Home » news » Repair instead of buying new: Why bakeries are rethinking their approach

Why more and more bakeries are opting for repair instead of new purchases

Anyone who has bought new bakery equipment in the last two years knows: prices are no longer what they used to be. A new spiral mixer that cost €10,000 in 2019 now costs €14,000 or more. Bread roll lines, deck ovens, dough dividers: the same picture everywhere. Investment costs have risen, while profit margins in bakeries have come under pressure. The result: more and more businesses are consciously choosing not to buy new equipment and are instead investing in extending the lifespan of their existing machines.

Why new machines have become so expensive

The price increases for bakery machines have several mutually reinforcing causes. Raw materials such as steel, copper, and electronic components have become significantly more expensive since 2021. Added to this are increased energy costs in production, wage increases for manufacturers, and still unstable supply chains for electronics and specialized parts. Many manufacturers adjusted their price lists several times between 2022 and 2024, in some cases by 20 to 35 percent.

For artisan bakeries already struggling with rising raw material costs, higher energy prices, and staff shortages, new investments are becoming increasingly difficult to justify. The result: investments are postponed. Machines run longer than planned. And eventually, the first problems surface.

Repair as an economic decision

What was once often considered a last resort is now a conscious strategic choice for many businesses. A well-maintained bakery machine can run significantly longer than its planned lifespan if it is regularly inspected and worn parts are replaced promptly. V-belts, ball bearings, seals, knitting belts, operating elements: these parts cost a fraction of a new machine and bring a running system back up to operating temperature.

A concrete example: AFortunaA bread roll press that has been in daily use for 15 years typically has worn-out pressing plates and possibly a stretched drive belt. The total cost for these replacement parts is typically less than €500. A new Fortuna press costs many times that amount. In many cases, the math is clear.

Checklist: Repair or buy?

The decision between repair and replacement depends on several factors. This checklist will help you objectively assess your situation.

This speaks in favor of repair.

  • The machine is basically running and only shows some signs of wear.
  • The housing, basic structure, and drive are intact.
  • The manufacturer or a spare parts supplier carries suitable parts.
  • The machine is less than 20 years old or from a well-known, robust series.
  • The repair costs amount to less than 30 percent of the new purchase price.
  • The machine rarely breaks down and otherwise runs reliably.
  • An in-house technician or an external service can handle the work.

Arguments in favor of buying new

  • The machine breaks down several times a year, causing regular production downtime.
  • Spare parts are no longer available or only available with long delivery times.
  • The casing or base structure is damaged or rusted.
  • The control system is outdated and no longer programmable.
  • The energy consumption is disproportionately high compared to modern models.
  • The cumulative repair costs of the last two years exceed 50 percent of the original purchase price.
  • The machine no longer meets current hygiene standards.

As a rule of thumb: If you have less than three points in the "new purchase" column, repair is almost always the more economical decision.

Maintenance intervals: When which parts should be replaced

Unplanned downtime is costly. Maintaining your machinery according to a fixed maintenance schedule prevents production downtime and significantly extends the lifespan of your equipment. The following intervals serve as guidelines for daily bakery operations.

Every 3 to 6 months

  • Check the V-beltCheck for cracks, fraying, and tension. A broken V-belt will stop the entire machine. Replacement costs are low, but downtime costs are high.
  • Check sealsThis is especially true for kneading machines and dough dividers. Leaky seals lead to contamination and oil loss in the gearbox.
  • Testing controlsCheck switches, locking levers, and emergency stop buttons for proper function. Defective operating elements are not only a production problem but also a safety risk.

Every 12 months

  • Check ball bearingsNoise and play in the drive are early signs of worn bearings. Replacing them in time costs only a few euros; a burst bearing can damage the entire gearbox.
  • Tapesand control conveyor beltsCheck for cracks, hardening, and delamination. Especially in bread and roll production lines, the condition of the belts is crucial for consistent product quality.
  • Change transmission oil: Varies depending on the machine type and manufacturer, but an annual oil change significantly extends the gearbox lifespan.

Every 2 to 3 years

  • Replace the actuating plateEspecially with Fortuna bread roll presses, the forming plates are a classic wear part. Worn forming plates lead to unevenly formed dough pieces and poor bread roll quality.
  • Check drive chainsCheck for stretching and wear, replace or retension if necessary.
  • Check electrical wiringInsulation damage, loose connections and outdated fuses should be checked regularly by an electrician.

Finding spare parts: That used to be the problem

One of the most common reasons bakeries have historically avoided repairs was simply the difficulty of sourcing spare parts. Many manufacturers discontinue older machines, customer service departments often recommend a new system, and independent suppliers are hard to find. This is precisely where bakeryparts.com comes in: a specialized range of spare parts for the most common bakery machines, organized by manufacturer, machine type, and component category. No need for time-consuming contact with the manufacturer, no long waits for quotes.

WhetherDiosnaSpiral kneading machineWP KemperBread baking line, Fortuna bread roll press or König bread roll baking line: spare parts for most common models are readily available and delivered throughout Europe. The type plate of your machine is all you need to find the right part.

Discover all spare parts for bakery machines|Search by manufacturer

Häufige Fragen

Lohnt es sich, eine alte Bäckereimaschine reparieren zu lassen?+
In den meisten Fällen ja. Wenn Grundstruktur, Antrieb und Steuerung der Maschine intakt sind, ist der Austausch von Verschleißteilen wie Keilriemen, Kugellagern oder Wirkbändern deutlich günstiger als eine Neuinvestition. Robuste Maschinen von Herstellern wie Diosna, Fortuna oder WP Kemper sind für Jahrzehnte ausgelegt und laufen mit der richtigen Wartung noch lange zuverlässig.
Wann sollte man eine Bäckereimaschine doch ersetzen statt reparieren?+
Ein Neukauf ist sinnvoll, wenn die Maschine mehrfach pro Jahr ausfällt, Ersatzteile nicht mehr verfügbar sind, die Grundstruktur beschädigt ist oder die kumulierten Reparaturkosten der letzten zwei Jahre mehr als 50 Prozent des Neupreises betragen.
Wie oft sollten Keilriemen an Bäckereimaschinen getauscht werden?+
Keilriemen sollten alle 3 bis 6 Monate auf Risse, Ausfransen und Spannung geprüft werden. Bei ersten Anzeichen von Verschleiß sofort tauschen. Ein gerissener Keilriemen stoppt die gesamte Maschine und verursacht Produktionsausfall.
Wie lange halten Wirkteller bei einer Fortuna Brötchenpresse?+
Wirkteller sind bei Fortuna Brötchenpressen eines der häufigsten Verschleißteile und sollten je nach Produktionsvolumen alle 2 bis 3 Jahre geprüft und bei Bedarf getauscht werden. Abgenutzte Wirkteller führen zu ungleichmäßig gewirkten Teiglingen und schlechter Brötchenqualität.
Wie finde ich das richtige Ersatzteil für meine Maschine?+
Das Typenschild Ihrer Maschine enthält Hersteller, Modellbezeichnung und Seriennummer. Mit diesen Angaben können Sie auf bakeryparts.com direkt nach passenden Ersatzteilen suchen, entweder über die Hersteller-Kategorie oder über die Maschinentyp-Übersicht. Bei Unklarheiten hilft unser Team per E-Mail weiter.
Liefert bakeryparts.com Ersatzteile auch ins Ausland?+
Ja, bakeryparts.com liefert europaweit. Der Großteil der Artikel ist sofort versandbereit und wird schnell geliefert.