Chewing Gum and Bubble Gum Production Process in Confectionary Industry

Chewing gum barely needs an introduction. This sweetened and flavored confection comprised of both latex (both organic and natural), quite popular among children and adults alike. Chewing gum manufacturing process has evolved over the decades ever since the first chewing gum was introduced in the market; however, the basic manufacturing process remains the same. It may interest you to know that the first ever chewing gum production wasn’t even patented. The procedure is standard throughout the entire industry although the specific ingredients used by each manufacturing company remain a secret.

Few steps of manufacturing might differ depending upon the type of gum being produced. Here’s the entire chewing gum production life cycle with each step explained in detail.

Step 1: Mixing

Gum formulation takes place when all the necessary ingredients are mixed. This is the first step of the manufacturing process in which there are two main options at your disposal- Batch mixing and Continuous mixing. Batch mixing involves the use of a double sigma or double-z mixer. On the other hand, continuous mixing is resorted to for a large scaled production. This calls for a more sophisticated system. The system demands precision ingredients dosing into the mixer extruder.

You must note that there must be a jacket to control the temperature of the vessel. This is because the final mass is not meant to exceed the 55 degrees Celsius mark.

Step 2: Shaping

Upon the preparation of the mass, you proceed with the shaping process. Shaping is carried out using an extruder. There are a number of extruders available including single-screw, double counter rotating screw and with multiple screws. This equipment produces a rope or a flat sheet. Rope is of use when you want to make bubble gum chunks or hollow bubble gum balls.

It is highly recommended to use a pre-extruder in order to feed the main extruder. This helps you maintain a constant flow of gum from the main extruder.

Step 3: Cooling and wrapping

The gum rope is refrigerated to 5 to 10 degrees Celsius on a conveyor belt. Know that the ropes come out of the extruder at 45 to 50 degrees Celsius. It is important to cool them in order to cut and wrap. The cooling tunnels contain between 3 and 13 tiers. These tiers are designed in such a way that the rope is fed vertically. It means that It falls onto the one right below it.

Step 4: Rolling and scoring

Rolling and scoring process requires precision of the highest level. There are a number of precautions required in this process. A cleaner environment is necessary for the rolling and scoring process. Minimum usage of talc, starch and other dusting agents is recommended and that’s the reason why machine manufacturers discourage high usage of these powders.

Step 5: Coating

The final and yet another important stage of chewing gum production is coating. You may need certain kinds of equipment such as coating pans or drums. There used to be a time when copper pans were used in manual coating process. These days the technology has become quite sophisticated and you have a programmable logic controller at your disposal to facilitate better recipe control. Also, you have better spraying systems for syrup and air treatment. You can easily obtain a smoother surface in a short span of time.
Hope you found the post useful. For more information related to chewing gum production machinery, feel free to get in touch with us.