Importing bakery machinery from China: what to check before you buy
Dough sheeters, mixers and ovens from China can cost considerably less than in Chile. These are the points that decide whether the machine ends up working or sitting idle in a corner of the bakery.
By Equipo Telotraemos
A large share of the bakery machinery sold in Chile is made in China. Buying it direct can cost considerably less, but in a bakery a machine that stops means bread that never comes out. Before paying, these are the points most worth checking.
Your premises' electrical supply
Many dough sheeters, mixers and electric ovens are built for 380 V three-phase power. If your premises have 220 V single-phase, you need a different version of the machine or an upgraded installation, with the cost and lead time that implies. Power also matters: an electric oven may need more than your current contract allows. We explain it in Importing a machine from China: the 5 most expensive mistakes.
Steel: 304 is not the same as 201
Both look equally shiny in a photo, but 201 stainless steel is cheaper and stands up worse to moisture, salt and daily cleaning. For the parts that touch the dough, insist on food-grade SUS 304 steel, in writing on the proforma.
Gas ovens: gas type, certification and installation
The oven has to be built for the gas you will use, LPG or natural gas, because the burners are different. In addition, several gas appliances require SEC certification to be used in Chile, and the connection must be made by an authorised installer. Without that, the oven may arrive and never run.
Dimensions: trays, doors and working space
The trays of the oven and the proofing cabinet must match the pans and racks you already use. Measure doors and corridors too: some machines do not fit through assembled. For a dough sheeter, what counts is the length with the table open, not just the closed machine.
Operator safety
Dough sheeters and mixers work with rollers and hooks that can cause serious accidents. Check that they have guards, an emergency stop and a brake, and that everything works in the test video before dispatch.
Control panel with a stop button and a safety warning next to the rollers.
Spare parts and technical service
Belts, bearings, heating elements and circuit boards wear out or fail. It is worth ordering a spare-parts kit with the purchase, getting the manual and wiring diagrams, and knowing which technician in Chile can work on the machine.
A real case
We imported from China an industrial dough sheeter for a bakery in Castro, Chiloé: SUS 304 steel, a 4 kW three-phase motor, a running test filmed at the factory before dispatch, export packing and 0% duty under the free trade agreement with China.
How we work
We check these points with every supplier before you pay. We find and compare factories and give you the real final cost, delivered to your bakery. That work is covered by an activation fee, which is deducted from the final price if the purchase goes ahead. The import is made in our name and we invoice the agreed price in Chile.