Gunther Grant Inc (GNGR)

[BL28]

GNGR Website update 07/08/14

July 8th 2014

I am pleased to post our testing and data on our vortex digital unit.

After some field testing with a customer, we have concluded the following changes which have reduced the stress of programming the PID unit for specific needs but that programmed feature is still part of the PID control unit's functions.

Testing the Vortex in the field, we programmed the PID unit to automatically go from 125 degrees for 35 minutes, then drop to 105 degrees for 30 minutes, then 91 degrees for 30 minutes. This allowed the vortex to melt and temper ready-to-use chocolate in 1 1/2 hours which is right in line with our time estimates.

During testing we found that because the PID auto controller is set, once the cycle is started it cannot be bypassed. Meaning that if during the cooling cycle the power went out or the operator had to leave, they would have to start the melt cycle all over again. After working with the Omega engineers we found, to our surprise, that the PID 7800 controller also had a feature we did not know about. Again thanks to my over engineering, the Omega tech said you did buy the best unit available and can do so much more.

Because the chocolate industry has hundreds of types of chocolate that work on different temperatures and with only 8 memory banks, we would end up working day and night to educate vortex owners how to program which is not easy. I asked the Omega technicians if they make a unit that can be set at a specific temperature and held for a specific time but NOT advance to the next temperature until the user chooses to do so. This would allow the operator to do the following.

1) Turn Vortex on

2) Set a temperature (120 degrees) hit enter and unit heats to 120 and remains there until the operator chooses another temperature of their choice. This can keep the chocolate ready all day or overnight.

3) Once the operator is ready to temper they simply scroll with the arrow key to the desired temperature (105 degrees) and hit enter. At that moment the 120 degrees (which is held at 120 until the new temp is chosen) will drop to 105 and sound alarm. The chocolate will remain at 105 degrees until the third temperature (91 degrees) is chosen and entered which will drop the 105 degree chocolate to 91 making the chocolate tempered and ready to use (all cycles about 1.5 hours or less).

We also included a digital timer that mounts to the kettle as well as has a clip to keep on the operator in case they leave the area or go into an office and are on the phone and forget. The time will alert the operator that the time set between each cycle is ready so there is NO FOUL UPS along the way.

This feature simply means ANYONE can melt, seed and temper chocolate fast and with NO programming needed. After I told the Omega Technicians what I want he said YOU already have it on the unit that I have and simply told me how to change from ramp soak to manual semi. and it's EXCELLENT

We are reshooting the new video with this amazing feature. We already have interest from 3 countries who found our website and are also ready to show this simplified way to make the Vortex even better.

I also decided to go for it and set the PID to 350 degrees and when I hit enter it shot up to 350 in about 6 minutes!!!! And, I still had another 200 degrees I could have done but decided to not test that temp yet.

The outcome is a PID fully auto for those who can understand the complex programming YET also the semi auto which is as easy as setting a temperature then set your timer and that's IT!

I, too, am relieved as were the field people who said YES YES YES the manual set points are far better and allows choices in any temperature range. Trial and error wins again!

We are setting up the office in Las Vegas on the 17th and I will return on the 20th and shoot the new video. Once everyone sees how easy this is, everyone will want one.....

Grant