Before the era of mechanization, ingredient handling was a labor-intensive process for the food industry. Thanks to innovation, scientific discoveries, and rapid technological advances, food production is now highly sophisticated and mechanized.

For more than 100 years, the Fred D. Pfening Company has been a leader in innovative technical solutions for the food industry. Pfening’s Ingredient Handling Systems are optimizing quality and reducing costs throughout the baking and food industries.

Automated ingredient handling systems streamline bakery and food plant operations by:

  • Reducing labor and costs associated with manual operations
  • Increasing production by reducing reliance upon manual operations
  • Ensuring accuracy, repeatability and product consistency
  • Reducing waste and rework costs

Here are different types of ingredient handling systems:

Bulk Ingredient Systems

Pfening designs and manufactures Bulk Dry Ingredient Handling Systems to automatically handle high-use materials such as flour and granulated sugar. These systems receive, store, sift, transfer and automatically scale ingredients to support production.

Pfening Bulk Liquid Ingredient Handling Systems automatically handle high-use liquids such as oil and sucrose. Likewise, these systems receive, store, blend, transfer, screen, transfer, and meter ingredients to support production.

Minor Ingredient Systems

Minor ingredient systems are necessary for lesser-used ingredients such as dry ingredient Super Sacks (salt, sugar and gluten, etc.) or liquid totes (honey, molasses, eggs, etc.). Automating the process reduces the amount of manual handling of ingredients, reduces the chance of worker injury, and improves batch accuracy. 

Control and Batching

An integrated control system is key to any automatic ingredient system to ensure safe, reliable operation. Recipe-based batching systems provide ease of use for plant operators and can be designed with sophisticated reporting functions to support quality control and inventory management.

Since the 1950s, Pfening has provided ingredient handling solutions to automate and safely produce quality bread, rolls, cakes, cookies, crackers, candy, and soft drinks.

We deliver comprehensive projects from concept to startup, manufactured at Pfening, and designed by the best engineers in the industry. Contact us today to discuss your needs and to see what Pfening’s systems can do for you.