Many bakeries have aging equipment that needs upgrading. Older mixers can start to experience performance issues as belts and gears wear, which can lower RPMs and lead to inconsistent mixing and food output. This can lead to product waste and higher costs for labor to mix new batches of ingredients.

In addition, as a mixer ages, it typically requires more frequent service and repairs. These can be costly and may be difficult to complete given that parts are becoming scarce for older mixers, explains Carolyn Bilger, director of marketing, Hobart Food Prep Equipment.

By investing in a new mixer, like a Legacy+ mixer, bakeries can gain better performance, reduce service calls and create more consistent baked goods.

“As with many industries, the bakery industry is also in need of more skilled workers to keep up with customer demand,” she adds. “With the labor that is available, thorough and proper training is paramount to ensuring that employees know how to operate mixers according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Proper training not only protects the mixer from damage, but it also ensures optimal results – both in terms of quality and productivity.

Bilger points out that the newest innovations in bakery mixers involve improved control and power.

Hobart continues to promote the innovation and the benefits behind the PLUS System on our Legacy+® maximum heavy-duty mixers,” she says, “The PLUS System provides unmatched capacity and power, allowing the mixers to mix up to 30% more in the same-sized bowl,         depending on the application.”

The system features Hobart’s exclusive VFDadvantage technology that provides precise motor control and exceptional power to thoroughly incorporate ingredients. It also includes maximum overheat capacity with extreme-duty wiring and connections to handle heavy mixing jobs, and a reinforced planetary shaft system to drive more power to the bowl.

“Hobart designed our Legacy+ maximum heavy-duty mixers with ease-of-use in mind,” Bilger explains.

The mixers feature intuitive controls, including a Shift-on-the-Fly™ function that allows workers to change speeds during mixing without damaging the motor.

Quick-Release™ agitators are easy to remove and offer the added advantage of a consistent bowl-to-agitator ratio for thorough mixing. The mixers’ swing-out bowl has a single-point installation, so it is easy to add ingredients and remove the bowl for cleaning. Hobart 60-, 80- and 140-quart mixers also have an electric bowl lift that puts the bowl in the correct position with a simple touch of a button.

Hobart offers its Legacy+ mixers in a variety of sizes to meet bakeries’ needs, ranging from 20- to 140-quart capacities.

The Legacy+ HL600 60-quart mixer is popular among small- to medium-sized bakeries. Larger bakeries tend to opt for the 80- or 140-quart models.

In addition to gaining versatility from various sized mixers, Hobart designed the Legacy+ mixers with three to four mixing speeds (depending on the model), so they can handle any mixing job. A SmartTimer™ gives operators the ability to count up and down, so it’s easier to create new recipes.

In addition to its Legacy+ mixers, which are a planetary style, Hobart also manufactures spiral mixers for bakeries that want the flexibility to mix dough for artisan breads and bagels. The HSL130 spiral mixer, which has a 130-lb. capacity, is among the most popular models.

All Legacy+ maximum heavy-duty mixers include a triple interlock system for operator assurance, Bilger explains.

This system requires the bowl to be fully up and locked in position, with the bowl guard secured, before it will operate.

The Legacy+ 60-, 80- and 140-quart mixers also include FastStop technology, which stops all moving parts in less than three seconds with the push of a button.

In addition, Hobart just added an exclusive NoChipMax™ System to its HL600 and HL662 60-quart mixers. This system includes a NoChip™ aluminum planetary with a metallic gray hybrid powder finish that is corrosion and scratch resistant and prevents paint chipping. The system also includes a NoChip #12 taper attachment hub. The hub has a stainless-steel insert and die cast cover that prevents paint chipping when operators use a VS9 attachment for grating cheese or grinding nuts for savory baked goods.  

In addition, the HL600 commercial floor mixer and HL662 pizza dough mixer now feature the Hobart-exclusive FastStop™ technology. FastStop brings the planetary and agitator to a complete stop within three seconds when the operator turns off the mixer or if the bowl guard is open. This technology offers greater operator assurance and is also featured on the Hobart 80- and 140-quart Legacy+ mixers.

Both the Legacy+ HL600 and HL662 mixers include the PLUS System, which in addition to enabling the FastStop technology, also provides more power and up to 30% more mixing capacity, depending on the application. The PLUS System includes an exclusive combination of three technologies. VFDadvantage drives more power to the bowl and provides precise motor control, while maximum overheat protection and a reinforced planetary shaft system ensure the mixers can handle heavy, continuous mixing – batch after batch.