DRY MY PLASTIC: DMX IS FAST, EFFECTIVE REUSABLE PLASTIC TABLEWARE DRYER
Dry My Plastic: DMX is fast, effective reusable plastic tableware dryer
Winterhalter’s new drying device for all types of recyclable plastic catering ware
More and more foodservice operators are using reusable plastic crockery, cutlery and containers, in sectors as varied as QSRs, schools, event catering, hospitals and care homes. Plastic has huge benefits, for example in terms of safety, practicality, strength and lack of breakages, and reusable plastic is highly sustainable. However, plastic catering ware requires more time to dry than standard tableware, and often the kitchens have limited space for air drying and they may need to reuse the tableware as quickly as possible. That’s why Winterhalter, working with some of its major customers, developed the DMX plastic drying device.
The DMX is designed to be used in conjunction with, and sit alongside, a passthrough or undercounter dishwasher, such as the Winterhalter PT and UC ranges. The washed plastics come out of the dishwasher, in their rack, which is loaded straight into the DMX. There they are dried, within two minutes, with the water film being completely removed. They can then be handled by staff who can stack, store or use them for service straight away.
Used in conjunction with Winterhalter’s dedicated plastics cleaning chemicals, rinse aid and wash program, the result is perfectly hygienic and dry plastic tableware.
The DMX works by blowing air from both above and below the racks, so that even hollow items such as cups and bowls are dried inside and out. It has three drying programs, Eco, Standard and Multirack. In the Standard and Multirack programs, the upper drying unit’s recirculation fan blows air at 75°C onto the racks, while the lower drying unit blows air upwards at 55°C, ensuring the plastics are perfectly dry in just two minutes. In the Eco program, air is drawn in at room temperature, extending the drying time to five minutes and reducing energy consumption to a minimum.
Operation is simple: in the Eco and Standard programs, the DMX detects the rack when it is loaded and starts the drying cycle automatically. With the Multirack program, staff simply push a button to confirm loading.
The DMX can be installed in a variety of ways to suit the layout and operation of the kitchen. In passthrough format, it is mounted on the outlet table next to the PT passthrough dishwasher, and racks can be fed directly from the PT and then out of the DMX, inline. With a corner installation, racks are pushed into the DMX inline, then removed from the front of the unit. Alternatively, the DMX can be supplied for front loading and unloading.
For one major high street QSR customer, Winterhalter has developed the DMX so that it is connected to the PT dishwasher: when it senses the wash cycle is about to end, it starts up automatically so that it is up to temperature and ready for the drying program. This also enhances energy efficiency, since it means the DMX is only on when it needs to be.
“The DMX is a huge benefit for any operator making use of reusable plastics,” says Paul Crowley, marketing development manager at Winterhalter UK. “In many countries there are now legal regulations to reduce disposable packaging in foodservice – it’s likely something similar will come to the UK in the future, and the DMX supplies a solution here, too.”
The DMX is easy to install and can be retrofitted to existing installations.