AZO is headed to the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) 2025 with hands-on demos and smart solutions for baking manufacturers, and we’re giving you a preview of what to expect. From rising ingredient complexity to clean-label demands and new compliance requirements, this year’s show in Las Vegas, held September 13–17, will spotlight the systems and strategies bakeries need to stay ahead.

Commercial baking is evolving, with rising ingredient complexity and stricter regulatory demands making consistency and automation essential. Bakers now face both persistent standing challenges like allergen control and dust mitigation, alongside newer priorities such as clean-label formulations and traceability.

Whether you’re scaling production, expanding your product line, or optimizing existing operations, visit AZO at booth #3737 to see how our systems help solve the toughest ingredient handling challenges right now. 

Here’s an overview of the top trends we’re noticing.

2025 Baking Trends To Watch at IBIE 

Automation & Industry 4.0

AZO designs automated ingredient handling systems that improve labor efficiency by eliminating manual weighing and transfer tasks. Our solutions — like gravimetric feeders and vacuum receivers — are engineered for high-volume production and tailored to specific material needs.

Each system integrates with PLC and SCADA platforms, giving bakeries full control over dosing, sequencing, and equipment status. For operations that have already embraced robotics and smart logistics, AZO delivers digital-ready systems that support streamlined, connected production.

Food Safety, Allergen Control & Compliance

AZO systems support FSMA traceability (now extended to a July 20, 2028 compliance date) and help bakers reduce cross-contamination risks through enclosed conveying, allergen separation, and smart equipment layout. Quick-clean features and hygienic design simplify sanitation while supporting microbial control and faster changeovers.

Each AZO system is built with explosion protection and grounding to meet NFPA 660 requirements for dust hazard mitigation. From clean design to full material traceability, we help bakeries meet evolving safety and compliance demands with confidence.

Clean Label & Better-for-You Formulations

AZO systems are built to handle the complexities of clean-label baking, from gluten-free powders to probiotic inclusions and high-fiber blends. We test ingredients for flow, density, and sensitivity, then design systems that preserve integrity and ensure consistent, repeatable handling. 

Whether you’re working with natural sweeteners or shifting to protein-enriched formulations, AZO’s flexible automation supports evolving recipes without compromising process stability. Our pneumatic conveying and precision batching systems help bakers meet formulation demands with control and consistency.

Sustainability & Resource Optimization

AZO helps reduce waste and energy use through efficient system layouts, closed conveying systems, and dust-tight equipment that minimizes product loss. Our right-sized solutions improve material yield and reduce energy consumption, supporting long-term resource savings.

We also support sustainability goals tied to ingredient sourcing and eco-friendly production by designing systems that maintain ingredient integrity and reduce overhandling. From flour silos to final mix, AZO systems are engineered for cleaner, leaner, and more reliable operation.

Workforce, Business Strategy & Leadership

AZO systems reduce manual labor and repetitive tasks, helping bakeries improve safety, support talent retention, and reduce operator fatigue. Our automated equipment simplifies training and allows staff to focus on higher-value work, in turn supporting workforce development efforts.

With digital controls and options for admin automation, AZO gives plant leaders better visibility into system performance and less reliance on manual oversight. Each solution is designed to scale with your business while aligning with strategic goals for operational leadership.

Visit AZO at IBIE: See Smart Mixing in Action

As an exhibitor at IBIE, we’re bringing engineering insight and hands-on demos to the show floor — including an innovative new version of the amixon® mixer, the VM2 test mixer.

Attendees will get to try it themselves by loading different ingredients and seeing firsthand how precision mixing technology can improve homogeneity, reduce blend times, and support allergen control and batch consistency.

Why bring a mixer to a trade show? Because in baking, how you mix your ingredients is just as important as how you measure them.

What Makes the amixon Mixing Technology Different?

At the core of amixon mixing technology is the vertical shaft spiral [helical] mixing tool which offers three-dimensional convective mixing. It’s engineered for gentle yet thorough mixing, even with delicate inclusions or minor ingredients. Ideal for flour blends, dough conditioners, spices, and more, it uses a helical mixing tool that ensures:

• High mixing precision (up to 99.9%)
• Short mixing times
• Minimal shear and particle damage
• Easy, hygienic cleanout between batches

For bakeries handling sensitive powders, superfood additives, or micro-ingredients like natural colorants or sugar substitutes, the amixon mixer supports quality and consistency without overprocessing. The unit is also built with cleanability and sanitation in mind — a critical factor in allergen-sensitive production lines.

Automation That Works Beyond the Mixer

At IBIE, the amixon demo is just the beginning. AZO’s engineering teams specialize in end-to-end ingredient automation — from railcar unloading to silo storage, to pneumatic conveying and automated micro-dosing systems that keep your operations precise, compliant, and efficient.

If you're upgrading a legacy plant or building a greenfield facility, AZO helps you:

• Design ingredient handling for NFPA compliance
• Optimize flow for sticky or fragile materials
• Consider automation solutions for minor and micro ingredients
• Maintain dosing accuracy at scale
• Reduce product loss, downtime, and manual labor
  
  

We’ve helped pretzel makers transform their flour’s purity with quality control, and a renowned cookie and cracker manufacturer streamline their flour logistics to support both rail and truck unloading.

Stop by our booth to try the VM2 test mixer and explore solutions for your challenges.