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This event is closed
Jan 21, 2021Jan 21, 2021
Online class
Yamato HQ (Kagawa, Japan)

Online

FREE
  • January 21, 4:00 P.M. (Japanese time)

Online Noodle class (January 21, 2021). Micro noodle factory, part 1 (equipment). Completed (playback link available)

you can expect to...
  • Listen to a lecture on business opportunities with commercial production of fresh craft noodles for in-house consumption or retail: how it can be done in practice, what is necessary, modes of operation
  • Watch a practical session demonstrating noodle production using commercial noodle making equipment for small and mid-size businesses interested in establishing an independent source of high quality noodle products
  • Learn how fresh craft noodles produced in Micro noodle factory settings can be used: for preparation of ready to eat dishes for dine-in and delivery, DIY noodle meal kits, or for supplying other businesses
  • Get an opportunity to ask your questions to the best noodle masters!
  • Get a glimpse of Yamato Noodle School settings — a place where many prominent noodle cuisine professionals have started their careers!
  • And, much more!

Instructor

Akira Mii

Renowned Japanese noodle cuisine professional

Akira Mii has worked for Yamato for almost 20 years, supporting customers in many countries across the world. He can share his broad knowledge and deep expertise in noodle making and other aspects of noodle business.

Online noodle class on building your own Micro Noodle factory for fresh craft noodles. Part 1: Hardware (noodle making equipment)

In a conventional sense, “noodles” – viewed in their generic form – might not necessarily be considered as a high value-added product.

But think, for example, sushi.

In terms of ingredients, that is basically rice, condiments and fish, which, either separately or in combination with each other, and using different preparation techniques, may as well be arranged into a dish served at a canteen or cafeteria, selling at a much lower price than what sushi restaurants, especially high end ones, charge for their products.

The same with noodles: depending on your production methods and marketing model – the very same ingredients can be used to produce different products with different price tags.

Yamato believes, and experience of our clients worldwide firmly corroborates this belief, that noodles indeed can be a high value-added product, offering great opportunities for food businesses, even under duress of various quarantine-related restrictions and limitations.

With right equipment and production techniques, artisan noodles of high quality can be produced not only manually by individual noodle making masters, who have dedicated many years to learning and practicing their art, but in semi-industrial settings, and in quantities enough to satisfy needs of a small-to-mid size businesses as well. 

Whether it is ramen, udon or soba, the history of noodle making equipment in Japan began with people being largely skeptical if the quality of machine-made noodles can be on par let alone surpass that of noodles made by hand. But as time flew, and with more knowledge accumulated, more insights gained, and more techniques developed, the attitude has changed, and such questions are no longer being raised – with even the most demanding connoisseurs admitting that quality-wise, given the best equipment and methods, such noodles can be as good if not better than the best examples of hand-made ones. 

Since the technologies are already in place, and know-hows have already been developed, opportunities for doing business with fresh craft high-quality noodles are aplenty with the most common one being opening one’s own food serving business specializing in such noodles. Such business can be a dine-in restaurant, food delivery / catering service, sales of DIY meal kits or a one that combines different elements of the above.

On the other hand, such business can focus entirely on noodle production with the sole purpose of selling the product to either other food businesses or for retail to end consumers. At Yamato, we call this a “Micro noodle factory” model, where “micro” is used to mean that the production volume is relatively small compared to large scale production of noodles. 

This does not imply that large factories producing noodle products should have no place on the market, but their construction and operation usually requires a great amount of investment both in terms of money, logistical, labor, and organizational resources, as well as securing distribution markets large enough to absorb their production volumes.

Conversely, a Micro noodle factory, like the one based on just a single unit of “RICHMEN”, “SHIN’UCHI” or “BANDOTARO” noodle machine, requires only a limited amount of investment, no more than several square meters to install, and a minimum personnel of only one operator.

In the strictest sense, “Micro noodle factory” would mean that noodles are produced exclusively for outside distribution, however practical applications of this model may also include partial in-house consumption to satisfy needs of one’s own food service business.

Versatility of Yamato-made noodle making machines allows for production of a variety of noodle products using only one single unit (by adjusting dough sheet thickness, changing cutters, or using different recipes and production procedures). For example, a single unit of Richmen Type I noodle machine (also available in variants for European and North American markets) is capable of producing a wide range of noodles from standard ramen (wok) and pasta noodles to Hong Kong egg noodles, gluten free noodles (from rice flour and starch), as well as certain varieties of udon and buckwheat soba noodles.

Compared to large scale factory installations, Micro noodle factories are also much nimbler in adapting to diverse and ever changing needs on the market, and customizing their noodle products to accommodate customers’ requirements and requests.

The concept of “Micro noodle factory” also fits into a broad context of homemade noodle production, and works well for food businesses interested in securing and maintaining independent supply of high quality noodle products.

Although, division of labor in general is a good way to increase productivity, relying too much on resources beyond one’s control can turn out to be very costly if not fatal in case of an unexpected force majeure. Besides, outsourcing can sometimes be impossible to begin with as there could simply be no providers or suppliers of what your business needs. 

In this regard, the following can be listed among possible drawbacks and potential unintended consequences of over-reliance on third-party suppliers:

– if the supplier is located relatively far away you may have to compromise on quality (because noodles will need to be freezed for storage during shipping);
– if that supplier suddenly goes out of business or changes its product line you will be left searching for another one, and it’s not a given that you would be able to do that without any disruption to your business
– for reasons of equipment used or other circumstances, that supplier may just not be able to provide you with the kind of product you and your customers want
 
For production capacity, there is no such thing as too much independence and self-reliance. 
 

As Yamato’s mission is to share with the world the best noodle making technologies – from noodle making equipment to noodle making techniques – we are committed to use our decades-long experience and expertise to introduce concepts, tools and practical methods of achieving success in noodle business.

On January 21, 2021, join us for another installment in a series of free online noodle classes we have begun late spring of 2020. In this class we will cover a topic of how to choose the right equipment for your Micro noodle factory: selecting an appropriate type of a noodle machine for the type of noodles you are planning to produce in terms of operation methods, production volume, safety features, etc.     

The class is Free, and its live broadcast is accessible by the link that will be sent to your email address after you sign up. 

(NOTE: we are looking forward for, and would definitely welcome your watching the live broadcast, but should that be difficult, you would still be able to watch a recording of the class using the same link)

Time schedule

Time (Japanese time)Contents
4:00~4:05 (P.M.)Introduction
4:05 ~ 4:15Brief lecture on opportunities and options for commercial production of fresh craft noodles
4:15 ~ 4:35Practical demo session: making noodles using commercial equipment for small scale noodle production (including advice on recipes, storage, etc.)
4:35 ~5:05Using fresh noodles produced during the demo session to make noodle dishes for serving in dine-in restaurants, for food delivery, DIY meal kits or supplying wholesale to other food businesses
5:05 ~ 5:15FAQ session

*January 21, 4:00 P.M. Japanese time will be:

January 20, 11:00 P.M. in Los Angeles;

January 21, 1:00 A.M. in Dallas;

January 21, 2:00 A.M. in New York;

January 21, 9:00 A.M. in Helsinki;

8:00 A.M. in Berlin;

7:00 A.M. in Lisbon

*Schedule and timetable may be subject to change
*The class will be conducted in English

—Start your Noodle business journey with this free online noodle class brought to you by the most experienced and qualified noodle professionals from Japan.

—Get a free chance to explore and experience the world of professional noodle making, including commercial noodle making equipment and professional culinary noodle schools 

—The class will feature the best commercial noodle making equipment for restaurants, restaurant chains, mini factories, and other types of small/medium scale noodle businesses:

tested by time, endorsed by professionals

ramen machine for pasta
Ramen machine"Richmen" Type I for restaurants and Micro noodle factories

Learn about Yamato Noodle School!

How to register for the class

1
Submit your information from [BOOK NOW]
2
Receive a registration email from Yamato MFG.

You will receive an email with instructions for how to log in to the Class livestream.

NOTE:

Please feel free to tell us about what kind of noodles you would want to see featured or any particular topic covered during the Class.

COMPLETED

If you are interested in watching a recording of the class, please contact us to request a playback link.

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