Testing plays an important role in product development. It’s the only way to make sure a product performs like the designers intended. Hobart opened its 113,000-square-foot Technology Center in 1990 and has been torturing its equipment ever since.
“We’re always looking for new and innovative ideas and always questioning if certain designs or materials will work,” says Brian Bowers, product evaluation engineer at Hobart’s Technology Center. “Testing is the only way to validate our ideas.”
Hobart begins testing its equipment before it’s even produced. Computer simulations predict how well equipment designs will work. If these designs pass the computerized simulations, it’s on to prototype production.
Once Hobart produces a prototype, it is tested under the harshest conditions imaginable. From sound, temperature and humidity testing, to aggressive life, stress and chemical tests, the equipment is scrutinized to ensure it works.
“Our testing process is very extensive. We might test some products for a year or more,” explains Bowers. “It’s the only way we can make sure our equipment lives up to the Hobart name.”
Testing doesn’t end in the Technology Center. Some equipment is provided to customers for field-testing. This method gives Hobart a sense of how customers actually use the product. Customer feedback is incorporated into current and future designs. It’s also not unusual for Hobart to continue to test even after equipment has moved into production—anything to make the equip-ment perform better and last longer. Hobart's Technology Center lab has been accredited by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) to perform tests for commercial disposers, dishwashers and food equipment and submit the results directly to UL for certification.
Hobart’s testing practices do more than make sure products work properly. Such practices also reduce waste. Long-lasting original parts in the machine mean less scrap in the landfill. They also decrease repair and labor costs and downtime for customers. Bowers says the company aims to produce parts that long surpass customer expectations.
“Our testing process is unique because it’s so extensive. We test everything in different environments and then we test again,” says Bowers. “We want to manufacture quality equipment that lasts.
“We question and test everything.”
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