:
- Future production requirements
- Potential new products
- Additional shifts
- Automation opportunities
- Available factory space
- Expansion possibilities
- Compatibility with future equipment
A flexible cookie production line, for instance, can be utilised with various dough mixes and product forms, so it can be helpful if a bakery wants to diversify its product offering.
5. Using “Automation” as a Specification, not a Business Tool
Automation is great, but consumers don’t always check the actual automation features.
If it’s a fully automatic machine, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better. What’s really being asked here is if automation cuts down on manual work, improves consistency, minimises waste, simplifies operation, or improves production reliability.
Dough handling, dough forming, dough baking, product cooling and transfer, for instance, can be automated and controlled in a precise way to increase the consistency of the product flow.
But the automation that is used should match the real needs of the bakery.
The small operation, with relatively low production, may not require a high level of automation, whereas the lack of automation may limit the industrial manufacturer’s production.
Rather than just considering automation a marketing gimmick, buyers should look at how much it will save on labor, boost throughput, increase consistency, ensure safety, decrease waste, and increase return on investment.
6. Failing to Investigate After-Sales Service and Spare Parts
A bakery production line does not generate revenue when it is sitting idle.
After-sales services are one such critical deciding factor while comparing bakery equipment manufacturers in India and overseas suppliers.
Buyers should ask the following prior to buying:
- Installation support
- Commissioning
- Operator training
- Preventive maintenance
- Emergency technical support
- Spare-parts availability
- Response times
- Remote troubleshooting
- Warranty terms
This is particularly crucial for complex manufacturing lines in which a breakdown in one part of the line can impact the rest of the production.
A supplier with a good technical support team may be able to decrease downtime and ensure the continuity of production over the life of the machinery.
The question should not be ‘who can supply this machine? ‘ but rather ‘Who can support this machine for the next 10-15 years?’
7. Assuming Indian and Global Suppliers should be Compared Only on Price
It’s frequently interpreted as a bakery equipment manufacturers in India vs global suppliers debate, and it goes back to the price of purchase. That approach is too simplistic.
Global suppliers can offer advanced technologies, wide experience in the international market, and customised engineering solutions. Indian manufacturers, on the other hand, can provide benefits for access to local services, manufacturing, local customisation, understanding the local climate and conditions, communication and logistics.
Also, this is especially relevant in the context of the growing bakery industry in India. The bakery market in India is expected to attain a value of around US$ 32.05 billion by 2034 with a CAGR of 8.76%.
There is no automatic distinction between the two. The correct comparison should have the following:
- Evaluation Factor: What buyers should examine
- Technology: Automation, controls and process capabilities
- Customisation: Ability to adapt equipment to recipes and products
- Installation: Local and International commissioning support
- Service: Response time and technical assistance
- Spare Parts: Availability and delivery timelines.
- Energy Efficiency: Long-term operating costs
- Scalability: Ability to expand production
- Total Cost: Purchase + operation + maintenance
The decision should ultimately depend on which supplier provides the strongest technical and commercial fit, rather than where the supplier is located.
Conclusion
Purchasing bakery machinery suppliers is not just about buying equipment; it’s about making an investment decision. The most cost-effective quote isn’t always the lowest total cost, and the most technologically advanced machine might not fit the needs of every bakery.
When making a purchase, buyers need to assess product compatibility, engineering expertise, and total cost of ownership. They should also compare bakery equipment manufacturers in India with global suppliers based on the actual needs of the business and not on the assumption that it is located overseas.
New Era specialises in precision, scalability and production efficiency, with decades of experience in bakery machinery and production-line engineering. At New Era, we provide hard dough biscuits and crackers, soft dough biscuits and cookies and other bakery applications.
The best investment in machinery is not the least expensive, but rather the one that will consistently perform as the bakery expands.
FAQs
1. What are the key considerations for selecting bakery machinery suppliers?
Evaluate suppliers according to technology, product compatibility, customisation, capacity, after-sales service, spare parts and total cost of ownership, as well as price.
2. Do bakery equipment manufacturers in India have good credibility for their industrial production?
Yes. There are many Indian manufacturers that offer advanced, customised machinery and production line solutions for a wide range of demanding commercial and industrial applications.
3. What should I take into account when comparing Indian and world suppliers?
Analyze engineering abilities, technology, customisation, service response, availability of spares, installation support, operating costs and long-term scalability.
4. Why is scalability important when buying bakery machinery?
Scalable machinery enables manufacturers to expand existing production capacity or add new products to the production line without the need to replace the entire production line.