Exclusive data reveals confectionery equipment trends

New report details purchasing and equipment trends in the candy manufacturing sector.

Cut-and-wrap machines from Theegarten-Pactec, like the one pictured here, offers manufacturers flexibility for wrapping chewy sweets and chewing gums. A new Clear Seas Research study found that two-thirds of companies plan to buy primary packaging equipment.

One-third of respondents to a recent equipment survey said they plan to add a new production line to their facility in the next 12 months.

That’s according to the new data from the Candy Industry Ingredient & Equipment Trends Study, which Candy Industry recently commissioned Clear Seas Research to conduct. Clear Seas is a sister company of BNP Media, which owns Candy Industry.

The data was collected March 23 – April 9, 2020. While this article focuses on the equipment-related data, Candy Industry will share the insights about the ingredient sector next week.

The equipment research revealed that:

Roughly three-quarters of respondents indicate this year's spending will either increase or stay the same as last year.

Last year’s average share of capital expenditure budgets designated for equipment was 36 percent, with half of respondents expecting an increase in equipment spending in 2020.

Current product usage, followed by cost savings/efficiency, are very important equipment purchasing attributes for four-fifths of respondents.

Over the next three years, nine-in-ten companies plan to buy packaging materials, followed by four-in-five who plan to buy processing equipment and/or ancillary equipment.

Among processing equipment planned purchases, two-thirds of respondents’ companies plan to buy mixers in the next three years. One-third of companies plan to purchase some type of cocoa processing equipment in the next three years.

In the next three years, over two-fifths of respondents’ companies plan to purchase conveyors and cooling equipment, followed by over one-third planning to buy melting and tempering machines and coating and enrobing chocolate and confectionery processing equipment. Two-thirds plan to purchase some kind of non-chocolate processing equipment.

Half of respondents’ companies plan to purchase scales/checkweighers and/or mold ancillary products in the next three years. Nine-in-ten companies plan to buy packaging materials, most commonly boxes and bags.

Primary packaging equipment is expected to be purchased by two-thirds of companies, including one-third planning to purchase form/fill/seal machines in the next three years. Labelers are likely to be purchased by nearly half of respondents, followed by one-third who are likely to purchase shrink wrappers.

Three-fifths of respondents’ companies plan to purchase some type of logistics equipment over the next three years, with one-third planning to purchase new software.

The purpose of the study was to better understand the purchase decisions made by industry professionals regarding ingredients and equipment

Crystal Lindell, Former editor-in-chief of Candy Industry Magazine. While here she has worked on Candy Industry Magazine, Food Engineering Magazine and Food Safety Strategies. She holds a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois – Springfield and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Illinois University. And her favorite breakfast is a cup of espresso and Twix bar.