Ware aware
Even the best establishment can be let down by cloudy glasses and less-than-spotless cutlery. Keeping these in pristine condition is the job of the least skilled staff in the kitchen, yet it is one of the most important in creating the right first impression for the customer.
To try to enhance the likelihood of a perfect end result, Tim Bender, UK product development manager, warewashing, for Hobart, says manufacturers are now designing machines which are simple to operate and with as few removable components as possible to facilitate cleaning. Maintenance is vital to achieving the best possible wash, as even the best machines need looking after. "The water has to be softened or demineralised and you need good detergents and rinse aids. Detergent quality varies a lot. It's also best to have separate glass- and dishwashers if you can," Bender says. Among the features to look for, he says, are easy-to-use controls: "If it's not easy to understand and clean, the operator won't do it."
John Nelson, managing director of Nelson Dish & Glasswashing, adds that double filters to trap all debris are a good idea. "A good-quality machine should last many years," he says. "A manufacturer offering low-cost extended warranties has confidence in the longevity of its machines."
Caterers buying a dishwasher or glasswasher may be tempted simply to select the cheapest machine on offer, but beware: cheap and competent do not sit credibly side by side, advise both CESA (the Association of Catering Equipment Manufacturers and Importers) and CEDA (the Catering Equipment Distributors Association). The latter suggests asking a local CEDA distributor to perform an on-site survey to determine which is the best system for your business. The distributor will look at water supply, the volume of ware to be washed (allowing for peak times and any plans for expansion), integration with existing handling or storage systems, staffing levels and abilities, and where the machines will be sited.
The best machines will be easier to clean. The interior should be smooth and nook-free, with jets and filters that are easy to remove and clean. Features may include low-chemical alarms and self-cleaning cycles to aid operators. CESA says it's also worth considering machines that offer lower energy consumption to minimise the impact of the Climate Change Levy, and an integral drain pump to help ensure optimum waste output. Double-skin casings help to reduce noise and heat emissions.
In the end though, Nelson says, much depends on the operator. He estimates that 75% of all service calls are for problems caused by operator error, and stresses the importance of training staff to look after the machines properly. This includes ensuring that the right type of water softener has been installed and is regularly maintained and that the wash temperature is set at the time of installation.
If water pressure is low, a booster pump may be needed to maintain machine efficiency, and users should not underestimate the potency of chemicals. "A common mistake is to change the ratios advised, swap for cheaper brands or substitute dishwasher chemicals," Nelson says. "But dish- and glasswashing chemicals should never be swapped. Dishwasher chemicals are more caustic, to remove higher levels of grease and debris, and will have the effect of etching glass, leaving a rough surface that can trap particles and attract bacteria.
"One unfortunate and ironic side effect of clean glasses is that Champagne and beer - especially lager - don't form deep heads," Nelson adds, "so glass manufacturers are introducing glasses with etched bases to simulate limescale and allow customers the foaming drinks they demand."
New on the market
A new range of Dexion dishwashers and glasswashers is now available from Aberna. Features include a waterproof control panel with "soft touch" buttons to protect the interior components from water damage and corrosive cleaners, digital displays for both wash and rinse temperatures, quick-release wash and rinse arms and a double-skinned door. Prices start at £949.
Glasswashers in hard-water areas - 70% of the UK - need a water softener to improve results and protect the machine from limescale, but traditional softeners are often too bulky for storing under crowded bar counters. European WaterCare Systems has launched a miniature, fully automatic water softener, only 200mm wide.
Meiko's new Economy range of warewashing equipment offers two models of under-counter glasswasher, an under-counter dishwasher and a hood-type pass-through warewasher, with prices starting at £1,790. Features include incorporated detergent rinse aid and detergent dosing pumps, drain pump, eco-filter system and a wash pump soft-start for delicate glassware.
Food service equipment supplier HCE also has its new Meiko E-Class warewashers, including under-counter dish- and glasswashers and a hood-type dishwasher. All machines have built-in detergent, rinse aid and rinse booster pumps, double-skinned construction, anti-block wash jets and counterbalanced doors.
Nordien-System UK, now part of Hackman Metos, has launched the Metos range of dishwashers, including under-counter glass- and dishwashers, hood machines, combined dish- and potwashers and cutlery sorting machines.
Hobart's new CNR Rack Conveyer is claimed to have filtration and wash systems that maximise savings on detergent and rinse agents. The range also offers a compact Corner Prewash version. Features include wash tanks drained at the touch of a button and a facility to drain or refill the prewash tank independently. The C30 heat recovery system is said to keep kitchen humidity to a minimum and reduce running costs.
Winterhalter's new GS200 range of under-counter glasswashers requires a minimum of operator involvement - a single touch activates the machine's electronic brain to calculate the optimum settings for water consumption, detergent and rinse aid concentration as well as temperature for the selected wash cycle. A colour-coded display on the front control panel shows the status of the wash cycle while a flashing blue light alerts the operator if there is a blocked filter. Winterhalter claims this is the first filter alarm in a glasswasher. The range also has an inbuilt self-cleaning programme.
Nelson Dish & Glasswashing has launched the Speedclean glasswashers with fully moulded stainless-steel interiors (no dirt traps) and shallow wash tanks.
Contacts
Aberna 01256 744500
CEDA 07010 701248
CESA 020 7233 7724
European Watercare Systems 020 8801 2300
Fagor 01732 860360
HCE 01489 789494
Hobart 020 8920 2888
Meiko 01753 561561
Nelson Dish & Glasswashing 020 8993 6198
Nordien-System UK 01707 393399
Winterhalter 01908 359000
Keep it legal, says CESA
It is illegal to connect machines directly to the mains cold water supply, warns CESA. So either an intermediate header tank with air break, or a machine with an integral Class A Air Gap - the device approved by the water authorities - is needed to prevent water syphoning back into the mains water supply.
Anyone intending to install a warewasher should also be aware that the water supplier must be notified, as installation cannot proceed without its consent. The exception is if the work is carried out by a contractor already approved by the water supplier or certified by an organisation specified by the regulator. Once installation is complete, the contractor is obliged to furnish a signed certificate confirming that the fittings comply with regulations.
Full regulations are available from the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme on 01495 248454 or www.wras.co.uk.
Gas or electric?
Gas can be used to save money on energy because there may not be enough electrical energy going into a building to run new machines or to free up electrical energy for other purposes, explains Meiko. It has introduced a gas heating system for its larger rack and flight warewashing machines, which it says offers potentially huge savings on heating costs.
While gas dishwashers are cheaper to run than their electric counterparts, says Geoff Snelgrove, director of Fagor Industries, their higher initial cost (10-25%) means they are only cost-effective in higher-output installations. But with annual savings of between £1,300 and £7,000, they can pay for themselves in a few years.
| Type of dishwasher | Power | Daily usage | Daily Cost Electricity (5p/kWh) | Daily Cost Gas (1.25p/kWh) | Savings per day |
| Pass-through | 12kW | 8 hours | £4.80 | £1.20 | £3.60 |
| Small rack conveyor | 24kW | 8 hours | £9.60 | £2.40 | £7.20 |
| Large rack conveyor | 63kW | 8 hours | £25.20 | £6.30 | £18.90 |
