The latest blender equipment available to restaurant operators offers new high performance features that can mix drinks at faster speeds and more effectively blend thicker ingredients, like ice cream and fresh and frozen fruit. Some of these models also provide a greater number of programs, automatic shut-off timers and mechanisms that keep noise to a minimum.

This year, the Vita-Mix Corp. introduced its Blending Station Maximum Performance (MP) blender, which has a 3+ peak horsepower motor and technology that resists blender overheating. The extra power provides enough torque to crush a full container of ice in less than three seconds, according to the company. Vita-Mix’s MP blender also has six programs for blending drinks consistently, along with 93 speeds for manual blending. It is fully equipped to make ice cream drinks, frozen fruit smoothies and coffee drinks.

“The MP blender is designed for high volume bars, anyone making 75 drinks or more per day, or an operator concerned about reducing noise,” says D. Scott Hinckley, director of sales and marketing for Vita-Mix’s foodservice division. “A 3-horsepower motor will make some noise, but our patented muffler helps relieve that,” he adds.

Last fall, Vita-Mix also introduced Rinse-O-Matic, which has a spray head that rinses residue from blender containers in about five seconds. The product is equipped with a cleaning tower and the spray head attaches directly to sink faucets.

In addition, Hinckley says Vita-Mix is “getting ready to roll out” a new version of its Portion Blending System (PBS). The new PBS holds 5 gallons of ice and dispenses precise amounts of ice into blender containers. It can be programmed to make up to 4 drinks at one time, and programs can be customized.

This spring, L’Equip launched its first commercial blender ­ the R.P.M. Blender, Model 228, featuring a tachometer showing speeds from 500 to 20,000 rpm. “L’Equip was founded on juicers. But then we decided to expand into blenders,” says a company spokeswoman. “We wanted to do something different, as the blenders market was pretty well saturated. It was L’Equip’s president who came up with the idea of doing a blender with a tachometer.” She also says that L’Equip’s original idea was to make a commercial-style blender for consumers. “The model has become a big hit with restaurants and bars, as well, and that surprised us a bit.”

The R.P.M. model has a 900-watt motor (1-horsepower) and a heavy-duty polycarbonate pitcher, stainless steel blades, leak-proof rubber lid, smoothie stick and funnel cone for adding oils, and a six-year warranty.

Earlier this year, Hamilton Beach added a duo of “Tango” blenders, Models 91300 and 91350, to its line of high-performance blenders. Both models have 1-horsepower motors, blades with twin roller bearings and 44-oz. polycarbonate containers. The 91350 model also has a timer with 8 preset times with automatic shut-off as well as a manual mode.

Waring Commercial MX1000.

“Bartenders are gravitating towards timers, as they do a lot of multi-tasking,” says Jason Reed, senior product manager, beverages, at Hamilton Beach. He says the timer ranges from about 5 to 60 seconds of blending time. “The average blend is 20 to 35 seconds. For example, it takes 35 seconds for a margarita,” he notes.

Waring is taking its blender business “to the next level” with the debut of five models in its MX 1500/1500S Series, the company says. First-time features for Waring are blue backlight LCD displays and four reprogrammable blending stations. The stations are preset at liquid drinks, frozen drinks, ice cream drinks, and smoothies. Programs can also be customized and stored in “memory” for future use.

The MX1500 series blenders have 3-horsepower motors, 64-oz. containers in polycarbonate or stainless steel, and a new streamlined design, that occupies a minimal amount of counter space. In addition, a “heavy-duty sound enclosure” for quiet operations has been added. The sound enclosures are compatible with the rest of the MX series and can be purchased separately.