Starting production of your craft noodles on a Yamato noodle machine
Find out how a Yamato noodle machine can help your business thrive in this environment
61 countries and counting
All Yamato noodle machines are manufactured to order at our factory, located in Kagawa prefecture, Japan. So, every machine that’s been used to produce fresh noodles in different countries (61 countries at the time of this writing – October 12th, 2020) needs to be shipped from Japan.
In different countries, we have hundreds of customers, making their craft noodles freshly on Yamato noodle machines. We went through certain steps for every single customer when they purchased their machines. We need go through these steps when discussing with customers who consider purchasing Yamato noodle machines because we want to make sure that the machines which they purchase will solve their problems and meet their production needs.
Here on this page, we’d like to explain what these steps are.
If you are considering making your own noodles or purchasing a Yamato noodle machine, reading this page will help you make a good decision for your project.
The flow of getting a Yamato noodle machine
1. Get started by talking to us – sending an inquiry
What Yamato wants to know to make the best suggestion for your business
a. What type(s)/size(s) of noodles or products you’d like to produce on a Yamato noodle machine
b. The daily production volume you’d like to produce at maximum
c. The single biggest problem you’d like to solve by getting a Yamato noodle machine
2. Find out what Yamato can do for your business – demonstration of a Yamato noodle machine
3. Find out the cost of getting a Yamato noodle machine – getting a quotation
4. Find out how soon you can start using a Yamato noodle machine at your place
5. Find out if the Yamato noodle machine makes any business sense for you
6. Placing an order
7. Shipment
8. Orientation / onboarding and training
9. Periodic checks
10. Working with team of noodles experts at Yamato
Inquiry: We want to understand what we can do for the inquirer’s business
We get inquiries from all over the world primarily through this website. They inquire about Yamato noodle machines because they think these machines may solve the problems they are facing and/or help meet their production needs. Because we have noodle machines that are different in specifications (e.g., production capacity, type(s) of noodles they are good at making, etc.), we first ask a few questions to check the following points.
1. What type(s)/size(s) / hydration % of noodles you want to produce
For example, if you want to make some ramen noodles, what size (e.g., thickness x width) and hydration (e.g., 35%, etc.) of noodles do they want to produce? If you don’t know them, for example, what type of ramen noodles do you want to make? (for example, Hakata style tonkotsu ramen, Sapporo style miso ramen, tsukemen noodles, etc.）
If you want to produce soba noodles (made of buckwheat flour and water), what is the blending ratio (because soba, buckwheat does not contain gluten, there needs to be some gluten containing ingredients to form the buckwheat flours into noodles) of buckwheat/wheat flours (usually wheat flour is used)?
Depending on the answer, the machine we recommend may vary. Because we want to ensure that the machine we recommend will meet and exceed your production needs, we want to know this in as much detail as the customer can answer.
We can also provide some consultation on this point, so please feel free to ask us.
2. What is the maximum production volume you want to do in one day (one day being up to 8 hours of operation) – for example, 300 servings of fresh noodles, 50kg of fresh noodles, etc.
Unless we know the number, we can’t recommend one that matches or exceeds the customer’s production needs. For example, the smallest noodle machine we have is called, Richmen 1 machine, which is capable of producing up to 100 servings of fresh noodles in an hour from scratch, but we recommend that the machine is used up to 8 hours continually. If exceeding the operational hours, the machine may wear faster. This is why we ask this question to match the machine with the maximum daily production volume. For example, if you are a restaurant, selling about 200 servings of fresh noodles on a daily average, then we would recommend a Richmen 1 (if the types of noodles are ramen noodles or other noodles that are relatively in low hydration). However, if you operate multiple ramen shops, selling 1,000 portions on daily average and considering building a central kitchen, then your choice may be Richmen 2 machine, which is capable of doing about 200 servings in an hour.
So, we need to know the maximum daily production volume that you want to do.
3. What is the single biggest problem/issue that you are trying to solve by getting a Yamato noodle machine?
Because we want to make sure that our products and services will improve what a customer is doing and solve some problems a customer may be facing, we’d like to ask this question. If you are a restaurant, serving noodles that are purchased from a noodle factory, you may be suffering from low or inconsistent quality of the noodles, which may reflect in the declining sales that come from customers not satisfied with the noodle quality. Or, because there are only a few choices of noodles available from a factory, you want to develop and start serving unique craft noodles that will help your restaurant stand out from others. The price of noodles available is high, cutting into your profit or making it difficult to keep competitive prices.
We want to see if using a Yamato noodle machine solves these problems, so we ask this question.
It is okay not to be able to answer all these questions at the time of inquiring, but if you can answer them in detail, it helps us make a suggestion that’s best suitable for your needs.
Demonstration/discussion: Finding out what a Yamato machine can do for your business and clarifying your concerns
We provide a product demonstration and meeting over Skype, or other means of communication. During the demo or meeting, we can go through those 3 points in question together. We can provide the demonstration from a showroom at our HQ office remotely via Skype or other apps. We can also provide in-person demonstrations at different locations (our offices) in Japan, Singapore, Amsterdam, The Netherlands or at our partners (distributors that have demo machines). The advantage of real demonstrations is that you can actually try the fresh noodles made during the demo, but we may also be able to arrange shipping of the sample noodles to your address (depending on your location). Please feel free to contact us for a demo or meeting to see if what we can do for your business and if we are a good match.
Quotation- finding out how much it would take to start using a Yamato noodle machine
After figuring out which option of Yamato noodle machines would be best for your needs, it’s time to figure out the total cost of getting the machine and starting your production at your location. As explained previously, all Yamato noodle machines are manufactured to order in Japan, we need to figure out the cost of shipping the machine from our factory in Japan to your place. Depending on your country/region, the type of shipping we can arrange may vary. For example, if you are planning to use the machine somewhere in the United States, we can arrange a door-to-door delivery. To determine the shipping cost, we need to know the delivery address or something like a Zip code. For other countries, for example, the Philippines, it is difficult for us to arrange a door-to-door delivery. We can arrange shipping up to CIF Manila port, for example. (CIF is a shipping term where a manufacturer is responsible for shipping up to the seaport and buyer takes the responsibility from the port. The buyer needs to do the import customs clearance and the rest of shipping) If you know a local shipping company, engaged in international shipping, you can ask the company to do all the shipping jobs. We also work with several shipping companies to arrange shipments, but if you can arrange the shipping yourself through your shipping companies, that would be better for us (because it would be one job less for us).
So, for us to figure out the shipping cost, we need to know the shipping terms you prefer (door-to-door, CIF, FOB, Ex Works, etc. are some popular shipping terms our customers used). For more information on the shipping terms, you can check the following site. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incoterms
Our quotation does not reflect the total cost if it is, for example for CIF terms because your shipping company charge for all the jobs they need to do from the seaport (where our shipping company ships your machine). In this case, the total cost of getting the machine delivered is total of our quotation + how much your shipping company estimates. Other costs may be import taxes, duties, or VATs in your country. These would vary, depending on the country, so it is a good idea to check them at this time.
Lead-time: How soon can we start making craft noodles on a Yamato noodle machine?
We also want to ask when you would want to start using the machine because it takes time to manufacture and ship a Yamato noodle machine.
Production lead-time is about 4-6 weeks (depending on the machine model), and shipping lead-time varies from destination to destination. Depending on how soon you’d like to start making your craft noodles, we may recommend shipping by ocean or by air. Shipping by air is definitely more costly, but it shortens the shipping time by drastically. (Shipment by air is usually 1-2 weeks) If your restaurant is opening in less than 2 months, it would make sense to go with air shipping. So, we need to know the shipping terms and your desired delivery date (to select between ocean shipping or air shipping) to determine the shipping cost. We can now issue a quotation on the equipment of your choice. You now know the total cost of a Yamato noodle machine.
Finding out if using a Yamato noodle machine makes a good sense for your business:
Using a Yamato noodle machine should solve some issues your business is facing, improve things for your business, help your business make more money, or bring other benefits. It needs to be a sound business investment. Now we know the cost of getting it, it is time to figure out if it is worth it. There are some ways to find out.
ROI – we can calculate ROI of the investment. We now know the initial investment but need to figure out the operational cost (production cost of your craft noodles, which includes ingredient costs, labor cost, utility fees, such as electricity, water, etc.) and how much money you can make from the noodles made on the machine. This may be an estimation, but if you are buying noodles from a factory and pay a fixed amount for a serving of noodles for a certain quantity a day, week, or month, we can calculate how much saving you can make by doing homemade noodle on a Yamato noodle machine. We can calculate ROI for your investment. Please feel free to contact us.
If the investment solves the problem – Say you want to develop and sell unique noodles that no other company in your areas are offering. If getting a Yamato noodle machine makes it possible, then this investment may be worthwhile. Because we make sure that our customers accomplish what our customers bought their machines for, we not only provide equipment but also other services and support. For example, in developing unique noodle products, we not only provide some ideas but also noodle recipes, training, sourcing local ingredients (flour, etc.) as well as references to good networks that help the business.
We can help you figure out if getting a Yamato noodle machine is worth the investment. After calculating and analyzing the feasibility and if it is not worth it, we recommend that you do not go for the investment because if it is not worth it, there’s a chance you are not going to be one of our happy customers. When most of our customers are unhappy with us, then we wouldn’t be able to survive tomorrow. So, we would be honest and frank in making the suggestion on whether to purchase the machine. And, it is quite possible that we recommend some other way than going for a Yamato noodle machine to accomplish your goal. After all, getting a Yamato noodle machine is merely a method or way. What’s important is solving your problem or improving things for your business.
There’s always a risk in doing anything new, but analyzing the feasibility before making a decision would reduce the risk. We should reduce the risk as much as we can.
Please feel free to consult with us.
Placing an order on your Yamato noodle machine: Start preparing for your own craft noodle production
If everything checks out, and we both understand that getting a Yamato noodle machine for your business is worth it, we agree to go onto the next stage, which is to place an order for your Yamato noodle machine. We issue a sales contract, which requires your signature and agreements on payment terms, lead-time, and other conditions. Upon receiving the signed contract, we start manufacturing your Yamato noodle machine. Production usually takes 4-6 weeks (depending on the machine model and timing).
Before shipment, we start discussing various things from noodle recipe(s), sourcing of local ingredients, floor plan for where the machine is to be used (we draw this for free of charge), or anything else that you may need to start making the type(s) of noodles you want to make on the machine. So, when the machine is delivered, you can start your production right away.
During this period, we also check the consignee (person or company that is designated as the importer of shipment – we need a name, address, a phone number, the name of the person in charge, and this person’s email address), an address of where the machine is to be used, and other information. The information will be used to issue the shipping documents of your machine.
Shipment – delivering your Yamato noodle machine to your place
When we ship out your machine from our factory to a packing vendor (where packing for overseas shipment is carried out), we notify you and ask you to check the shipping documents to confirm if the information on them are correct. The machine is packed (for ocean shipping, it is vacuum-packed and crated) and transferred to a shipyard where it goes through the customs to be processed for an export. When cleared for the customs, the crated machine is put into a container with other shipments and loaded on a vessel to sail to your seaport. After arriving at your seaport, our freight forwarder will contact your consignee to check certain things (import duties or taxes if there’s any applied, delivery schedule, etc.) If everything checks out, you can schedule the delivery time.
Orientation/onboarding: preparing you for your own noodle production
After the machine is delivered or when you know the machine is delivered, we can schedule a training (during this COVID-19 period, this is usually done remotely). We provide trainings on both how to use and maintain the machine properly and how to produce the type(s) of noodles you want to make. These trainings are usually completed in a matter of a few hours to a few days, depending on how many types of noodles you’d like to make. And, we also provide support in developing your own noodle recipes, based on locally sourced ingredients. Because getting a stable and local supply of good ingredients for your noodle products is as critical as noodle recipes and the machine itself, we help you find the right ingredients (wheat flours and others) in your area. We may also help you with other things, which will help you start your own noodle production and succeed in your business.
Periodic checks – making sure that your Yamato noodle machine keeps doing good things for your business
After the initial training, we do periodic checks on our machine users to see if everything is going as they expect and would like. Depending on the situation, we may provide another training, adjust their noodle recipes, or provide new recipes for their new products. We basically want to make sure that their Yamato noodle machines are fulfilling their promises and doing good things for their businesses. We continue to provide them with as much support as we can as long as they use Yamato noodle machines.
Contact us to find out how the team of noodle experts at Yamato can help you boost your business
Every customer has his or her own unique challenges in the business, and we are here to provide our best shots to help you solve and overcome your challenge.
The sooner you contact us, the better and bigger results we can bring to your business.