Reading Bakery Systems expanded snacks
 RBS's expanded snack system is suited for producing corn curls, balls, ribbons, popcorn shapes, rings and more.

ROBESONIA, PA. — Reading Bakery Systems (RBS), a manufacturer of baking and process systems for the global food industry, has added an automated expanded snack system to its Science and Innovation Center in Sinking Spring, Pa.

The new snack system allows production of a variety of expanded snacks from corn, rice and other cereal ingredients, RBS said. Additionally, the new system is suited for producing corn curls and balls but may be used to produce a wider variety of expanded snacks, including ribbons, popcorn shapes, rings and more.

Joseph Cross, Reading Bakery Systems
Joseph Cross, product line manager of mixing and extrusion technologies for RBS

“The RBS expanded snack system allows for versatility and efficiency in snack food production processes,” said Joseph Cross, product line manager of mixing and extrusion technologies for RBS. “We are continually developing new shapes and formulas for this system at our Science and Innovation Center. We invite potential customers to come to the Center, and work with us to create samples and help develop their business plan.”

RBS said the expanded snack system includes a ribbon blender, ingredient transfer system to automatically refill the extruder, a high-pressure extruder and a pneumatic transfer system to move extruded products to the tumble dryer. The high-pressure extruder is capable of operating at variable speeds to adjust for the exact processing needs for each product, the company said.

“Our customers can now see exactly how the RBS expanded snack system will run in their facility,” Mr. Cross said. “This removes any guesswork — since this equipment at our Innovation Center is exactly the same as our production equipment.”

RBS opened the 30,000-square-foot Science and Innovation Center in 1996 and moved the center into its current facility seven years ago.