Perfecting the Sweet Finish: Sugar Coating Solutions

When it comes to delivering that satisfying, sweet crunch on your gummies, the sugar coating process needs to be nothing short of precise. At Tanis, we’ve engineered a range of sanding lines designed to ensure every gummy leaves your production line perfectly coated, batch after batch.

Whether you're working on small test batches or full-scale continuous production, our equipment is tailored to meet your unique needs — with industry-leading features built into every model.

Perfecting the Sweet Finish: Sugar Coating Solutions

Different types of Gummy Coating / Sanding

When we talk about gummy coating or sanding, we're referring to a finishing touch that does more than just make a gummy look good — it elevates the entire taste experience. Most commonly, it’s a thin layer of sugar that adds a subtle crunch and enhances the flavour with every bite. But there’s room for much more creativity. By mixing in acids like citric or malic acid, you can create a tangy, sour burst that surprises the consumer with a bold flavour explosion. And it doesn’t stop there — some gummies are coated with tiny particles or adventurous flavour blends that include spicy ingredients, opening the door to truly unique taste profiles. The possibilities with gummy sanding are nearly endless, making it a playful and powerful tool in both the candy and nutraceutical gummy world.

The Sugar Coating Process: Step-by-Step

At Tanis, we don’t just call it sugar coating — we call it sugar sanding, because it’s a carefully engineered process designed to deliver premium results with consistency and control. As illustrated in the diagram above, this process involves several precise stages:

Single Layer Separation. Each gummy is separated into a single layer using a vibratory conveyor, ensuring consistent treatment.
Steam Activation. The candy pieces are moved onto a steam conveyor equipped with food-grade steam filters and a built-in water separator, ensuring clean and controlled application of over-saturated dry steam. This melts the outer layer of each gummy, making them just sticky enough to bind with sugar.
Sugar Sanding in the Coating Drum. The now-sticky gummies are launched—either through a sugar curtain or via a rotating hexagon bar, depending on the system—into the coating drum. This is where the actual sugar sanding takes place: a fine, even layer of sugar adheres to each gummy as it tumbles inside the drum. In models with a double-wall, perforated drum, any excess sugar is captured and cycled back using the integrated sugar recycling system (D9, D14, and D16), while the perfectly sanded gummies exit the drum smoothly, ready for packaging or further processing.

Explore the Equipment: Tanis Sugar Sanding Lines

D6 Sugar Sanding Line

Perfect for lab use or low-capacity production, the D6 is a compact, semi-automated solution for businesses that value flexibility.

Drum Options: Single-Wall Drum: Keeps sugar inside the drum and requires manual removal of coated candy. Double-Wall Drum: Suitable for small production runs over longer durations, with automatic candy outfeed thanks to the perforated inner wall.
Manual Sugar Dosing: The D6 gives full control to the operator.
Stand-Alone Use: Designed specifically for stand-alone applications (not inline compatible).
Easy Mobility: Like all Tanis equipment, the D6 is mounted on casters for easy movement and cleaning.

D9, D14, and D16 Sugar Sanding Lines

Built for continuous production, these high-capacity models offer full automation and seamless integration.

Automatic Sugar Dosing Control: Ensures consistent coating quality without operator intervention.
Integrated Sugar Cycling System: Reuses excess sugar efficiently to reduce waste and maintain hygiene.
Flexible Setup: Can be used stand-alone or in-line with other T-Gel equipment, allowing for full production line automation.
Built-In Hygiene Features: Each unit includes a food-grade steam filter and a water separator to ensure steam purity and minimize moisture buildup.
Double-Wall Drum Technology: Ensures sugar stays in the drum, while the coated candy exits automatically — ideal for long, uninterrupted production runs.
Casters on All Equipment: Easily reposition your setup as needed for cleaning, maintenance, or reconfiguration.

Why Tanis?

From lab-scale R&D to full-scale manufacturing, Tanis provides sugar sanding solutions designed to optimize product quality and operational efficiency. Every system is engineered with usability, hygiene, and flexibility in mind — so you can focus on making delicious, consistent confections with confidence.