The BPA also allows bakeries to tweak recipes for maximum cost savings. For instance, if a recipe calls for five pounds of sugar, a bakery could leave out one ounce of sugar from each batch. The end product will be consistent from batch to batch, and the BPA allows a bakery’s recipes to remain secret under password protection.

The BPA has a very small footprint, taking no more room than the work benches used today. The system also allows bakeries to track all minor ingredients without having to put pen to paper. Giannella uses eight IQ plus® 355 weight indicators and one 820i® weight indicator. The IQ plus 355 indicators have analog outputs that the PC reads. It is used to monitor the weight in any one of eight feed hoppers that are filled with micro ingredients for commercial baking. The PC stores the many family secret formulas. The operator can select the formula he or she wants. The 820i indexes a moving bench scale under the feed hoppers. As the hoppers get low on product, a signal is sent to the batch master who manually re-loads. Software automatically tracks and records daily production runs, allowing bakeries to adhere to strict standards demanded by quality regulation associations.

Through the BPA’s touchscreen system, workers can select the recipe and the total batch count and hit “run.” The BPA will measure the ingredients into a tray, with accuracy down to the ounce, eliminating waste of expensive minor ingredients.

It took Marcelo about a year and a half to develop the BPA, from conception to programming to manufacturing. The machine and software system conforms to, and in some instances surpasses, all mandatory ingredient traceability and handling standards.

What trailer?

The Advanced Automation team showed their first BPA prototype at the International Baking Industry Exposition in Las Vegas last September. Companies of all sizes showed great interest in Marcelo’s innovative solution.

Angela Falzarano, director of New Business Development, said, “After the show, we were floating on air—until we went outside to the parking lot. The trailer with the prototype inside was gone!” Angela recalls a comment Marcelo made at the time, ‘This is not going  to bring us down!’ ” Indeed, it did not. Marcelo’s team rebuilt the BPA and made it even better. Today, the eight-silo BPA, 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide, stands in the back corner of Giannella’s, turning out perfect batches every time.

During initial installation and setup, Marcelo ran into some glitches with one of the scales and called Joe Geisser, director of Rice Lake’s Northeastern region.. Joe told Marcelo not to worry. He would be there the next day, and he would stay there until the system was up and running perfectly. Angela said, “It was this level of commitment that solidified the reason for Marcelo to depend on Rice Lake for all his needs when it comes to all scales and accessories.” Angela added, “Whether it is a Saturday at 2 p.m. or a regular work day, Joe Geisser and the Rice Lake team have been there to support us with ALL of our needs. We appreciate that. We believe in that same level of commitment.”