Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to popular questions about selecting, purchasing and operating food industry equipment
1.What equipment is suitable for starting candy production?
For small-scale candy production, we recommend starting with a CR3000 rounder (3000 pieces/hour capacity), a 50-100L cooking pot, and a packaging machine. Minimum investment is from 1,000,000 RUB. This set allows production of up to 500,000 candies/month and pays back in 2-4 months.
2.What are the delivery times for equipment?
Standard delivery times: equipment in stock - 3-7 business days, custom manufacturing - 4-8 weeks, imported equipment - 8-16 weeks. Installation and commissioning take an additional 1-2 weeks depending on line complexity.
3.Do you provide warranty on equipment?
Yes, all equipment comes with a 12-month warranty from commissioning. The warranty covers manufacturing defects and malfunctions during normal operation. Extended maintenance contracts up to 5 years are also available.
4.Is installment payment or leasing available?
Yes, we work with leading leasing companies. Leasing terms: down payment from 10%, term from 12 to 60 months, rate from 8% annually. Interest-free installment payment for 6-12 months is also available for verified customers.
5.Does the equipment price include installation and commissioning?
Equipment prices typically don't include installation and commissioning. Installation costs 10-15% of equipment price and includes: delivery, setup, utility connections, configuration, staff training, and test runs. Exact cost is calculated individually.
6.What are the premises requirements for equipment installation?
Main requirements: minimum 3 meters ceiling height, 380V power supply (capacity depends on line), water supply (cold and hot), sewage, supply and exhaust ventilation. Walls and floors must have washable surfaces. Floor space is calculated individually based on line configuration.
7.Do you provide staff training on equipment operation?
Yes, operator and technical staff training is included in installation and commissioning cost. Training program includes: theory (equipment design, safety), practice (operation, parameter settings), maintenance training. Duration: 2-8 hours depending on equipment complexity.
8.How often is maintenance required?
Scheduled maintenance is recommended every 3-6 months depending on work intensity. Basic maintenance includes: mechanism cleaning and lubrication, electrical connection checks, sensor calibration, consumables replacement. Planned maintenance cost: from 10,000 RUB. Fixed-cost service contracts are available.
9.What equipment is needed for Chestny Znak marking?
For Chestny ZNAK marking you need: Data Matrix code printer (thermal transfer, laser, or inkjet TIJ/CIJ), label applicator (from 150,000 RUB), code verification system (from 200,000 RUB), GIS MT integration. Complete set cost: from 600,000 RUB for automatic marking.
10.Can existing equipment be upgraded?
Yes, most equipment can be upgraded. Popular options: process automation (sensors, control systems), productivity increase (drive replacement, mechanism upgrades), adding marking functions, integration into automated line. Upgrade cost is typically 20-50% of new equipment cost.
11.What documents are needed to start food production?
Required documents: business registration (sole proprietor or LLC with appropriate activity codes), TR CU 021/2011 and 022/2011 conformity declaration, Rospotrebnadzor conclusion, production control program, waste disposal contract, for some categories - HACCP certification. We can recommend specialists for obtaining permits.
12.Do you supply spare parts and consumables?
Yes, we supply original spare parts and consumables for all equipment. Parts delivery from stock: 1-3 business days, custom order: 1-4 weeks. We recommend maintaining minimum stock of critical parts (belts, bearings, seals) to minimize downtime.
13.What equipment productivity is realistically achievable?
Real productivity is typically 85-92% of rated due to material loading, setup, format changes, and planned downtime. For example, equipment rated at 5000 pcs/hour actually produces 4300-4600 pcs/hour in an 8-hour shift. This is normal and factored into payback calculations.
14.How to calculate required equipment productivity?
Calculation formula: Hourly productivity = (Monthly volume × 1.3) / (Working days × Working hours). Factor 1.3 is buffer for downtime and business growth. Example: for 100,000 candies/month at 22 days × 8 hours: (100,000 × 1.3) / (22 × 8) = 739 pcs/hour. With 90% utilization factor, you need 820 pcs/hour equipment.
15.What sales channels do you recommend?
Main sales channels for small and medium production: retail chains (40-50% revenue, high entry barriers), HoReCa - restaurants and cafes (20-30%, premium segment), corporate clients - gift sets (10-20%, seasonal), own online store and marketplaces (10-20%). We recommend starting with HoReCa and corporate clients, then entering retail chains.
16.How many people are needed to operate a production line?
Minimum staff depends on automation level. Semi-automatic line (100,000 candies/month): confectioner-technologist (1), production operators (2-3), packers (2), cleaner/warehouse keeper (1) - total 6-7 people. Automatic line (500,000 candies/month): technologist (1), operators (3), packers (1-2 if packaging automated), support staff (2) - total 7-9 people.
17.What is the investment payback period for equipment?
Average payback periods at full capacity: small lines (up to 1M RUB) - 2-4 months, medium lines (1-3M RUB) - 4-8 months, large lines (3-10M RUB) - 8-18 months. Key factors: product margins, equipment utilization, sales efficiency. 3-year ROI is typically 100-200%.
18.Do you provide on-site service?
Yes, our service engineers travel throughout Russia and CIS. Standard response time: within city - 4 hours, regions - 24-48 hours. On-site service cost: within city included in maintenance cost, regions - calculated separately (travel + specialist work). Remote diagnostics and consultations available for distant regions.
19.How to choose between Russian and imported equipment?
Russian equipment: competitive prices (2-3 times cheaper), fast support, available parts, GOST compliance. Imported equipment: high productivity, reliability, long service life, but high cost and parts issues. Recommendation: Russian equipment for small and medium business, imported for large production with high requirements.
20.Can I see equipment in operation before purchasing?
Yes, we organize visits to our clients' operating facilities where you can see equipment working, talk to operators and technologists, conduct test runs with your materials. Product samples from our demo room are also available. Visits are arranged free for serious buyers.