Can Conveyor Ovens Do More Than Pizza? Discover How the Middleby Marshall PS640G-CAV Is Transforming Commercial Kitchens

For many people in the hospitality industry, the words "conveyor oven" still mean one thing: pizza. That reputation is well deserved. For decades, Middleby Marshall has been a pioneer in conveyor cooking, with its ovens helping produce billions of pizzas in more than 100 countries. From global pizza chains to independent pizzerias, the brand has earned a reputation for speed, consistency and reliability.

But commercial kitchens have changed significantly since this blog was first published in 2017.

Today's cafés, restaurants, pubs and takeaway businesses serve broader menus while dealing with labour shortages, rising operating costs and increasing customer expectations. Kitchens are expected to produce more meals, more efficiently, often without expanding their footprint.

As hospitality has evolved, so has conveyor cooking.

Modern conveyor ovens are no longer limited to pizza. They are now used to prepare toasted sandwiches, baked pasta, chicken wings, seafood, pastries, desserts and many other menu favourites with the same consistency that made them famous. The Middleby Marshall PS640G-CAV WOW! Conveyor Oven represents this evolution, combining proven impingement technology with intelligent airflow management and energy-saving features for today's commercial kitchens.

The question is no longer whether a conveyor oven can cook pizza.

The real question is whether one conveyor oven could transform the way your kitchen works.

How Did Middleby Marshall Become One of the World's Most Trusted Conveyor Oven Brands?

Middleby Marshall helped change commercial pizza production by introducing conveyor cooking that delivered faster, more consistent results with less reliance on operator skill.

Today, its conveyor ovens continue to be used by many of the world's largest pizza chains and thousands of independent restaurants because of their durability and dependable performance. As former Middleby Marshall President Mark Sieron once remarked:

"One of the problems with our conveyor oven is it tends to last forever. It's built like a battleship."

Many businesses replace their older ovens not because they have worn out, but because newer models offer improved cooking speed, energy efficiency and greater menu flexibility.

The Middleby Marshall PS640G-CAV WOW! Conveyor Oven continues this tradition, combining decades of proven engineering with features designed for the demands of today's hospitality industry.

Why Has Conveyor Cooking Become More Relevant Than Ever?

Hospitality looks very different today than it did a decade ago. Menus have expanded, delivery services have grown, experienced kitchen staff are harder to find and operators are under constant pressure to improve efficiency.

Rather than filling kitchens with multiple cooking appliances, many businesses are investing in versatile equipment that can perform several roles while maintaining consistent food quality.

Conveyor ovens fit perfectly into this approach. Their continuous cooking process allows staff to prepare the next order while the current one cooks, creating a smoother workflow and helping reduce pressure during busy service.

Perhaps the biggest change is where they are being used. Conveyor ovens are no longer found only in pizza restaurants. Today, cafés, pubs, clubs, hotels and production kitchens across Australia are using them to prepare a diverse range of menu items, making conveyor cooking one of the most versatile solutions in the modern commercial kitchen.

Why Are Conveyor Ovens Expanding Menus Beyond Pizza?

One of the biggest misconceptions about conveyor ovens is that they are only designed for pizza. While that may have been true years ago, today's hospitality businesses are proving otherwise.

A modern café may start the day serving toasted croissants and breakfast muffins, move to paninis and garlic bread at lunch, then finish with pizzas, baked pasta and desserts during dinner service. Instead of relying on several cooking appliances, many of these menu items can be prepared using a single conveyor oven.

The Middleby Marshall PS640G-CAV WOW! Conveyor Oven reflects this evolution. While pizza remains one of its greatest strengths, it is equally capable of producing a wide variety of foods with the consistency that has made Middleby Marshall a trusted name worldwide.

How Does the PS640G-CAV WOW! Cook Faster Without Compromising Quality?

Speed is important, but consistency is what keeps customers coming back.

The Middleby Marshall PS640G-CAV WOW! Conveyor Oven uses advanced impingement technology, directing high-velocity heated air evenly across the food to cook products faster while maintaining texture, colour and moisture.

Years of engineering have refined the oven's airflow system, allowing some menu items to cook in around 4½ minutes instead of 7, depending on the product. The result is shorter ticket times, improved kitchen flow and consistent food quality, even during the busiest services.

Why Is Variable Air Flow Such an Important Feature?

Different foods require different cooking conditions. A crisp pizza base, toasted sandwich or baked pasta each benefits from different airflow.

The Variable Air Flow (VAF) system allows operators to independently adjust airflow above and below the product, giving greater control over browning, crispness and moisture retention. This flexibility makes it easier to introduce new menu items while maintaining consistent results across a diverse menu.

How Does the Energy Eye Help Reduce Running Costs?

With rising energy costs, reducing unnecessary gas consumption has become increasingly important for hospitality businesses.

The Energy Eye automatically lowers energy use when no food is entering the conveyor and quickly returns the oven to full operating performance when cooking resumes. Combined with the oven's efficient airflow and burner design, it helps reduce running costs without affecting productivity.

For businesses operating long trading hours, small energy savings throughout the day can make a meaningful difference over time.

Why Is Kitchen Workflow Becoming More Important Than Cooking Speed?

A busy kitchen is about more than fast cooking. Delays often happen because staff are moving between multiple cooking stations or waiting for equipment to become available.

Conveyor cooking creates a smoother production flow by moving food continuously from preparation to cooking and then to service. While one order cooks, staff can prepare the next, helping reduce bottlenecks during busy periods.

The Middleby Marshall PS640G-CAV WOW! Conveyor Oven supports this workflow with its continuous conveyor design, allowing kitchens to maintain a steady pace while reducing manual intervention. As labour shortages continue across the hospitality industry, equipment that improves efficiency has become increasingly valuable.

Could One Conveyor Oven Replace Several Cooking Appliances?

No single appliance can do everything, but a modern conveyor oven can perform far more tasks than many operators expect.

For many businesses, it can reduce reliance on convection ovens, salamanders, toasters and finishing ovens by preparing a wide variety of menu items on one cooking platform. From toasted sandwiches and garlic bread to pizzas, baked pasta and chicken wings, the same oven can support different services throughout the day.

This versatility helps maximise kitchen space while simplifying workflow and reducing equipment requirements.

Which Hospitality Businesses Benefit Most from Conveyor Cooking?

Conveyor ovens are no longer limited to pizza restaurants.

Today they are used by cafés, takeaway shops, pubs, clubs, hotels and production kitchens that need consistent cooking and efficient service. Schools, hospitals and aged care facilities also benefit from repeatable results when preparing large meal volumes.

Regardless of the business, the goal remains the same: deliver consistent food quality while making the best use of available staff and kitchen space.

Why Are More Australian Hospitality Businesses Investing in Conveyor Ovens?

Hospitality businesses are looking for equipment that offers greater flexibility as menus expand and operating costs continue to rise.

The Middleby Marshall PS640G-CAV WOW! Conveyor Oven reflects this shift by offering far more than pizza cooking. Its versatility, consistent performance and efficient workflow help businesses adapt to changing customer expectations without adding unnecessary complexity.

As labour shortages and energy costs continue to challenge the industry, conveyor ovens are becoming an increasingly practical solution for kitchens that want to improve productivity while maintaining consistent food quality.

Could Conveyor Cooking Be the Future of Multi-Menu Commercial Kitchens?

If the last decade has taught the hospitality industry anything, it is that flexibility has become just as important as speed. Menus change more often, customer preferences evolve quickly, and businesses are expected to do more with fewer staff and limited kitchen space.

That is why conveyor ovens are attracting renewed attention across Australia. Rather than being viewed as equipment designed solely for pizza, they are increasingly recognised as versatile cooking platforms that can support breakfast, lunch, dinner and takeaway service from a single appliance.

The Middleby Marshall PS640G-CAV WOW! Conveyor Oven demonstrates just how far conveyor cooking has evolved. Its advanced impingement technology, Variable Air Flow (VAF) system and Energy Eye feature allow operators to produce a wide variety of menu items with consistent quality while helping improve kitchen efficiency. Whether it's pizzas, toasted sandwiches, baked pasta, chicken wings, seafood or desserts, the oven is designed to keep pace with the demands of modern foodservice.

For businesses looking to simplify operations without compromising quality, conveyor cooking offers an opportunity to rethink how a commercial kitchen works. Instead of relying on multiple cooking appliances and constant manual supervision, operators can create a smoother production flow that supports both productivity and consistency.

As hospitality businesses continue to face labour shortages, rising operating costs and growing customer expectations, investing in equipment that improves workflow may prove just as valuable as investing in equipment that cooks faster.

Final Thoughts

When this blog was first published in 2017, the message was simple: conveyor ovens could cook much more than pizza.

Nearly a decade later, that message has become even more relevant.

Today's commercial kitchens are expected to produce broader menus, maintain consistent quality and serve customers faster than ever before. Conveyor ovens have evolved to meet those demands, becoming an important part of modern foodservice operations rather than a specialist appliance for pizzerias alone.

The Middleby Marshall PS640G-CAV WOW! Conveyor Oven reflects that evolution. It combines decades of proven conveyor cooking experience with modern features that help kitchens improve efficiency, expand their menus and deliver reliable results throughout every service.

The real question is no longer whether a conveyor oven can cook more than pizza.

The question is how much of your menu could benefit from conveyor cooking.

Key Takeaways

• Conveyor ovens have evolved from dedicated pizza equipment into versatile cooking solutions for modern commercial kitchens.
• The Middleby Marshall PS640G-CAV WOW! Conveyor Oven can prepare a wide variety of menu items, helping businesses expand their food offering from a single cooking platform.
• Advanced features such as Variable Air Flow (VAF) and the Energy Eye improve cooking consistency, efficiency and energy management.
• Continuous conveyor cooking supports smoother kitchen workflow, helping reduce bottlenecks and improve service during busy periods.
• Conveyor ovens are now widely used in cafés, restaurants, pubs, clubs, hotels, schools, hospitals, aged care facilities and takeaway businesses, not just pizzerias.
• As hospitality businesses continue to adapt to changing customer expectations and labour challenges, conveyor cooking offers a practical way to improve productivity and maintain consistent food quality.

Need Advice on Choosing the Right Conveyor Oven?

Every commercial kitchen operates differently, and selecting the right conveyor oven depends on your menu, production volume, available space and long-term business goals.

Whether you're replacing an ageing pizza oven, expanding your menu or planning a complete kitchen fit-out, the team at Sydney Commercial Kitchens can help you compare conveyor oven options and find the best solution for your operation. With decades of experience supplying commercial kitchen equipment across Australia, we can provide practical advice, workflow recommendations and project support to help you build a kitchen that's ready for the future.