Evan Reyes of Goodway Technologies reveals how smart, dry cleaning solutions are helping bakeries boost hygiene, cut downtime, and save resources
In an era where food safety, sustainability, and efficiency are driving forces behind operational decisions, the bakery industry is under growing pressure to adapt its hygiene and sanitation practices. From reducing water usage to mitigating labour shortages and keeping pace with evolving regulatory demands, bakeries face a host of modern challenges. Helping to address these issues is Evan Reyes, Global Director of Sales for the Sanitation Division at Goodway Technologies.
With a deep understanding of the sector’s needs and a suite of innovative dry cleaning solutions, Reyes and his team are helping bakeries—from small artisan producers to large-scale industrial facilities—rethink the role of cleaning in production efficiency and food safety. In this exclusive interview, Reyes shares insights on the biggest hygiene hurdles facing today’s bakeries, how automation and smart integration are reshaping sanitation best practices, and why dry, hands-free cleaning technologies are proving essential in reducing downtime, conserving resources, and meeting sustainability goals.
Evan, What do you see as the biggest hygiene challenges bakeries face today, and how is Goodway Technologies helping address them?
One of the biggest challenges for bakeries is downward price pressure which causes a decrease in the size of sanitation teams. There are many variables to consider including local talent pools, unions, age, size and hygienic design of the facility/equipment, but in general we are seeing sanitation staffs continually get smaller. Now more than ever, the need for assisted/hands-free cleaning, and sanitation tools that increase productivity are desperately needed to allow bakeries to get more done with less headcount.
Traditional cleaning methods often involve labor-intensive processes that are time-consuming and inconsistent. Goodway Technologies addresses these challenges with advanced dry steam cleaning systems and automated conveyor belt cleaners that reduce manual labor, improve hygiene consistency, and minimise water usage.
What recent innovations or technologies has Goodway introduced specifically for the bakery sector, and how are these redefining best practices in sanitation or maintenance?
Goodway Technologies has several cutting-edge solutions including our PureBelt® Fixed Brushless Belt Cleaning System, which is a game-changer for cookie and cracker bakeries. This system allows us to clean solid cooling belts continuously throughout production to an allergen clean level, while maintaining a completely dry environment. The belts and rollers stay clean which greatly reduces the sanitation and maintenance window while also reducing the list of tasks on busy down days. This can greatly increase the return on investment and impact, particularly for longer belts, belts with increased change overs, hard to access systems or 24-hour facilities.
This advanced technology uses superheated steam “dry steam” which deliver exceptional cleaning and sanitation while using far less water than traditional cleaning methods making it ideal for equipment where water needs to be minimised or avoided or where chemical cleaning is not preferred. Not only do these systems help facilities save on labor costs and production downtime, but the reduction in water usage lowers operational expenses.
Many bakeries are looking to reduce downtime and boost productivity. How can implementing the right cleaning equipment impact operational efficiency?
The right cleaning equipment can significantly reduce the time and labor required for sanitation, allowing bakeries to resume production faster and more reliably. Not every facility is the same and there are a variety of solutions available to meet a facility’s individual needs.
Keeping belts clean during production is just one way that our sanitation systems can help. Reducing the amount of water used for cleaning in a bakery after use of the ovens can help minimise potential mechanical failure due to water damage, and a decreased microbial load introduced into the environment which strengthens quality and food safety. Goodway® has a unique system for cleaning plastic and metal mesh conveyors after the oven, bringing a high level of cleanliness while maintaining a dry environment. The reduction of soil load on the belt allows belts and motors to run more smoothly, breaking down less—increasing production uptime while reducing spend on replacement conveyor belting.
Read the full interview in our latest issue here
