WTCE issue: From chaos to order
This is a special feature from PAX International's May 2024 WTCE issue, on page 98.
Diskomat has seen an increase
in airlines introducing stainless
steel cutlery to main cabins
where volumes are high
Picture this: Airline catering kitchen staff are seated around a table on which huge piles of shining, freshly-washed cutlery have been placed. They are sorting through for individual pieces by hand. Or, perhaps they are standing near the unloading area of the dishwasher, separating each piece into designated drawers. After a short time, fatigued staff must rotate and rest. The work cannot be carried out continuously. Production is inefficient, tiresome and dated.
Cue Diskomat.
Sven-Arne Hedell, Area Sales
Manager SEA, Diskomat
With goals to help airline cater- ers improve productivity and reduce labor-intense cutlery sorting by hand, the Stockholm-based company developed a machine in the mid-1980s to rationalize the tedious and costly cutlery handling.
“What resulted was the automatic cutlery sorting machine,” Sven-Arne Hedell, Area Sales Manager SEA, Diskomat, tells PAX International.
The automatic cutlery sorting (ACS) machine is popular and renowned for its efficiency, ergonomic benefits for staff, durability and the increased hygiene it offers. Designed to accommodate commercial kitchens, it also supports catering kitchens as they intentionally implement more eco-friendly practices.
The machine can be connected to the dishwasher or installed as a standalone. If connected to a cutlery washer, the result is a fully automatic washing system. It is available in two versions, the ACS800 Dynamic and the ACS400 High Capacity, the latter of which is most suitable for airline catering, says Hedell.
The ACS is customizable and can be programmed to accommodate up to 30 different cutlery models. Kitchens can customize the settings based on which cabin class the machine is servicing.
The models can be programmed for different knife, fork and spoon varieties. It can sort an impressive 3,000 to 5,000 pieces of cutlery per hour, depending on the size of the cutlery. It also eliminates the need for staff to touch washed cutlery, improving hygiene, Hedell explains.
Diskomat points out that environmental consciousness has been an important focus for airlines in the last few decades, and along with it, the company has seen an increase in airlines introducing stainless steel cutlery to main cabins where volumes are high. “With this, there is a notable upswing in popularity and demand for automatic cutlery sorting,” Hedell says.
While the first flight catering company to install the ACS400HC was SAS Service Partner (now gategourmet) in 1987, the machine is now used by several airline caterers, as well as a variety of commercial and hospital kitchens. Notable clients include Korean Air Catering, Qantas Flight Catering, DO&CO and Newrest, among others.
The automatic cutlery sorter offers ease of use. The conveyor belts require cleaning by the operator one to three times per shift; a task that takes maximum three minutes. Service is required on the ACS by a trained technician once to twice annually, depending on utilization.
Wexiödisk’s automatic
cutlery sorting machine
boasts durability,
hygiene and efficiency
“On an average day we use around 7,000 pieces of cutlery, and I can’t imagine life without the cutlery machine. Having to sort this by hand would force us to have someone doing it manually all day—almost. We are really happy about the machine, we take good care of it and praise every day it just starts up again,” Newrest says.
“The cutlery sorting machine has helped us to manage increased
efficiency and precision in organizing and separating cutlery. It has
helped us in streamlining the process
of sorting large volumes of cutlery,
which saves us time and labour.
The machine is also reliable and durable, making it a perfect choice for our business,” adds DO&CO.
The automatic cutlery sorting machine at a DO&CO kitchen
Hedell adds more details: “Investing in an ACS will, almost always, result in a remarkably short pay-off period. The ACS sells in the range from 95K to 105K euros including programming, buffer conveyor, spare parts, training, freight and installation.”
Correctly handled and properly maintained, the promising ACS400HC boasts lasting longevity. Diskomat surveyed 10 clients that had invested in sorters. Results reveal that replacements were needed after 14 to 15 years of use, on average.
“We have an airline catering client that has been running the same machines for more than 20 years,” Hedell says.
The ACS promises streamlined operations which enhances efficiency. By eliminating the tedious task of manually sorting cutlery, the durable machine boosts productivity, hygiene and enhanced ergonomics for staff. Its adaptability to different settings, customizable features and ability to support sustainable practices make it a preferred choice for commercial kitchens worldwide.
