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Machine Maintenance

The start of a new year is aSLX400En excellent opportunity to take a look at your soft-serve machine and make sure that it is primed and ready to go for 2016! This includes not only continually cleaning your machine, but also proper lubrication and checking for any wearable parts that may have seen better days. Annually is a good time to remove the side panels and visually inspect for leaks from the motor casing and loose connections. You should also take the temperature of the hopper and freezing cylinder on standby and auto modes and compare that to what the machine is saying to check that it is calibrated correctly still. Ensuring that your machine is running properly and that it is consistently producing a quality product throughout the year will be essential to your customer base and overall margins at the end of the year.

Cleaning your machine is an important aspect of maintenance to help the longevity of your machine. Get in the habit of cleaning your machine at least once a week. This process includes running a sanitizing agent through the machine, effectively killing any bacteria that may have grown or built up.  If your machine goes weeks without being thoroughly and properly cleaned harmful bacteria may build up and could potentially lead to spoiled product.

Once the sanitizing agent is mixed with water and poured into the hopper of the machine, put the machine on the wash cycle and allow the product to cycle through the machine for a period of 5 minutes. This will allow the sanitizing agent to reach all of the nooks and crannies of the machine, killing any remaining bacteria. Be careful not to enable a feature on the machine that willPacket x2 freeze down the product, as the process of the water freezing could severely damage your machine. Every other week, we recommend pulling all of the machine components such as the face plate and the freezing cylinder shaft and let them soak in hot soapy water as well. The process of cleaning the machine is simple in its procedure, and it can be done any employee if they are properly trained how to do so. Check out http://frocup.com/product/sanitizer-packets/ to get started today!

Lubrication is another key technique in keeping your machine running for an extended period of time. The main component of the machine that requires lubrication is the back end of the shaft that sits deeper inside the freezing cylinder. Pull this out and pull off the rubber gasket that fits on the end of it. Lubricate around the square piece at the end of the shaft and place the gasket back onto the lubricated piece. When you pull out the freezing cylinder shaft to clean it is an excellent time to lubricate it as well. Tubes of all-purpose lube are also sold at http://frocup.com/product/machine-lube/.

There are various wearable machine parts that can become damaged and wear down over time. The scraper blades, for example, attach to the shaft on the inside of the freezing cylinder wear down and don’t scrape the edge of the cylinder with the exactness and precision that they once did. This leads to the freezing of product on the edge of the cylinder and can lower the overall quality of your product. These scraper blades are different with each individual machine company so make sure the blade is rated for your model of machine before buying replacements. You can find various machine springs, seals, and O-rings as replacement parts at http://frocup.com/product-category/supplies/.

Look for general brittleness or the wearing down of plastic parts as key points in replacement. Replacing parts before they go out will save you from costly damage to other components of the machine and keep you from having a non-functioning machine during your peak season. Understanding your machine is very important in maintaining it over time. Pulling out all of the main components and familiarizing yourself with them as you sanitize, lubricate, and replace any necessary parts will help you to keep your machine running strong throughout 2016 and beyond.machine breakdown diagram

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FrozenYogurtParts.com Guest Blog

Frozen Yogurt Parts Logo

Happy to have a guest blog article from our friends at FrozenYogurtParts.com today…

“January is the best time to replace your soft-serve machine’s wearable parts for the new year.  Each machine runs best with new blades, o-rings and lube.  Preventative maintenance includes not only regular cleaning of your machine, but also proper lubrication and checking for any wearable parts that may have seen better days.

Now is a good time to remove the side panels and visually inspect for leaks, debris or loose connections.  You should also take the temperature of the hopper and freezing cylinder on standby and auto modes and compare that to what the machine is saying to check that it is still calibrated correctly.  Ensuring that your machine is running properly and that it is consistently producing a quality product throughout the year will be essential to your customer loyalty and profit margin at the end of the year.

Cleaning your machine is an important aspect of maintenance to help the longevity of your machine. Get in the habit of cleaning your machine at least once a week.  This process includes running Stera Sheen sanitizer through while the machine is on wash mode, effectively killing any harmful bacteria.  If your machine goes weeks without being thoroughly and properly cleaned bad bacteria may build up and could lead to spoiled product.  The process of cleaning the machine is simple and can be done by any properly trained employee.

Lubrication is another key element to keep your machine running reliably.  The main component of the machine that requires lube is the back end of the shaft that sits deep inside the freezing cylinder.  Pull the shaft out and pull off the rubber seal that fits on the end of it.  Lubricate between the seal and the shaft.  O-rings should also be regularly lubed after each cleaning.  The best values on Stera Sheen, Petro Gel and Haynes lube are found at FrozenYogurtParts.com.  These lubes work great for frozen beverage and other types of machines as well.

There are various important machine parts that wear down over time.  The scraper blades, for example, which attach to the shaft on the inside of the freezing cylinder wear down and don’t scrape the edge of the cylinder with the exactness and precision that they once did.  This leads to the freezing of product on the inside surface of the cylinder and can lower the overall quality of your product.  These scraper blades are different with each individual machine make and model so be sure the blade is rated for your model of machine before buying replacements.  FrozenYogurtParts.com makes it easy by packaging all the wearable parts together in an easy to order kit for each machine model.  Best practice is to replace the blades every 3 months.

Replacing parts before they crack will save you from costly damage to other components of the machine and keep you from having a machine down during peak season.  Understanding your machine is important to maintaining it over time and creating your finished soft-serve or frozen yogurt masterpiece.”

Contact info@FrozenYogurtParts.com to see if they can save you money on replacement parts today!  Use coupon code NANCIS5 for a first-order discount at FrozenYogurtParts.com

View Taylor and Stoelting Machine Service Manuals and Parts Diagrams

FrozenYogurtParts.com also lists service manuals and parts diagrams for the most popular ice cream machines made by Taylor, Stoelting, Donper, Spaceman, Electro Freeze, and Aurel – Pasmo. From there you can also buy parts to replace the wearables on your ice cream machine.

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Which Ice Cream Cup Size is Best?

cups 10 14 16 black  

So, which size cup should I be using in my ice cream store?

When faced with the decision of what size ice cream or frozen yogurt cup to use in your store, several options probably come to mind. Cup sizes range anywhere from a small 4 ounce (oz) size cup to an enormous 32 oz cup. Surely there has to be an optimal size to make it easier on you as the business owner and to satisfy your customers. Nanci’s experience with soft-serve over several decades has lead us to just the answer: the 10 oz cup and the 14 oz cup. These are two new shapes pioneered by Nanci’s and available exclusively at FroCup.com. They are a perfect fit for self-serve customers! Both the new 10 oz and the new 14 oz cups have a fun and modern light swirl design around the outside and are made of a strong, durable paper material that doesn’t tear or seep at the seams. So why are these new sizes better than what you’re currently using?

10 oz – Small

This new shallow/wide shape is perfect for families with children. As you can see in the picture above, the 10 oz cup fills quickly and, due to the height of the cup, the yogurt spirals above the top to give it a nice and full look where the yogurt seems to be brimming to the top. As the yogurt melts and the customer digs in, the width will catch any running liquid or toppings from making a mess. Since it has the same width as a standard 16 oz cup, you can actually fit both your small and large cups in the same cup holders if desired.

According to our research, we have found the 10 oz cup is the ideal ‘small size cup’ to carry in your store. It has enough volume to hold yogurt for a customer who may just want a few bites – perfect for kids. It is the best of both worlds – wide enough to handle all the toppings your customer wants to add yet shallow enough to still look full. This perception of a full cup is key to a customer making their way back to your store in the future; you want them to feel as if they are getting the best ‘bang for their buck’.

Cups Comparison 10 14 16 white green
Comparison of the new 10 and 14 oz cups next to the 16 oz on the right.

14 oz – Large

The 14 oz cup is a deeper cup. It has a large volume and can hold a full pound of yogurt. And it has the same wide diameter as a standard 16 oz cup so it can easily handle all the toppings your customer wants to add. What makes the 14 oz superior to the 16 oz is the shorter height of the 14 oz. As you compare the 14 oz and the 16 oz cups, you see a clear difference in the presentation of the yogurt. The yogurt in each cup is the same amount, however it stands up much taller in the 14 oz and it looks much fuller. The 16 oz cup drowns the yogurt a bit, and the customers may feel they aren’t getting as much product as they really are getting. A full 16 oz cup of yogurt is a lot even for those with the biggest appetites and we have found that it is often not necessary to have that large of a cup in stock. A hungry customer will fill the 14 oz cup to a swirl above the rim and be satisfied with their eyes, tummy and wallet.

The 10 oz and the 14 oz are the perfect sizes whether you are just starting up a new shop, or you have owned a shop for years. FroCup has 4 vibrant colors to choose from: orange, blue, green, and pink.  The swirl design is popular among both young and old alike. Also available is a convenient one-size-fits-all clear dome lid for the 10 oz, 14 oz, and 16 oz cups. It’s easy to make the switch and increase your store’s customer satisfaction and perceived value. Give Nanci’s a call at 1-800-788-0808 or order online today at www.frocup.com.

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The popular Swirl design is available in 12 color/size combinations.
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Note the more appealing and satisfying look of the swirl in the shorter height cups.

16 oz, 20oz and Larger

The 16 ounce, 20 ounce, or larger cups give you more options for your frozen yogurt shop. You can use these cups for ice cream, gelato, soft-serve, parfait, or really anything. Paper cups are a great option for both dine-in or take-out customers. Ice cream cups are also available in a range of materials – from thick, durable paper to plastic. Cups for ice cream sundaes or gelato parfaits can even include lids to keep the toppings and sauces contained until the moment of serving. Ice cream cups are really versatile, and as a result you’ll likely want to stock up on more than one type. These larger sized ice cream cups allow your customers to take larger amounts home. You’ll want to make sure you have lids available.

How to buy ice cream shop cups at wholesale pricing?

Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt sells cups, lids, and spoons in a variety of sizes, colors, and materials on FroCup.com. This includes brands like UNIQ and desirable options like bio-degradable cups and eco-friendly spoons. You can try our best selling color cups in a variety of sizes including 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 20 oz options.