BakeAway is a premier UK-based manufacturer producing up to 1.8 million units of high-quality dough, pastry, and pancake products per week. Operating a 24/7 facility, the site processes an incredible 10,000 tonnes of flour annually.
Across four production lines, flour is transferred from weigh heads down into mobile mixers. Originally, the plant utilised traditional two-metre-long fabric sleeves sourced from the OEM to bridge this gap. However, this legacy setup created some operational issues:
High Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): The OEM fabric sleeves degraded quickly and required replacement every six months, creating unnecessary recurring costs and leading to frequent supply chain delays.
Maintenance Bottlenecks: The fabric sleeves were secured using standard jubilee clips. Because removal required tools, the Hygiene team could not clean the lines without waiting for the Engineering team to disconnect the sleeves.
Safety & Downtime Risks: Disconnecting a single sleeve took approximately 20 minutes. Staff had to use a scissor lift to access the top of the sleeve, requiring Working at Height permits and IPAF certification.
Seeking a more efficient, and long-lasting alternative, BakeAway’s Engineering Team Leader reached out to ProSpare, the specialist UK distributor for BFM® fitting.
The BFM® fitting system replaces outdated hose clamps and fabric sleeves with a hygienic, snap-in, BLUEBAND™ flexible connector and precision-engineered steel spigots.
Working closely with the powder-handling experts at ProSpare, BakeAway initiated a trial on one of their mixing lines:
No-Weld Installation: ProSpare supplied a BFM® lipped spigot that mounted directly to the mixer via a quick-release clamp, entirely eliminating the need for hot work or welding in this application.
Optimized Connector Design: A Ø300mm x 1850mm long Seeflex connector was installed.
Vacuum Efficiency: Four stainless steel support rings embedded into the connector to ensure the sleeve stays wide open during vacuum loading, maintaining maximum, unimpeded product flow.
The internal snap-band inside the cuff of the BFM® fitting connector applies continuous outward pressure, locking it perfectly into the grooves of the spigot. It creates a 100% dust-tight seal without the need for a single tool or jubilee clip.
The transition from fabric sleeves to the BFM® fitting system transformed BakeAway's weekly sanitation and maintenance workflow.
Time & Labour Savings:
Instead of a 20-minute ordeal requiring engineering tools and height permits, the BFM® fitting can be snapped out of the bottom spigot in just five seconds by the Hygiene team alone.
Projected Savings: Up to 60+ hours saved per year once all four production lines are fully converted, allowing engineers to focus on high-value preventative maintenance.
More Than Doubled Lifespan & Reduced Supply Chain Risk
While the old OEM fabric sleeves required replacing every six months, the BFM® fitting supplied by ProSpare has been operating seamlessly for over a year with zero degradation.
Excellent Return on Investment (ROI)
In this application, the BFM® fitting system achieved full financial payback in under 7 months.
| Feature | Legacy Fabric Sleeves | BFM® fitting System |
| Disconnection Time | 20 Minutes | 5 Seconds |
| Tools Required? | Yes (Jubilee Clips) | No (Tool-Free Snap-in) |
| Labour Needed | Engineering + Hygiene | Hygiene Team Only |
| Replacement Frequency | Every 6 Months | 12+ Months (Still Running) |
| Financial Payback | Ongoing Recurring Cost | Under 7 Months |
Want to read more case studies from around the world? Check out our Case Studies page here.