• The Romanian bakery and pastry industry has been going through a phase of accelerated maturation for several years. Factories have expanded, production capacities have increased significantly, and increasingly intense competition is forcing producers to rethink their strategy: not only in terms of volume, but also in terms of diversification, added value and operational efficiency.
In a sector where price is often at the limit of profitability, and the operating personnel crisis is pressing harder and harder, automation solutions are no longer a luxury reserved for big players - but a condition of competitiveness.
Italian company canola, based in Santorso, in the province of Vicenza, is one of the leading suppliers that meets precisely these needs. Founded in 1973 on the initiative of founder Guido Dal Masetto – who designed and patented the first machine in the world capable of automatically producing cannoli-type products – Canol has evolved in half a century from a specialized workshop into a global manufacturer of complete lines and equipment for the confectionery and bakery industry. Today, with over 50 years of experience, the company designs, develops and manufactures machines and lines for both the industrial and artisanal sectors, exporting to markets all over the world.
Workbenches – from the artisan workshop to the industrial line
Perhaps the most well-known segment of the Canol portfolio among Romanian manufacturers, work tables represent the backbone of any pastry department. Canol offers three configurations, sized for different needs:
Canolino is the compact version of the range, designed for confined production spaces and lower capacities. With an ergonomic design and a length available in three variants – 3,8 m, 5,2 m and 6,2 m – it is the ideal solution for production units that want to introduce automation without giving up flexibility.
Canol-line standard version is aimed at manufacturers with higher production capacity requirements, offering working lengths between 5,5 m and 12 m and widths of 600 mm or 800 mm. The modular design, intuitive touchscreen interface and stainless steel top channel for cable management and connecting additional accessories make this table a complete production line control center.
Canol-line industrial version is the top of the range: designed for high and very high capacity lines, available in lengths from 4.000 to 8.500 mm and widths of 600 mm, 800 mm, 1.000 mm or 1.200 mm. Its solid construction, high hygiene standards and high operating precision recommend it for manufacturers who cannot allow any variability in the quality of the finished product.
All worktables are controlled by PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and allow the storage of production programs, so that the transition from one assortment to another is done quickly, without wasting time.
The industrial version is available in five lengths: 4.000 mm, 5.500 mm, 6.500 mm, 7.500 mm and 8.500 mm – covering a wide range of configurations for high-volume lines. It should also be noted that the standard Canol-line table can be equipped with a stainless steel upper channel for managing and routing electrical cables, with connectors that allow direct connection of accessories and additional equipment – an elegant solution that keeps the production line tidy and simplifies future expansion.
Automatic puff pastry laminating lines
The second largest segment of Canol's portfolio is represented by automatic lines for the preparation and rolling of puff pastry.
Canol offers two versions: compact, for low capacities and limited spaces, and industrial, for continuous flow production at large volumes. Both lines allow the production of puff pastry with automatic incorporation of margarine, butter or fats and with an adjustable number of layers, guaranteeing product homogeneity and quality regardless of production shifts.
The equipment is designed to process puff pastry, croissant dough or Danish dough in continuous flow without exerting stress or tension on the gluten network – which directly translates into superior quality of the finished product, whether baked or frozen products.
A distinct advantage of these lines is their modularity: they can be integrated into existing production flows, configured in "L", "U" or "S" shapes depending on the geometry of the production space, and can be equipped with dough resting belts and temperature-controlled cells – an essential solution for manufacturers working with doughs sensitive to temperature variations.
With the help of these lines, over 80 different types of pastry products can be obtained, from croissants and croissants to products such as danish, structured or with filling.
Dough laminating lines
In addition to automatic puff pastry preparation lines, Canol also produces lines dedicated exclusively to the lamination of already prepared dough, designed to take the dough pastes and reduce them to the desired thickness and structure through a controlled and reproducible process. These lines integrate naturally into industrial flows where preparation and lamination are separate stages, offering flexibility in the organization of production.
Multi-Purpose Line — maximum productivity with technology "Zero Stress"
One of the most innovative solutions in the Canol portfolio is Multi-Purpose Line, available in compact and industrial versions, designed for the continuous production of a wide range of both savory and sweet products: ciabatta, flatbread, pizza bases, focaccia and many more.
The technological element that differentiates it is the system "Zero Stress" implemented in the dough extruder. With this technology, high-hydration doughs are processed delicately, without damaging the gluten network and without causing the loss of fermentation gases from the dough. The result is a finished product of superior quality compared to that obtained by traditional extrusion methods. The line is ideal for manufacturers who want to enter the artisanal products segment on an industrial scale, maintaining the organoleptic characteristics of the original recipes.
Bread line
Canol offers a dedicated bread production line, designed to process leavened doughs and produce various bread varieties in continuous flow. The flexibility of the system allows adaptation to different types of recipes, from classic breads to specialties with added ingredients or specific shapes.
Pizza line
The industrial pizza and frozen pre-prepared bases sector is covered by the Pizza Line Canol, a line designed for the continuous production of pizza bases in variable thicknesses and diameters. Integration with sauce depositors or decoration systems allows for an almost complete finished product, ready to be frozen or delivered directly to the distribution network.
Industrial fryers
Since 1973 – the year Canol manufactured its first cannoli production machines – industrial fryers have been part of the company’s DNA. The current range of Canol fryers is designed for the continuous production of donuts, Churros, fried products made from yeast dough or puff pastry, adaptable to various production capacities. The optimized design for rigorous sanitation, precise oil temperature control and automated product transport systems minimize operator intervention and ensure frying uniformity.
Injection equipment and filling lines
An often underestimated but essential chapter in the production of cream or filled products is that of injection machines. Canol produces several models in this category, including Model SIR-V6 – a horizontal six-needle injection line, designed for the continuous production of filled pastry products (eclairs, profiteroles, donuts, brioches). The multi-needle injection head allows for precise and uniform dosing of creams, jams or other fillings, reducing product losses and ensuring the consistency of each assortment.
In addition to injection machines, Canol also offers complete dosing and filling lines, adaptable depending on the type of product and the desired production capacity.
Automatic equipment for dough laminating
Completing the range of solutions for the preparation of rolled dough, Canol automatic laminators are designed for the uniform stretching of puff or leavened doughs, preparing the dough sheet for subsequent forming and cutting stages. They are equipment that naturally integrate into larger lines or can operate independently in medium-capacity productions.
The Romanian bakery and pastry industry needs equipment that can keep up with a changing market: more demanding in terms of quality, more sensitive to operational costs, more open to value-added products. The Canol portfolio offers concrete answers to all these requirements, regardless of whether we are talking about artisanal or industrial operations.
What makes Canol a valuable partner for Romanian manufacturers is not only the diversity of the range, but also the philosophy with which the Italian company approaches the relationship with the customer: consultancy to identify the optimal solution from the portfolio, the possibility of customizing equipment according to the specifics of production and complete technical assistance during installation and commissioning. It should also be emphasized their willingness to adapt their lines to the technological processes of their customers, allowing them to obtain traditional products with the help of modern technology.
The complete range of Canol equipment is distributed in Romania by Nova Pan SRL from Brașov, the interface through which all these services become accessible to Romanian producers – whether we are talking about a neighborhood bakery taking the first step towards automation with a Canolino, or an industrial factory investing in a complete lamination and forming line with automatic tray unloading. The Brașov company also provides local technical assistance, advice on choosing the right solution and after-sales support.
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor-in-Chief Arta Albă
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