How Heinrich Schulze Ladencafé GmbH is optimizing its time-honored bakery production with modern spray technology.
Tradition and innovation have always gone hand in hand at Heinrich Schulze Ladencafé GmbH. The family-owned business on the edge of the Teutoburg Forest has been producing high-quality cookies and gingerbread since 1830, combining artisanal baking with industrial efficiency. To maintain the consistently high quality of its products even under demanding production conditions, the company has taken an important step toward the future: switching its baking line from contact to spray oiling.
In collaboration with technotrans SE, a custom-designed spray lubrication system was developed to replace a failure-prone contact lubricator on a continuous oven that is approximately 50 years old. The new system applies the vegetable-based release agent to the baking belt in a contactless manner and with precise dosing. The result is faster product changeovers, improved hygiene, and the complete elimination of equipment-related downtime during oil application.
Traditional recipes are very demanding
A particular challenge in production stems from the company’s nearly 200-year-old gingerbread recipe. The recipe deliberately avoids the use of artificial moisture regulators. As a result, the dough is particularly sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
To ensure a stable production process, it is therefore necessary to precisely control the adhesion properties on the baking belt. The release agent plays a key role in this process: it not only ensures that the baked goods can be easily removed later, but also defines the so-called adhesion limit during the baking process.
A custom solution for a historic stove//On the recommendation of industry experts, the company turned to technotrans SE. After analyzing the requirements, technotrans developed a tailor-made solution and integrated a compact spraying system directly onto the reversing roller of the historic continuous furnace. The system operates with four high-frequency valves and applies the release agent evenly across a spray width of 800 millimeters onto the steel strip. Since the application is completely contactless, there is no abrasion or wear caused by felts or brushes. At the same time, hygiene is significantly improved. The system is supplied by a 19.5-liter pressure tank specially tailored to the production conditions. An integrated sensor continuously monitors the fill level and provides early warning of low tank levels. This ensures that accidental running dry is a thing of the past.
In day-to-day production, the biggest advantage of the new solution is its responsiveness. Changes to the dosing quantity are implemented within seconds. “This is a real game-changer for us. We can precisely control the oil flow here from virtually zero to full in just five seconds,” emphasizes Arne Knaust. Since the spray system is located just a few centimeters in front of the dough conveyor, employees receive immediate auditory and visual feedback on the adjustments. This makes fine-tuning easier and increases process reliability.
The Benefits at a
Glance
Process reliability
Audible and visual feedback allow for quick and safe adjustments.
Easy to maintain
Robust construction and optimal accessibility for quick maintenance and easy servicing.
Contactless transaction
Contactless application ensures better hygiene and reliably reduces wear and tear.
Precise dosing
Precise control of the oil flow rate ensures consistent product quality and process control.
Production reliability taken to a new level
After the first full production season, the conclusion is clear: equipment-related downtime during oil application has been reduced to zero. Furthermore, oil contamination no longer occurs thanks to the closed pressure vessel system. In addition, the installation was particularly efficient. The technotrans technicians installed and calibrated the system in a single evening without disrupting ongoing production operations. Digital documentation via QR code further supports employees in their daily operations.
Preserving tradition, shaping the future
The new spray lubrication system fits seamlessly into the corporate philosophy of Heinrich Schulze Ladencafé GmbH. The company’s time-honored machinery is being deliberately preserved. The new system impresses with its robust construction, good accessibility, and high serviceability. In this way, Heinrich Schulze Ladencafé GmbH ensures that its time-honored recipes can continue to be produced under optimal conditions in the future—using modern technology and the same commitment to quality that has distinguished the company for nearly two centuries.
Kosciesza concludes:
“The fact that the system ran for an entire season without a single malfunction demonstrates the high operational reliability of our technology—even in the demanding environment of such a long-established machine fleet.”
Do you have any questions?
We have the answers.
Hary Kosciesza
Business Development Manager
T. +49 (0)2583 301-1850
hary.kosciesza@technotrans.de