What’s the Difference Between a Dough Divider and a Dough Rounder?
When you’re running a bakery or scaling up your baking business, efficiency, consistency, and speed are everything. That’s where two essential machines come in: the dough divider and the dough rounder.
But what do they actually do? What’s the difference between them? And do you really need both?
At Vanrooy Machinery, we hear these questions all the time — so we created this guide to help you understand the difference, know what’s right for your bakery, and choose the best dough equipment to support your growth.
A dough divider is a commercial bakery machine designed to cut bulk dough into even, consistent portions. Instead of manually weighing and cutting dough, the divider automates the process, saving you time and reducing waste.
Whether you’re making bread loaves, pizza bases, burger buns, or sourdough rolls, a dough divider delivers precision, speed, and uniformity every time.
These machines are ideal for bakeries that need to:
- Maintain consistent portion sizes
- Speed up production
- Reduce manual labour
Example uses:
- Dividing dough into exact weights (e.g. 100g, 300g, etc.)
- Processing large dough batches quickly
- Prepping products for shaping or proofing
What Does a Dough Rounder Do?
Once your dough is divided, the next step is shaping — and that’s where a dough rounder comes in.
A dough rounder machine takes each portion of dough and gently shapes it into a smooth, uniform ball. This helps create products like burger buns, dinner rolls, pizza balls, and more.
The rounding action:
- Prepares dough for even fermentation
- Ensures a consistent final shape
- Reduces manual handling time
Rounders are designed to work seamlessly after a divider, giving you a streamlined production flow.
Do I Need Both a Dough Divider and a Dough Rounder?
Great question — and the answer depends on your production setup.
If you’re a small bakery or still growing, a dough divider alone can make a massive impact on your output. But if you’re producing high volumes of buns, rolls, or rounded dough, adding a rounder can dramatically improve speed and consistency.
Many bakeries start with one and add the other as they grow. Alternatively, some jump right in to purchasing a Dough Divider Rounder for full consistency in their production line At Vanrooy, we can help you decide what suits your current and future needs.
Manual vs Automatic: Which Type is Right for My Business?
Both dividers and rounders are available in:
- Manual
- Semi-automatic
- Automatic
Manual machines are great for smaller bakeries or those just starting out. But if you’re producing large volumes daily, automatic machines can save you time, energy, and labour costs.
We supply many variations of all divider and rounder types, including combined divider-rounder units. Our team can walk you through which one works best for your bakery size, budget, and production goals.
Below are three examples of popular Dough Dividers we supply at Vanrooy Machinery. If you’d like to explore our full range of Dough Dividers, please click here to see what else we offer.
Merand Atoupain Divider
Dough Divider
Designed for complete accuracy and efficiency when working with all types of doughs, also allowing you to use the cold fermentation process.
Vitella Automatic Divider
Dough Divider
The Vitella Automatic Divider features a hydraulic system with adjustable pressing and cutting, stores up to 9 programs, and includes a knife cleaning button.
Merand Diva II Dough Divider
Dough Divider
The Merand Diva 2 is a 20 piece hydraulic stress free dough divider designed for complete accuracy and efficiency, whilst working with all dough types.
Here are three of our most popular Dough Rounders available at Vanrooy Machinery. If you’re interested in exploring our full range of Dough Rounders, click here to discover more options.
Vitella Screw Dough Rounder
Dough Rounder
The Vitella Screw Rounder is a practical and highly flexible solution for dough ball production. Using the inverter-based speed adjustment system, different mixing cycles can be obtained, even with very wet dough.
Merand Rotaball Rounder
Dough Rounder
Designed to gently and precisely round dough pieces after resting, while preserving the airy structure, even in highly hydrated doughs.
Dough Rounder
The Merand Conical Rounders have been specifically designed for pre-rounding a range of dough types to ensure consistency in your production.
Here are three of the most popular Dough Divider Rounders we offer at Vanrooy Machinery. To explore our complete range and find the perfect fit for your needs, click here.
Fortuna Semi Automatic Dough Divider Rounder
Dough Divider Rounder
Designed to be the most consistent and maintenance free bun rounder on the market, the Fortuna Semi Automatic is the number one choice of bakers all around the world.
Sartori SVP Volumetric Divider Rounder
Dough Divider Rounder
The Sartori SVP is a fully automatic divider rounder specifically designed for industrial production with a high hourly production rate, giving precise and high quality final product with every use.
Vitella Semi-Automatic Bun Divider Rounder
Dough Divider Rounder
Vitella’s Semi-automatic Bun Rounder has been designed to effortlessly divide and round dough with accuracy and consistency.
FAQ: Common Questions About Dough Dividers & Rounders
Can a dough rounder be used without a divider?
Absolutely, a dough rounder can be used on pre-weighed or hand-cut dough pieces. However, it often works most efficiently when paired with a dough divider for full automation (however not mandatory.)
What kind of dough can you use in a dough divider?
Most commercial dough dividers can handle soft, stiff, high-hydration, sourdough, and even gluten-free doughs, depending on the model.
How many pieces can a dough divider cut?
This depends on the machine. Some automatic models can process hundreds of portions per hour.
Are dough dividers and rounders easy to clean?
Yes, most modern dividers and rounders are built with hygienic, easy-to-clean surfaces and removable parts to comply with food safety standards. We have many tutorials on our YouTube channel, which you can view here.
How do I choose the right dough divider for my bakery?
Consider your production volume, dough type, available space, and whether you want a manual, semi-automatic, or fully automatic machine. Our team at Vanrooy can help you choose.
What’s the difference between a bun rounder and a dough rounder?
Nothing! They’re the same machine – both names refer to a piece of equipment that shapes dough into smooth, round portions like buns or rolls.
Can dough dividers and rounders work with sticky dough?
Yes, many professional models are designed to handle wet or sticky doughs with non-stick surfaces, adjustable pressure settings, or flour-dusting systems.
Thinking About Upgrading Your Bakery Workflow?
Choosing the right dough divider or rounder can make a big difference in your day-to-day operations. Saving time, improving consistency, and making life in the bakery a little easier.
At Vanrooy Machinery, we’ve worked with bakeries of all shapes and sizes to find equipment that fits their space, budget, and production needs. Whether you’re running an artisan bakery or managing a high-volume production line, we’re here to offer guidance and support.
