Tabletop slicing is slow and labor-intensive. Consider upgrading to an industrial slicer to boost production and efficiency.
As a food manufacturer, commissary, or foodservice supplier, you constantly seek ways to streamline operations, enhance product quality, and continue to grow your business. One key piece of equipment in this puzzle is your commercial food slicer. If you're currently relying on a tabletop slicer, you might wonder if it's time to switch to a more industrial solution, such as the Grote 613 Multi-Slicer.
This blog will discuss the factors to consider when deciding whether to upgrade your slicing capabilities. It will weigh the pros and cons of sticking with your current setup versus investing in a 613 Multi-Slicer. You'll clearly understand which option best aligns with your operational goals and production requirements.
Factors to Consider
Production Volume
Production volume is critical in deciding whether to upgrade your industrial food slicer. With a rate of 90 strokes per minute, the 613 Multi-Slicer outpaces traditional tabletop slicers. The 613 Multi-Slicer allows you to slice multiple lanes of product within a 13-inch-wide zone, increasing throughput and allowing multiple products to be sliced simultaneously; tabletop slicers can only handle products up to 10 inches in diameter and process one log at a time. This increased capacity enhances productivity, making it a compelling choice for businesses looking to scale their operations.
The higher rate adds up to considerable production capacity. Triple Sticks Foods uses 613 Multi-Slicers to slice meat and cheese for 30,000 sandwiches per day.
Applications
The range of applications your slicer can handle is another important factor when deciding whether to upgrade.
Food Products
Tabletop slicers are primarily used for slicing deli meats, boneless meats, and cheeses. The 613 Multi-Slicer excels in slicing meat and cheese logs but also slices bread and produce such as tomatoes, onions, and citrus. This versatility allows for a more diverse product offering without additional investments.
Slice Patterns
While tabletop slicers are limited to bulk slicing, the 613 Multi-Slicer bulk slices, stacks, and shingles products. This flexibility allows food manufacturers to process multiple offerings and packages on the same machine.
Mobility
When growing your food business, flexibility is crucial to staying nimble. The 613 Multi-Slicer offers exceptional mobility, thanks to its easy movement on casters. It allows you to move it wherever it’s needed in production or to sanitation and back. This contrasts sharply with tabletop slicers, which are cumbersome to relocate and wash down.
The 613 Multi-Slicer can also integrate semi-automatically with conveyor and packaging lines, further enhancing efficiency. This flexibility streamlines operations and better meets the dynamic needs of your production environment.
Maintenance
Maintenance requirements should significantly impact your decision to upgrade your slicing capabilities and factor into long-term ROI.
Blades
Tabletop slicers utilize circular blades that require re-sharpening, a time-consuming and costly process. In contrast, the 613 Multi-Slicer uses inexpensive, disposable band blades that can be changed in less than five minutes, resulting in minimal downtime. Grote blades are readily available and can be set up on an auto-ship program, ensuring you never run out.
Training & Technical Services
Training and retraining operations and maintenance staff on your commercial slicer are key to getting the best performance. Grote Company offers robust video and in-person training, troubleshooting tips, and emergency service to support 613 Multi-Slicer 
owners. Our preventative maintenance plans bring our experts to your facility to inspect and maintain the machine, while your team focuses on production.
Supplemental Support
The 613 Multi-Slicer has an optional parts cart designed to hold components correctly during maintenance and changeouts, preventing loss or damage. Complementary accessories like these reduce maintenance costs, enhance operational efficiency, and maximize productivity.
Labor
Labor needs are a critical consideration when choosing whether to upgrade your commercial food slicer. The 613 Multi-Slicer significantly reduces labor with gravity feed loading and an attached outfeed conveyor, streamlining operation with less manual work and oversight. In contrast, tabletop slicers, even those with automatic features, require constant operator supervision to ensure smooth functioning and address any issues during operation. This constant need for monitoring and manual involvement can drive labor costs and pull resources away from other tasks. Upgrading to the 613 Multi-Slicer allows food manufacturers to optimize labor utilization, reduce operating expenses, and achieve greater productivity with fewer workers.
Slicer Cost Breakdown
The cost of each option is a critical component of your decision to upgrade. While the 613 Multi-Slicer comes with a higher initial investment of approximately $55,000 compared to tabletop slicers at around $13,000, it is essential to consider the long-term financial benefits. See the comparative cost table below:
|
Feature
|
613 Multi-Slicer
|
Tabletop Slicers
|
|
Upfront Cost
|
~$55,000
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~$15,000
|
|
Slicing Speed
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90 strokes/minute
|
Slower
|
|
Capacity
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Multi-lane, up to 13” wide slice zone
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Single log, up to 10” wide slice zone
|
|
Blades
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Inexpensive, disposable band blades
|
Frequent re-sharpening, costly downtime
|
|
Labor Requirements
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Reduced (semi-automatic)
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High (constant supervision)
|
Despite the 613 Multi-Slicer's higher upfront cost, the potential Return on Investment (ROI) can make it a far superior economical choice over time. Increased production capacity, significant labor savings, reduced downtime, and versatile functionality contribute to offsetting the higher initial investment. By enhancing overall efficiency and productivity, the 613 Multi-Slicer meets immediate operational needs and supports long-term business growth, ensuring a solid ROI.
Grote Can Help You Make the Right Decision
In conclusion, the decision to upgrade your industrial food slicer hinges on your specific operational needs and goals. With their lower upfront cost and more straightforward functionality, tabletop slicers are well-suited for manufacturers with smaller production volumes and a limited range of products, primarily deli meats, boneless meats, and cheeses.
However, for those seeking to increase efficiency and production, reduce labor costs, or expand their product offerings, the 613 Multi-Slicer is the right choice. Its superior speed, multi-lane capacity, and enhanced flexibility cater to high-demand environments and can deliver a significant return on investment through increased production and labor savings. Contact Grote for more information about whether it’s time to upgrade your slicer.
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