New computer control system MIWE TC

Little by little MIWE is beginning to replace the MIWE CS, the company's older control system for all its baking ovens and refrigeration systems, with its newer control, the MIWE TC. The new control system will be presented at the Südback. There, visitors to the MIWE stand will witness the new control, impressive for its abilities and user-friendly operation, for the first time up close in the MIWE roll-in, as a prototype in the MIWE aero, and in the new MIWE ideal M. The control was introduced to the public for the first time as a prototype at the IBA 2006. One of the obvious highlights of the control is the large 7-inch color touch screen display that provides an exceedingly easy operator-friendly interface. The interface is conceived in such a way that the control -- given the same basic configuration at the monitor -- can be installed vertically or horizontally. The display's size (800 x 480 picture elements) allows for large-scale readouts that are clearly discernible over considerable distances.

Also completely new is the only additional operator feature of the control, a device that serves as a touch sensor. This is a touch-sensitive multi-function key that will react even at a distance and that is not unlike the clickwheel of an Apple ipod. The entire operating unit is without any protruding parts and protected from moisture -- perfect, therefore, for bakery environments.

Perhaps not quite as obvious but at least as useful are the inner qualities of the new MIWE TC. One of the system's great virtues relates to the topic of communication. A USB port, just like the one on the PC, has been placed in front, thus providing a short and easy connection to the data source. An Ethernet interface is already available as standard equipment; bluetooth and / or WLAN connections can be added optionally. This makes it easy to integrate the MIWE TC (and, of course, the system it controls) into the existing network architecture.

The MIWE TC is also on the cutting edge in respect to internationality. Not only does it have a wide variety of languages at its command, but it can also deal with the respective alphabets (Cyrillic, for example, for the Russian program).

The new MIWE TC can store as many as 250 baking programs with up to 8 baking phases each. The arrangement of the baking programs is extremely clear and easy to administer. Above all, when it comes to implementing multiple baking ovens, the baking programs can be controlled centrally and then -- for example via a USB port or remotely via LAN -- transferred to the individual ovens.

The MIWE TC offers the additional advantage of defining not only the fixed temperatures for all the baking phases, but also, by means of temperature gradients, both rising and falling temperatures. A standard feature of the MIWE TC is the automatic quantity control, MIWE gradient baking -- the intelligent, fully-automatic temperature adjustment for partially loaded ovens.

An extensive and nevertheless easy access control system ensures that only users who have received official clearance are allowed to access the administrative levels of the baking program interface. This also makes it possible to control who can switch from the "easy" to the "professional" mode in order to make whatever adjustments may be necessary.

The MIWE TC has also been designed with a view toward so-called performance baking at the point of sale. Via the USB port at the front, the baker can enter image and sound files and then let them play over the integrated monitor or loudspeaker system. Such multi-media capability can be exploited for internal purposes (users' manual, for example), but it is an even more powerful tool for implementing the baking station as a marketing instrument. In place of the empty screen, bakers can show their company logo, for example, or, to name but two of many possible ideas, he can show the customers in his store that in 3 minutes there will be fresh rolls, or that buttered pretzels are on sale today. And all of this, once again, only goes to show that -- when it comes to performance baking and point-of-sale atmosphere -- MIWE baking stations are about as modern as it gets.