It’s called automation, and it involves all areas of the Ho.Re.Ca industry. And when it comes to baking, the trend concerns not just the “big players” in the sector, but also the many artisans who come up with some particularly creative products. “The biggest technological revolution in bread baking was the widespread introduction of bread cooling processes back in the 1990s,” says Massimiliano Baroni, head of marketing at Tagliavini, who adds: “But if we look at developments over the last five years, things have certainly shifted more towards artisanal bread making. There are devices that enable artisans to work independently, without needing too many staff, especially at those two critical moments when the dough goes into the oven and when the baked bread comes out.” In this way use is made both of systems that are not necessarily automated and of fully robotised processes, which means that the baker does not have to touch the product at all from proofing right through to the end of the baking process.

The trend towards using automatic tools and machinery has spread rapidly and widely throughout the world. “There is one development we have noticed in all countries: the choice of automatic models to replace semi-automatic or manual ones, and a growing demand for dough divider and rounder machines by pizzerias,” says Manuela Frattini of Vitella S.r.l. Unipersonale. “The last few months have reminded us all how important and precious time is. And our machines are the best way of optimising and saving time and energy, with excellent results in terms of perfect shaping of the dough into pieces that weigh exactly the same.” Quality and efficiency matter greatly to this Vicenza-based company. “Our products are durable and soon pay for themselves. Also they don’t pollute so can be considered to be environmentally friendly.” Of course they are also ideal for anyone who wants to be in control from start to finish. “We don’t produce products that involve wireless connectivity in the industry 4.0 sense, because we prefer individual machines operated by hand,” says the head of the sales department.