Bakery: Cookies

Whether it's biscuits, cookies, snacks or other baked items, the Bakery Industry produces an irreplaceable part of our daily diet. This means that industrial bakery lines must keep moving, no matter what.

“SAFE & CLEAN Bakery Belts for all your applications. Helping you bake it better!”

Giuseppe Allais

Global Industry Segment Manager Food

Explore Bakery processes and our recommended products

Show Menu

Overview

Explore using the drop-down menu or by clicking on the pointers

This infographic is used as a general indicative example only.

Actual factory and process configurations could vary, but our industry experts know them all. Above overview shows the factory lay-out with the rotary cutter. The rotary moulder and depositor are published separately. Please use the drop-down menu for more details.

Dough Mixer

This is where it all starts! Wet dough applications give the first shape to bakery products.

Main challenges

Sticky dough can cause release difficulties
Belts with dough residue can be hard to clean
Mistracking and slippage often occur with contaminated belts

Solutions

Better release performance with non-stick material and non-stick surfaces
Easy-to-clean and maintain belt surfaces
Light blue belts for easier detection of residue or contaminants

Laminator

This process step, which ensures regular dough thickness, requires high-quality belt performance for a smooth transfer between the lamination stations.

Main challenges

Accurate belt tracking and regular belt speed are essential
Belt surfaces must be easy-to-clean

Solutions

Belt body with a high degree of lateral stability
Non-stick belt surface for easy release and easy cleaning
Light blue belts to facilitate detection of hygiene / contamination issues

Rotary Cutter

The quality of cookies depends in large part on using the appropriate belt with the proper grip and release properties during the cutting process, when the dough is delicate and thin.

Main challenges

The correct alignment between product and rotary cutting drum must be maintained
The process activity can shorten belt life
Maintaining accurate product speed on the belt is essential
The product release to the next belt needs to be as smooth as possible

Solutions

A belt body with a high degree of lateral stability
Superior grip and release belt properties, thanks to innovative belt materials
A belt designed for durability as well as performance

Rotary Moulder

AmDough Endless Woven Belts offer unmatched quality in yarn material selection and weave design. The wide range of AmDough solutions guarantees the right rotary moulder belt for the right dough extraction.

Main challenges

Belts wear out or lose performance standards quickly
The mould can "trap" the dough, leading to unacceptable wastage levels

Solutions

Durable truly Endless Woven Belts for long-lasting, reliable performance
Treated belt to reduce possible shrinkage
A selection of optimal fabrics for reliable dough extraction

Depositor

Different dough ingredients are extruded from nozzles directly onto the belt, forming the cookies. Here, hygiene and resistance to oil and grease are very important.

Main challenges

The dough transfer can be problematic
Belts can leave imprints on the dough
Covers must be cleaned to rigorous standards

Solutions

Belts with high flexibility for better transfer
A smooth and glossy belt surface to avoid any imprints
Scraper-friendly belt material to make cleaning easier

Infeeder and Take-off Oven Belt

Releasing the thin dough as the products head into the oven and then taking the biscuits off the steel belt after the baking process are both very delicate steps in the manufacturing process. High temperatures, high-speeds and very small transfer points for reliable product positioning are all elements that require high-quality, high-performance belts.

Main challenges

The extreme operational conditions can lead to short belt lifetimes
Product release from the Infeeder can be problematic
Improper product positioning after transfer from Infeeder can lead to product waste

Solutions

High-quality polyurethane Ultranyl synthetic belt material for high temperatures
Heat-resistant and flame-retardant Modular Belts
Inclined and reinforced splices on Synthetic Belts for longer lifetimes
Non-stick matt belt finish for easy and reliable release

Cooling Belt

Before transferring baked cookies from the oven to the wrapping machines, it is essential to ensure that the product is cool enough for handling.

Main challenges

Belts often mistrack
The heat can cause a browning effect on the belts
Product can slip on belt surface while moving on inclined bridge belt sections
Belt installation can be time-consuming and labour-intensive

Solutions

Extra lateral belt fabric stability to avoid mistracking
High-quality belt materials, including Ultranyl, Nonex and Ropanyl, for heat-resistance and superior operational performance
State-of-the-art Maestro splicing tools for quick and easy belt installation

Stacker Belt

A very delicate stage in the production process, stacking is carried out by a set of conveyors (one of which runs at a lower speed than the other) gently overlapping and piling up the cookies along the metal rails for the horizontal flow-wrap packing equipment.

Main challenges

Product damage and a consequent accumulation of crumbs can be caused by belt friction
Crumbs can present cleaning issues
Metal rails can damage the belt's top cover

Solutions

Low-friction belt top cover finish, even in the splice area
Very fine matt finish for delicate cookie handling
Wear-resistant cover material capable of withstanding frequent contact with metal

Packaging

To ensure that the finished product ends up in just the right position for the flow-pack equipment, precise belt grip is essential. Accumulating or pulling fragile products requires either perforated high-grip belts or matt-finish belts to ensure low friction.

Main challenges

Belt grip must be consistent and reliable
Belt tolerances for packaging applications are very tight
Belts for this application often have short lifetimes

Solutions

Ammeraal Beltech One-Stop Belt Shop for just the right belt
A wide variety of profiled belts and cover materials / finishes for precise performance and grip
Belts made from flexible and durable materials for long-lasting