Making sure your bakery is equipped with the best and most efficient machines is crucial. One of the most important decisions you'll likely make is selecting the right dough divider for your needs. Whether you're scaling up production or aiming to more efficiently streamline production, the right dough divider can save you time, reduce waste, and ensure uniformity in your products. In this blog, we’ll explore the different types of dough dividers and how they can help you build a successful bakery.

Why Invest in a Dough Divider?

Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to understand why a dough divider is essential for your bakery. So, what does a dough divider do? A dough divider automates the process of dividing dough into equal portions. The level of consistency provided by dough dividers will improve the overall quality of your products and continuously provide the customer with the product they are looking for. Dough Dividers also help to streamline production, allowing you to meet customer demand more efficiently.

Types of Dough Dividers

There are a variety of dough dividers to choose from, and each different model is designed with specific products and needs in mind. The different models also provide different out volume and weights that bakers may need for their specific products, so it is important to first ask yourself what products will I be making and which divider can help automate that production.

Types of Divider Models:

  1. Manual - Manual Dough Dividers are machines that utilize manual levers to press and cut the dough into consistent portions. This option is more affordable but requires more manual effort.
  2. Semi-Automatic - Semi-automatic dividers rely on hydraulics to carry out all pressing and cutting functions with the use of a simple joystick.
  3. Fully Automatic - Fully automatic dough dividers use a control panel that can store programs that carry out your dough-dividing needs at the touch of a button.
dough divider from empire bakery equipment

Types of Divider Configurations:

  1. Square Dough Dividers - Square Dough Dividers typically provide bakers with the most divisions. Capable of producing anywhere from 10 to 80 divisions per divide, square dividers are perfect for ciabatta, buns, rolls and pizza doughs. Square divisions are often used in conjunction with a dough rounder or moulder.
  2. Rectangular Dough Dividers - Rectangular Dough Dividers provide larger dough weights of up to around 70 ounces per piece. They are perfect for the production of baton breads, baguettes and long loaves of bread.
  3. Round Dough Dividers - Round Dough Dividers use a round basin to divide larger portions of dough. The portions can range from 4.6 to 42 ounces. This type of divider is perfect for dinner rolls, burger buns and other similar products. Additionally, configurations of round dividers are generally between 16 and 24 divisions.
  4. Hexagonal Dough Dividers - Hexagonal Dough Dividers feature the smallest weight ranges of all the dividers. Capable of division between 1 to 17 ounces, they are perfect for dividing products like biscuits, scones, rosetta buns, dinner rolls and more.

Choosing the Right Dough Divider for Your Bakery

MEanwhile,when selecting the best dough divider for your bakery, the following factors should be taken into consideration:

  1. Production Volume: Assess your current and projected production needs. If you’re a small bakery with moderate output, a manual or semi-automatic divider might suffice. For larger operations, automatic or divider/rounder machines are more suitable.
  2. Space: Consider the available space in your bakery. You will want to find a machine that has a compact design and can fit in most bakery layouts.
  3. Product Types: Think about the products you bake most frequently. Does automating the production of these products help your bakery keep up with demand and grow the business?
  4. Ease of Use: Consider how easy the machine is to operate and maintain. The easier the machine is to use and clean, the less work your have to do. A complex machine defeats the purpose of simplifying production. If you spend too much time learning to operate and clean the divider, you are not saving much time.

Investing in the right dough divider is a critical decision that can significantly impact the efficiency and success of your bakery. Whether you opt for a manual, semi-automatic, automatic, or square, round or rectangular, the key is to choose a machine that aligns with your production needs, space, and budget. By making an informed decision, you’ll ensure that your bakery runs smoothly. You'll also ensure products remain consistent, and your customers stay satisfied.