Hot stuff on show
The "world's first automatic panini/sandwich grill" is the claim for a new form of automatic ejecting contact grill introduced by Deli Chef. Two sizes are available, each with dual non-stick coated grilling plates, either flat or ribbed. Products to be grilled are placed in between the plates, with the upper hinged plate folded down. After the food has been grilled, the automated ejection system responds to the preset on the digital timer and causes the cooked product to slide out via an inclined chute for collection. Up to five cooking times can be pre-set, with a temperature range from 50 to 250°C. A1 models, with a grilling area of 38 x 14 cm, have either front or rear ejection and a price of £1398. The larger A2 model has a cooking surface of 38 x 23.8cm and is priced at £1698.
The coffee bar boom has made table-top contact grills a lot more ubiquitous in the past few year and various refinements are now visible on the basic format of two hinged non-stick hotplates. The Contact Grill Company now offers models with built-in electronically pre-programmable timers, ensuring consistent grill times over a range of toasted sandwiches, paninis and other products. Eight different times, shown on a LED read-out, can be pre-set from 1 second to 59 minutes, with audible alarms if required. Grills are made in the UK by Rutland and priced from £1100.
Hot Bite automatic sandwich toasters have until now only been available as large capacity vending machines but suppliers HB Vending has now launched tabletop units which incorporate the toasting plate system found on the vendors. Machines come in single or double versions holding either three or six sandwiches/paninis and operators follow a simple procedure of placing products onto the lower toasting plate and pressing a switch to start the toasting process. Timing is electronically presettable via the digital control panel, with a standard toasting time of 90 seconds. As on the full-size Hot Bite vending machines, the food is individually held in heat-resistant bags/trays and toasted fresh from the fridge. Prices from £1495.
A vending machine now available for Nescafe Ice iced coffee holds the pre-mixed milk-based ingredients in two 10 litre bag-in-box chilled containers, with two dispense heads enabling different flavours (Mocha and Vanilla) to be offered. The new unit is a sister machine to the Nesquik Shake Factory launched by Nestle last year and is similarly sized at 435mm wide x 645mm deep x 880mm high. It is typically sited adjacent to an icemaker to enable the dispensed drink to be served with ice. Launch price of £750 includes 20 cases of stock.
As well as counter-mounted models, Auto-Fry, ventless automated deep-frying units are also available in a high output floor mounted model, the MTI-40E. Aimed at high traffic locations like football stadiums, adventure parks and food courts, the fully self-contained machine has two independently operated sections each with its own oil pan and frying baskets plus on-board oil filtration and fire suppression. Users place the food products into the entry chute and select a frying time to commence the automatic frying and dispense process . Price: £8999.
The LeMax portable ceramic griddle provides a neat solution to on-counter display cooking of eggs, crepes and breakfast items, or for occasional use. It has two carrying handles and a cooking area of 940 sq cm, sufficient for nine toasted sandwiches at a time. Power rating is 1.8 kW and price is £266. Exhibitors the Malted Waffle Company can also supply a wide range of tabletop waffle-makers including a version which, in conjunction with a hand winding tool, can make luxury ice-cream cones using waffle batter.
Targeting a range of impulse purchase applications, wall-mounted vending machines for dispensing 50g cans of Pringles crisps are now available in five and six column versions holding 65 and 78 cans respectively. Prices quoted by AEI Distribution are £399 and £492 respectively. Their stand also showed a new disposable camera vending machine developed by Red Apple Leisure. Available on free loan, the machine suits special occasion and tourist locations and takes £1 and £2 coins.
"Hot smoothies" are a novel beverage service concept being tested by SMOO 307, which supplies a range of bag-in-box concentrates for producing American style "smoothie" iced drinks. One of the four flavours - Mango and orange - also suits warming in a soup warmer or similar unit, resulting in a drink reminiscent of mulled wine which could offer an interesting winter menu option. Other flavours available (for service as iced drinks) are Strawberry and Banana, Peach and Passion Fruit and Raspberry and Cranberry. Elmeco granita machines suited to serving the drinks are available at £1,350 for a two barrel model.
Freshly cooked potato fries can be produced automatically on demand at rates of up to 150 servings per hour on the Fryworks XL, a fully enclosed computer-controlled machine from Fryworks UK. Frying times of around 25 seconds are achieved by the use of a potato mix specially developed by Nestle. This is mixed with water to form a paste which is then extruded; the resultant strips of potato are then deep-fried rapidly. A built-in HEPA filter minimises emission of cooking smells and enables the machine to be sited in locations such as cinemas and airports. Machines can be purchased outright at £16,600 or obtained on various lease rental and loan partnership arrangements.
Shaped like a giant orange, with matching bright paintwork, the Zummobile shown by Zummo UK provides a towable mobile for drinks service at outdoor events and in concession locations. The variety of beverage making equipment for fitment inside the unit includes includes various juicing machines and also a bean-to-cup coffee machine from the Spanish-made Stafco range, priced around £1200.
The Fowex food waste extractor launched at the show by Jarshire enables liquids to be squeezed from solid waste for disposal through the main waste outlet. the solids are then ejected into a waste container for removal. The unit is claimed to reduce waste volume by 85-90 per cent and has a self-cleaning, maintenance-free separator
A common guest turn-off at hotels and other establishments with fitness facilities is provision of inappropriate "beer towel" style sweat towels. A packaged answer shown at LIW is the white velour Marsupialtowel available in sweat, hand and bath-sheet sizes. Made in 100 per cent Egyptian cotton, the towels come in a Velcro-sealed pocket which also suits storage of locker keys and small items. Products can be customised with embroidered logos.
The Core Pilot exercise machine introduced by Core Culture provides a versatile facility for a range of fitness applications where portability is important. It is based around a single alloy beam on which a sliding platform traverses against variable resistances. various accessories are available.
Some of the latest people-weighing machines shown by Leisure Vend Operating at LIW provide a lot more information than just weight. The print-out from the Millennium multi-functional (weight and height) scale - which can be customised with the venue's own promotional message - also records Body Mass Index (BMI)measurements and computes ideal body fat and blood pressure.
Users are aided by voice message instructions. Price: £2,500. The simpler PPA electronic weight and height measurement scale costs £1,800
The Washroom Hygiene Monitor shown by Grange Total Solutions is based on a wall-mounted LED read-out which displays to customers and staff the time elapsed since a washroom was last cleaned. Intervals can be set at 60 or 90 minutes and a choice of shapes and external finishes are available, including customised versions. Price: £249
The Apollo Elliptical Trainer has joined the range of cardiovascular exercise equipment from Oxide. It has dual action handlebars designed to simulate cross-country exercise movement, giving users a realistic and demanding workout while supporting natural body movement. Flexible positioning during exercise allows users to find their natural rhythm and comfortable body position.
Suitable for poolside areas or meeting rooms, Looks Like Real foliage displays from J.P.Lennard have wooden stems and leaves based on photographs of real plant leaves for maximum accuracy. The range features contemporary plants like contorted willows, bamboo and ficus and come with a choice of planters in blue or white or terracotta.
Facilities available on ClubRunner's management system range from membership tracking and photo-imaging to instant membership card production and direct debiting. It is claimed to be the most user-friendly system on the market. Clients include Hilton hotels.
Integrated computer software for leisure applications from ESP can incorporate membership and administration, loyalty schemes, on-screen member pictures, bookings and automatic charging with reporting, food and beverage, kitchen printers and barrier access control added on as required. Systems are Windows based.
On-site paging systems shown by Flair Business Equipment include waiter call and staff call systems. A new customer call facility employs vibrating coasters to ensure that "table ready" and similar information gets through. Flair can also offer various bespoke communication products.
