Kitchen Planners Day
Networked kitchen technology and Artificial Intelligence for sustainability and healthy nutrition
The Welbilt team welcomed expert kitchen planners and guest speakers to the Eglfing site for a one-day expert planner seminar on 25 May 2023.
Held in beautiful surroundings at the Bavarian Staffelsee, over 20 participants took part, opening with a joint dinner the evening before. The main topics of networked kitchen technology and Artificial Intelligence for sustainability and healthy nutrition, provided much food for thought throughout the day.
Tobias Brand, Sales Director Germany, opened the seminar, providing a brief overview of Welbilt and the most important brands. Then Arndt Manter, Head of Product Management Convotherm, provided an introduction to the Convotherm world, vision and future prospects. "We want to remain as the leader in innovation and are constantly developing both our people and our equipment. Sustainability is already a matter of course for us. Today, thanks to our biomass power plant, our entire production is already CO2 neutral."
Convotherm’s current product portfolio in the combi oven sector was then presented. One highlight was the world's first combi oven with artificial intelligence (AI): ConvoSense technology recognises food, and automatically selects the right cooking process. The topic of networked cooking was also explored in detail: an explanation of how KitchenConnect® the innovative, cloud-based networking solution, can help to control, monitor and update all appliances from anywhere in real-time.
To demonstrate the fact that Welbilt offers solutions, based on entire concepts, participants were also given an overview of other high-performance appliances, including Merrychef high-speed ovens, Frymaster high-performance deep fryers and Garland high-performance grills.
Jürgen Burkart from the Culinary-Team delivered lunchtime delights, demonstrating sustainable and efficient Cook & Chill solutions in Convotherm combi ovens, Delfield Chillers and Merrychef high-speed ovens.
Participants were treated to a tour of Convotherm’s production plant, where Stefan Dorsch, Head of Production, explained the steps in production, showing the advantages of a sustainable approach and how it is being implemented.
The day was rounded off by guest speakers from two companies. Volker Eckmann and Thomas Beyer from GIF ActiveVent GmbH spoke about sustainable kitchen ventilation. Martin Albrecht of Albrechthof, Europe's first organic certified school and day-care caterer, explained how modern technology supports sustainability and healthy nutrition.
Tobias Brand concluded, "We are working on further concepts and seminars for planners and look forward to an increasingly active exchange."
