Pie making and pie machine history

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Pie making for us as a family all began in the early 1980s. We were the first independent pie manufacturing family in the Eastern Cape, South Africa and probably one of the first in the country.

Thanks to fantastic recipes which remain a closely guarded secret and legendary pastry, our family business grew rapidly. At times, we were producing more than 5000 pies per day.

It was the limitation of space and high costs that spurred the concept that is now the Pie Designs & Solutions system. We needed to develop ways of working smarter, using less space, producing more pies, more profitably.

"Herewith, I would like to thank you for the excellent products that you supplied us with. It has truly made light work of our production." - Andre Vorster

Innovative pie-making and bakery equipment development.

The Pie Design and Solutions range started with our lidding machine and has led to many other innovations in bakery equipment design, which has evolved over the years into cost-effective, high volume production solutions.

The business is primarily rooted in the Port Elizabeth engineering industry. We have undertaken specialised fabrication and machining and serviced the automotive, optical, textile, aeronautical and food and beverage industries. Amongst other major companies, Coca-Cola and Volkswagen counted as our clients.

With the extensive knowledge and skills acquired we have grown into a specialised design and manufacturing business, while surviving some arduous times. Thanks to our specialist abilities, dedication and belief in what we do and Grace, we have managed to survive these times and continue to grow from strength to strength.

Pie Design and Solutions was then born from lots of prayer and consultation with God, who one can say is the senior partner in our business. Though this may sound strange to some, the truth is we take what we do, our customers, potential clients and the long term very seriously. We are human and fallible, and to achieve successes in the unknown we feel it is important to consult with God in prayer, in our quest to attain the highest standards in all we do.

Tried and tested bakery equipment engineering - Testimonials

The need to redevelop the lidding machine into a high volume solution arose. The original, launched in 1993, was not suitable for high volume heavy industrial pie production, even though it is still in use every day, to this day. The relevant product shortcoming were addressed, this brought to life the now 2010 lidding machines which are the cornerstones of ones pies final quality. A machine offering you tremendous versatility and flexibility superior and unlike any pie sealing system in the world.

"Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for man." Colossians 3 v 17

"What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him." Ecclesiastes 3 vs 9-14

In 2003 we were privileged to supply our new lidding/crimping machine to King Pie South Africa. This was pivotal in our survival, and the positive turning point of the time.

During the course of the next year, work began on designing the worlds first cold blocking/forming process, and we launched the first machine in early 2006. The first two cold blocking systems were sold to the manufacturers of Christmas mince pies for Woolworths, an upmarket retailer and supplier of quality foods and merchandise in South Africa.

It was the success of this sale that enabled us to move forward as we had wanted to. It also made us realise the full potential of our process: the manufacturers for Woolworths had to produce 9 million Christmas mince pies to be in store by December.

Two Cold Blocking Systems and two Lidding Machines were supplied in late September for production to begin for this December order. The order was successfully completed producing nine million pies on two machines in as little as three months.

Constant innovation in pie-making equipment

Our Cold Blocking Machine has since been greatly improved. We have supplied major retailers and franchises with our machinery. In addition, our machinery has allowed the smaller independent pie manufacturer to not only remain competitive in the market, but are now in the powerfull position to compete with the giants of the industry.

We believe in both innovation and constant improvement. Therefore our research and development is an ongoing process.

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