mar. 03, 2022

Pizza sauce applicator on a production line.

Pizza sauce applicators help increase production, reduce waste, and can significantly reduce the risk of labor shortages. However, when it comes to selecting the right sauce applicator for your production line, where do you start?

Production rates, sauce types, and shapes/patterns are just a few of the many things you’ll need to consider to make a more informed buying decision. Read on to learn more about what to look for when selecting a pizza sauce applicator.

Flexibility

The sauce applicator should be flexible enough to meet your current demands and future needs. Whether you’re buying your first machine or looking to increase production, there are three main things to consider:

Sauce Types

Look for an applicator that allows you to quickly change out parts and enables you to apply a wide range of viscotic sauces, such as:

  • Marinara
  • Tomato sauce
  • Alfredo
  • Butter
  • Pesto

If you use particulate sauce recipes with tomato, onion or garlic pieces; a rotary pump is a must-have. The pump pushes particulate pieces through the pattern plate without clogging or pattern inconsistencies.

Pattern Shapes & Sizes

If you have more than one SKU, it’s essential to select an applicator that lets you change the pattern size and shape with simple part changeouts.

Production Rates

Sauce applicators should work for a wide range of production rates—from a single lane, up to 50 pizzas per minute—to six pump heads applying sauce on hundreds of crusts per minute—and anywhere in between.

Sanitation

The ability to quickly clean and sanitize your sauce applicators is critical to ensuring limited production line downtime, meeting strict sanitation protocols, and ensuring the machine’s longevity. 

G. Liberopoulos etc. et al. performed a reliability analysis on automated pizza lines. The study found that clogged sauce pumps were the biggest cause of repeated machine failures. 

It’s important to select equipment that can be broken down quickly without the need for complicated tools. This will allow the process to go as smoothly, thoroughly, and efficiently as possible.

The Manufacturer

When looking for a pizza sauce applicator machine, also consider the manufacturer. Look for a company with experience, happy customers, and that offers holistic support throughout the life of the equipment.

Parts and Ordering—How quickly can you reach a knowledgeable person in the parts department? More importantly, do they have the parts in stock, and how fast can they get them to your facility?

Installation—Does the manufacturer offer turn-key installation? Or will you have to search for an installer and hope the person you hire knows what they’re doing?

Training—This can be a crucial piece in order to get set up properly and efficiently. Does the provider offer training materials or on-site visits in order to teach you how to properly utilize your equipment?

Demo Equipment —How confident are you that your products and processes will work with the sauce applicator you’re considering? 

Companies such as Grote allow you to test out your products/processes at specially designed testing facilities before you make a purchasing decision. This will provide you with peace of mind knowing that the equipment you buy will meet your needs.

Customer Outreach—Another indicator of a great manufacturer is the level of support that they provide. Look for one that provides extensive training to start, and is accessible for any questions throughout the life of your relationship—this will help prevent many issues before they happen rather than after the fact.

Customer Access—The manufacturer should act as more of a partner than a merchant—this means providing you with access to their existing customers so you can get valuable insights and feedback on how well the equipment performs.

The pizza topping applicators that power your production line are a significant investment—make sure that the company you buy from provides outstanding support throughout the lifespan of the machine. 

A pizza moving along a conveyor on a pizza sauce applicator machine.

Total Cost of Ownership

There are several pizza sauce applicators on the market—avoid the temptation to make your selection based on cost alone. While some applicators have a lower initial price, they’ll ultimately wind up costing you more down the road in repairs, headaches, and downtime.

Grote pizza sauce applicators have a huge advantage over the competition when it comes to the total cost of ownership. We design our high-quality machines with durability, production, and service in mind. This translates into a better long-term ROI and improved bottom line for your business.

Which Pizza Sauce Applicator is Right for You?

There’s a reason why more worldwide iconic pizza and food brands trust Grote. We have a proven track record of providing our customers with durable, top-quality food processing machinery backed by our stellar customer support and service. Learn more about our sauce applicators below.

Sauce Applicators

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