AUTOMATED DEPOSITORS AND SHAPING TECHNOLOGY


systems to expand product variability. As application specialist Paolo Berlaffa


notes: “By combining robotic technology with GEA Bakery’s continuous depositors, bakeries can now achieve remarkable flexibility in creating intricate decorations on smaller products, such as icing, granular toppings and detailed designs.” More recent system developments, including the 2025 Bake Extruder platform, reinforce this direction. The machine uses servo-driven axes and brushless motor control to deliver precise extrusion and cutting performance at high throughput, with GEA positioning it as a response to growing demand for flexibility, hygiene and recipe-based production control.


Digital deposit control and servo-like precision at lower cost Alongside large-scale OEMs, specialist depositor manufacturer Unifiller has continued to push hybridised control systems that blend pneumatic operation with digital precision, aimed at making advanced depositing technology more accessible across mid-tier bakery operations. Its CMD Series depositors, introduced


in late 2024 and expanded through 2025 deployments, integrate tablet-based control systems with recipe storage and programmable deposit parameters. As Sonia Bal, Director of Global Marketing at Unifiller, explains:


THE CONTINUED


GROWTH OF PLANT-BASED PRODUCTS, REDUCED-


SUGAR RECIPES, GLUTEN- FREE FORMULATIONS AND PREMIUM FILLED PRODUCTS IS CREATING NEW DEMANDS ON DEPOSITING AND SHAPING EQUIPMENT


“Manufacturers are incorporating control systems into depositors, utilizing servos, sensors, cameras and software algorithms to enhance accuracy.” She adds that this approach enables real-


time control of depositing performance: “These systems provide real-time feedback, enabling precise depositing.” The CMD platform is designed


to reduce operator dependency by allowing recipes to be stored, recalled and adjusted digitally, helping bakeries manage product variation more efficiently while maintaining consistency across shifts and production lines. Unifiller has also continued to develop


servo-driven rotary piston systems capable of handling a wide range of bakery applications, from batters and creams to aerated fillings. Earlier developments such as its Multistation platform demonstrated the potential for high-speed multi-port depositing, combining volumetric piston control with servo-driven precision to maintain consistency across complex production formats.


Labour pressures accelerate automation demand The growing sophistication of depositing equipment is also being driven by labour availability challenges across the bakery sector. As experienced operators become increasingly difficult to recruit and retain, manufacturers are looking for systems that minimise manual adjustment and reduce dependence on specialist skills. Modern depositing platforms


increasingly feature touchscreen interfaces, guided setup procedures and recipe-driven controls that simplify operation while reducing the risk of human error. Automated calibration and digital parameter storage allow operators to switch between products with minimal intervention, supporting more consistent performance regardless of shift patterns or operator experience. For many bakeries, this simplification has become as important as speed or throughput. Equipment suppliers report


30 • KENNEDY’S BAKERY PRODUCTION • APRIL/MAY 2026


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