The IBV20 spiral dough mixer brings a variable-speed drive to the 22 L fixed-head / fixed-bowl configuration. At €2,160 — €540 less than the IRV20 (same drive, same capacity, but raising head) — it is aimed at establishments wanting variable-speed precision — for high-hydration doughs or phased kneading — without needing to dismantle the bowl between productions. The fixed head, mechanically simpler, costs less and lasts longer than a raising mechanism: it is the choice for the artisan optimising dough quality without paying for bowl flexibility they will not use.
The variable-speed drive: same technology as the IRV20, €540 less
The IBV20's variable-speed drive works like the IRV20's: it varies the spiral's rotation speed continuously, from very low speed to nominal. This continuous variation opens the same technical possibilities:
- Progressive phased kneading: incorporate ingredients at low speed (no spray, no warming of the mass), then ramp up gradually for gluten-network development. This protocol produces a dough with better extensibility and a more regular crumb structure.
- Controlled high hydration: doughs at 70-80% hydration (Neapolitan, pizza in pala, focaccia) need slow kneading early in the cycle so the flour gradually absorbs the water. At fixed speed, the spiral tears the sticky dough. With the drive, you start at very low speed for 5 minutes, then ramp up gently — the dough builds correctly.
- Recipe-by-recipe adaptation: each dough type has its optimal kneading profile. The drive lets you reproduce these profiles precisely, batch after batch.
The difference from the IRV20 is only in the head and bowl configuration: the IBV20 has a fixed head and bowl (no raising, no dismantling), the IRV20 has a raising head and removable bowl. If you do not need to carry the bowl or remove it for cleaning between two productions, the IBV20 gives you exactly the same precision for €540 less.
Fixed head: the mechanical-simplicity argument
On a fixed-head mixer, there is no raising mechanism to maintain, no pivot seal to watch, no wear part on the upper section of the machine. The structure is monobloc and articulation-free: mechanically simpler and more durable than the raising configuration. For a mixer running several hours a day for years, this mechanical simplicity has real value.
The dough is removed from the fixed bowl from the top, directly onto the worktop — a simple, fast gesture with no mechanism to handle. For a production workshop where the same recipe repeats batch after batch with no need to inspect the bowl between batches, the fixed head is the most efficient operating mode.
Compact format: 390 mm for any kitchen
At 390×670×730 mm and 17 kg, the IBV20 has the same floor footprint as the IBT50 and the IRV20. It sits on a standard 600 mm-deep bench with no overhang, can be moved if needed, and requires no floor fixing. In a kitchen with 2.5 to 3 m of worktop, this minimal footprint is a concrete asset — the mixer is there when you need it, without monopolising the worktop during preparations that do not need it.
For which establishment
The IBV20 suits artisans and chefs wanting the precise control of the drive without needing the flexibility of a removable bowl. An independent pizzaiolo developing recipes and wanting a precision tool: the drive lets them fine-tune their kneading protocols (incorporation speed, low-speed kneading time, ramp-up). A restaurateur offering a few quality pizzas with a stabilised recipe: they want a reliable, precise mixer, not necessarily a flexible one. A bakery or catering workshop alternating between two or three fixed recipes with no need to carry the bowl between stations.
If you frequently alternate between several dough types and fast bowl cleaning between productions matters, or if you need to carry the bowl to the shaping station, the IRV20 (raising head, removable bowl, €2,700) better meets that need. The IBV20 is the tool of the artisan who knows exactly what they are doing and needs no bowl flexibility — just speed precision.
Technical specifications
| Reference | IBV20 |
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| Type | Variable-speed spiral mixer, fixed head, fixed bowl |
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| Bowl capacity | 22 litres |
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| Power | 750 W |
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| Drive | Yes — continuously variable speed |
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| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 390 × 670 × 730 mm |
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| Weight | 17 kg |
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| Price excl. VAT | €2,160 |
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IBV20 vs IRV20: fixed or raising head?
| Criterion | IBV20 (fixed head) | IRV20 (raising head) |
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| Capacity | 22 L | 22 L |
| Variable speed | Yes | Yes |
| Head | Fixed | Raising |
| Bowl | Fixed | Removable |
| Power | 750 W | 750 W |
| Dimensions | 390×670×730 mm | 390×670×740 mm |
| Price excl. VAT | €2,160 | €2,700 |
What restaurateurs ask
- What is the difference between the IBV20 and the IRV20?
- The IBV20 and IRV20 have the same capacity (22 L), same power (750 W), same variable-speed drive and same dimensions. The difference is the head and bowl configuration: the IBV20 has a fixed head and bowl (dough removed from the top), the IRV20 has a raising head and removable bowl (you lift the head, take out the whole bowl). The IRV20 is more flexible for cleaning and bowl handling; the IBV20 is mechanically simpler and costs €540 less.
- Does the IBV20's drive let me work a Neapolitan dough at 75%?
- Yes. The drive is precisely the tool that lets you work high hydrations correctly. For a dough at 75-78% hydration, the recommended procedure: incorporate the flour and 60% of the water at low speed (3-4 minutes), add the salt, ramp up gradually to mid-speed (5 minutes), then to nominal speed for final development (5-8 minutes). Without a drive, this progression is impossible and the highly hydrated dough does not build correctly.
- Why choose a variable-speed drive rather than 2 speeds (IBT302V, IBT402V models…)?
- A drive allows continuous, progressive speed variation (from 0 to 100% of nominal), whereas 2-speed models switch between a slow and a fast speed (all or nothing). For high-hydration recipes or progressive kneading, the drive is superior as it allows a very gradual speed ramp. For standard doughs at a stable cruising speed, 2 speeds are pragmatic and enough. The drive is the choice of the artisan refining their protocols; 2 speeds are the choice of the practitioner wanting flexibility without too many parameters to manage.
Weight 17 kg — standard delivery applies. Contact us for lead times for your area via the contact form.
MFF Guarantee & After-Sales: 1-year manufacturer guarantee, extended guarantee available. MFF technical support and spare parts. Delivery 48–72h mainland France.
