Inspiration and creativity flourish in an industry like foodservice. Whether expressed through cuisine or equipment, operators provide valuable insights that can change expectations and lead to great innovations. Nowhere is this more true than with BSI’s newest food guard, Axces™. Sparked by ideas from K-12 customers, Axces exemplifies BSI’s customer-driven approach to new product development.
Available in single and double-sided configurations with optional Stealth light and warmer units.
Like many segments, school foodservice professionals have been challenged with staffing issues that necessitate team members taking on more tasks with less time than ever before. Two of those responsibilities, food replenishment and serving line cleaning, were being directly affected by the design and functionality of traditional food guards. “A common theme from K-12 customers was that they needed a sneeze guard that was easier to operate, offered greater access to the menu items, and was safer for students and staff,” said Abby Green, Marketing Director at BSI.
The foodservice industry’s only soft-shut closure returns the glass to self-serve safely and quickly.
The New Product Development team at BSI was tasked with reimagining the form and function of a traditional food shield that would address these concerns not just for the K-12 segment, but any high-volume foodservice operation that offers self-serve dining options. After extensive research, evaluation, and testing, Axces, the industry’s first pivot-action food guard, was born.
The first objective when designing Axces was to make it operable by a single person. To achieve that functionality, the traditional telescoping bracket was replaced with a patented pivot-action assembly that rests in the NSF-approved self-serve position. “By simplifying the movement, we eliminated the need for two-person guard adjustment, particularly across longer spans,” said Green.
Proprietary bracket design features built-in stops tested to over 50,000 cycles.
Axces is operated by lifting the guard from the resting, self-serve position to past vertical where the shield safely rests at the open point. By pivoting the glass above, personnel have unimpeded access to hot and cold wells, bain maries, and other serving line components to quickly replenish items or transition between meal services.
Patented pivot-action food guard with vertical resting position for fast, easy food replenishment.
The pivot action of Axces also offers the most convenient cleanability of any food guard on the market. By flipping the guard upward, the backside of the glass is fully accessible to wipe down without awkward reaching, guard adjustments, or glass removal.
Glass is returned to the resting, self-serve position with a gentle nudge from its vertical resting point. A simple tap of the glass activates Axces’ soft-shut closure feature that slowly and safely rotates the glass down — ready for the next meal service.
The soft-shut closure is beneficial to operators in two ways. First, foodservice personnel can move on to their next task while the glass is still returning to its resting position. The stop points are factory installed and evenly positioned on each post, so staff can be assured that the glass will safely return to the proper position.
Team member and customer safety is the other benefit to Axces’ soft-shut closure. Tested at over 50,000 cycles, the restricted downward motion virtually eliminates the chance of glass breakage and pinch points caused by abrupt glass movement. Knowing that curious customers may be tempted to lift the glass, the soft-shut closure offers an added measure of safety for both staff and those they serve.
The custom guards that inspired Axces were installed prior to the 2022-2023 school year, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The simplified food guard design and greater serving line access have increased cafeteria efficiency and helped maximize staff resources.
For K-12 operators and the foodservice industry as a whole, Axces is truly, “The New Movement in Food Guards.” Remarked Green, “By listening to customer feedback and reimagining traditional design methodology, BSI has changed what foodservice expects from food shields.”
