What Is the CORNUCOPIA (KN Series)? Differences Between the KN551, KN500, and KN135
The Name CORNUCOPIA
CORNUCOPIA originally refers to the "horn of plenty" in Greek mythology, a horn that endlessly pours out food. RHEON uses it as the series name for its encrusting machines in English-language markets. In the English company history on its U.S. website, the first-generation computerized encrusting machine of 1987 is written as "CN100 CORNUCOPIA," which is the Japanese "KASEIJIN" (火星人); see The KASEIJIN Series.
What Are the Models Starting with KN?
On the U.S. and Asia-Pacific websites, besides the models starting with CN, the CORNUCOPIA series also includes models starting with KN and AN. Those currently published are:
- U.S. website: CORNUCOPIA KN551.
- Asia-Pacific website: CORNUCOPIA AN551, KN500, KN135, and CN511.
Earlier KN models such as the KN400 are also common on the used equipment market. KN is one of the CORNUCOPIA model codes RHEON uses in overseas markets.
How Do the KN551, KN500, and KN135 Differ?
Based on the specifications published on RHEON's U.S. and Asia-Pacific websites:
| Item | KN551 | KN500 | KN135 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official positioning | High-performance single-row encrusting machine | Compact high-performance encrusting machine | Multipurpose encrusting robot |
| Maximum speed | 100 pieces per minute | 60 pieces per minute | 100 pieces per minute |
| Weight range | 10–300 g | 10–250 g | 10–250 g |
| Dough-to-filling ratio | Adjustable as needed (see catalog for figures) | 1:0–0:1 | Adjustable as needed (see catalog for figures) |
| Forming | Ball, bar, continuous cylinder | Ball, bar, continuous cylinder | Ball, bar, continuous cylinder |
| Features | Large color touchscreen, stores 100 products; stainless steel hopper cylinders and hoppers; can be rinsed with running water | Newly developed feeding system, which the manufacturer says does not damage dough; few parts, easy to disassemble and wash | Compact, water-washable body; the manufacturer says it uses a new patented encrusting mechanism |
The AN551 on the Asia-Pacific website has specifications similar to the KN551: up to 100 pieces per minute, 10–300 g, color touchscreen, stores 100 products, water-washable.
On an hourly basis, 100 pieces per minute is about 6,000 pieces per hour, and 60 pieces per minute is about 3,600 pieces per hour; actual output depends on product size and materials.
How Do the Overseas and Japanese Names Correspond?
This is the most frequently asked question and the one that calls for the most caution. What can be confirmed is:
- The series called "KASEIJIN" in Japan is called CORNUCOPIA in the English company history (the CN100, CN120, CN500, CN580, and CN700 all are).
- The CN511 uses the same model number on the Japanese and Asia-Pacific websites.
Whether the KN and AN models correspond one-to-one with the Japanese CN models, and which machine each corresponds to, is not covered by any published comparison table on the websites, so it is unwise to infer it yourself. When you need to cross-reference, rely on the manufacturer's catalog or the machine's nameplate.
Options and Peripherals
The peripherals listed on the U.S. website for the KN551 include an automatic panning machine, a Chinese-style steamed bun pleating machine, a heat stamper, a turntable coater, a flour duster, a double-filling feeder, a solid-ingredient feeder, a forming unit conveyor, an ultrasonic cutter, a half-moon forming line, an automatic racking machine, and a parts washer dedicated to the KN551; see Options and Peripherals.
A Note on Used KN Machines
There are many KN machines on the used market, and the specifications in listings often contradict each other, so treat them only as a reference. Before buying, confirm the model, year of manufacture, and whether all parts are present, and ideally do a test run on the actual machine; see New, Used, or Taiwanese Machine?.
Dong-Yih's Machines
Dong-Yih Machinery manufactures models in Tainan including the DY-201 Automatic Steamed Bun and Mantou Machine and the DY-528MS/DY-528M dividing machines. To find out whether they suit your product, call us at 06-257-4644 or leave a message on our Contact page.
FAQ
Q: What are the models starting with KN?
A: Encrusting machine models that RHEON sells under the CORNUCOPIA name in overseas markets, such as the KN551 in the U.S. and the KN500 and KN135 in the Asia-Pacific region.
Q: How do the KN551, KN500, and KN135 differ?
A: The KN551 makes up to 100 pieces per minute at 10–300 g, with a touchscreen and 100 recipe memories; the KN500 makes up to 60 per minute at 10–250 g with a ratio of 1:0–0:1; the KN135 makes up to 100 per minute at 10–250 g and focuses on a compact, water-washable design.
Q: Which Japanese KASEIJIN does a KN model correspond to?
A: The websites do not publish a comparison table. Rely on the manufacturer's catalog or the machine's nameplate, and do not infer it from model numbers alone.
Q: What does CORNUCOPIA mean?
A: It originally means the "horn of plenty" in Greek mythology; RHEON uses it as the series name for its encrusting machines in English-language markets.