Austrian baking technology company CFT Haas Convenience Food Equipment has provided Biscuits Dupon with two CAIMAN-D-300 lines only 12 months after the initial inquiry.

For five generations, Dupon has been creating high-quality cones and such quality and excellence have been Dupon’s trademarks. Only six months after Biscuits Dupon sent an inquiry to Austria’s Franz Haas CFT, the sugar cone producer endorsed the ordered CAIMAN-D-300 lines during trial runs at Haas HQ. A mere ten days after the lines were delivered, Dupon was already producing the first batch of sugar cones with the new equipment.

Both Dupon and Haas are family-run businesses, contributing to the special relationship and similar mind-set. Director of operations at Dupon Jordi Juncosa said: "Parameters in production must be absolutely accurate.

"We have an excellent, friendly relationship with Haas and we are very satisfied with the supplied technology because all our requirements were attended to. This is not so common in the industry. As in politics sometimes, many things are promised and at the end of the day, nothing is fulfilled."

Dupon was looking for a line with outstanding efficiency and performance. Low-cost machines were not an option because the company wanted continuous, reliable performance, 24 hours a day and five days a week. Dupon never doubted Haas technology and Juncosa said: "Haas is quality."

With its sophisticated technology, the efficient CAIMAN offers both high-capacity and consistent quality. Its flexibility allows the change between various recipes. Dupon has been running the lines for five months and reports after a few weeks, the ovens were producing the required output of 18,000 cones per hour with low downtimes and little waste as Dupon expected.

Easy handling of the lines is a further aspect and Dupon confirms the equipment is user-friendly. The touch panel is logical and easy to operate, the icons require no particular skills, cleaning intervals are favourable, and cleaning is quickly performed, keeping downtimes to a minimum.

Juncosa said: "The big advantage of the CAIMAN equipment is that consistent quality is warranted even at very high output rates, a typical strength of Haas technology."

Easy changeover times were also especially important for the Dupon operation. Depending on customer demand, Dupon needs to offer a variety of taste options. With Haas technology, Dupon can play with recipes because the CAIMAN lines accept different recipes with little modification or change in parameters.

Juncosa added: "It is a pleasure to be in the pole position with Haas, having the latest technology with the best efficiency."

Haas’ project engineer Harald Zeller was Dupon’s partner in developing the project from the very beginning. He is especially proud of a tailored solution to meet the client’s requirements. The unusual length of the production line was an aspect, which required attention and a passage now enables quick access between the lines.

After-sales service is a must at Haas, so project engineer Zeller stays in touch with Dupon. Because of the mutual benefits, Haas is confident that the mutual partnership will be long-lasting.