Mapping Test Centers: the Rademaker China Technology Center

The Rademaker China Technology Center (RCTC) is a unique, high-tech climate-controlled testing facility opened in China earlier this year.

A virtual tour

With a total floor space of 872 sqm, the RCTC features production equipment, mixers, proofers and ovens, available to make sure full production processes are simulated. Processes that can be replicated at Rademaker’s facility in Hangzhou are aimed for a wide variety of pastry products, as well as for breads and even pizzas.

“Our goal is to help develop business and products based on the existing technologies, or technologies to be developed in the near future. Rademaker is ready to support the Chinese bakery industry. We take the Chinese bakery industry very seriously and are honored to be the first and only bakery manufacturer to set up a technology center specifically focusing on the Chinese market,” says Onno Kuiper, manager Rademaker China and senior technologist.

The RCTC project

Rademaker has been present in China for over 10 years. During this time, their Chinese and Asian customers were faced with a long and expensive trip, in order to undertake testing at the company’s Technology Center based in Culemborg, the Netherlands. “During the last five years, we saw that the Chinese bakery industry is rapidly growing from non-origin bakery market to a more and more developed bakery market. Because the market knowledge is still growing, we saw that there was a big opportunity for us to contribute on this level. We saw different possibilities to contribute to the Chinese and Asian bakery industry,” adds the manager.

In the beginning, “We decided, based on our experience in the region, that we could serve the market best with a block processor laminator and a DoFlex make-up production line. This made us able to offer customers the ability to produce a wide product variety,” Kuiper recalls. Rademaker’s partners also contribute to the center with mixing, cooling and freezing, and baking equipment, to complete the offering for industrial bakeries.

A visual tour of The Rademaker China Technology Center

The working visits

The center belongs exclusively to the one customer who is visiting to work for the day, regardless of the size of the team coming in. Based on their requests, several products and production processes can be tested daily. “Some products, like artisan bread or pastries, require a long resting or proofing time that will have a big impact on how the test day looks like. So it is always depending on the products and the processes that we establish how many products can be tested.”

As for training, a maximum of two sessions can be held during the day. “Most of the time it will be one training per day, however. In most cases, the training course is based on a theoretical part, which is given in the morning, and the practical part during the afternoon at the production line,” according to Rademaker’s workflow.

What can you do at the RCTC?

• Product development and testing: The RCTC provides the opportunity to test products, processes and develop new products
• Production line and product demonstrations: Clients can get familiar with Rademaker production lines and learn extensive features
• Academy: Training is offered for operators and technicians, to help improve their knowledge level and performance. Training can be customized to specific equipment and production processes.
• Seminars: The RCTC can host and facilitate seminars for your customers and stakeholders
• Strategic meetings and presentations: The RCTC comprises a number of meeting and presentation rooms that you can use to optimize your production process

Read the whole article on the virtual tour of the center, in Asia Pacific Baker & Biscuit, the summer issue.