Petrie Ltd

Speaking at the launch of the product, Rob Stevens, Business Development Manager for Petrie Technologies, said, “We are very excited by the launch of our Batch Air and Microwave Assisted (BAMWA) oven. Petrie Technologies has over 20 years of experience in industrial microwave technology. Up to now this technology has only been available in very large industrial units. With new developments we have been able to integrate this technology into a much smaller more flexible product at a very affordable price.  As far as we are aware, this is a world’s first; a small bakery sized oven, capable of taking a bakery trolley, with the added advantage and flexibility of microwave. It plugs a gap between a domestic microwave and a very large continuous system.  We have had so much interest from so many different areas of the food industry and also other non food industries we feel its applications could be extremely diverse. With this product we have done the development that usually needs to be undertaken by the end users; which is something that has prevented many companies from experimenting further with microwave technology in the past.

The oven has a 20kW microwave generator along with a conventional heating system making it capable of baking over 80 loaves of crustless bread in less than 25 minutes. The first units are electrically powered but there will be a gas powered option along with the addition of steam for even more flexibility.  The system uses industrial 900MHz microwave, with a much longer wavelength than the conventional microwave used in domestic applications.This gives a greater penetration and much improved product with consistent results.

Potential other applications include:

• Defrosting of meat
• Baking of meringues (reducing a process of several hours down to a few minutes)
• Proving of bread dough
• Unique bakery products
• Colour development
• Sterilizing / shelf life increase of a variety of products
• Drying of biscuits
• New product development and trial batches
• Flexible for use during increased production requirements as a standard oven
• Curing of composite materials
• Drying of ceramics

The units are supplied pre-programmed for easy operation and minimal training requirements, and also include a set of microwave tins and trolley. “There is no need for any extra equipment as everything is supplied as part of the package” Rob explained, “and once installed, which takes only a few hours, the Petrie BAMWA is ready for use”.