A Guide to Krowne's BarFlex3D
With more than 15,000 configurations of Krowne underbar and refrigeration equipment to choose from, designing a bar can be a daunting task. But with Krowne's BarFlex3D at KaTom, you can easily configure their perfect bar setup. There are several options to consider including ice bin size, whether or not to add a dump sink, or even if LED lights should be installed. Ready to get started? Follow this guide to learn how to navigate Krowne's BarFlex3D software and design your ideal workstation.
Choosing Your Equipment with Krowne BarFlex3D
The opening screen of BarFlex3D shows four options to help you start customizing their bar:
- Build Your Own Station
- Pick From Our Favorites
- BarFlex3D Wizard
- New To BarFlex3D?
New To BarFlex3D?
This software might be confusing to navigate for some, so operators accustomed to more hands-on learning may benefit from clicking this option. By choosing New To BarFlex3D, you are walked through a step-by-step tutorial of the software by customizing a preset ice bin. Hit "start" and build an ice bin with the tutorial. Users pick the size and accessories the tutorial prompts and then you add the product to review with a top or 3D view. Here's a breakdown of the controls and features in the New To BarFlex3D tutorial:
Build Your Own Station
To customize a bar without help, you can select this option, which prompts you to select the type of underbar equipment you want. Refrigeration options can be viewed by clicking the button at top of the column on the left side of the page. You can choose between modular or traditional legs by clicking the prompt at the beginning of the design process, or they can hit the teal square at the top right hand corner to change the legs. When selecting equipment, you can choose the size and optional accessories they may want. Some accessories may not be available to be added onto the equipment, as some options are not compatible with each other. Once a product's size and accessories are selected, users can select "add product" to see a 3D or top view of what they've designed. Simply repeat these steps with other products to build a full bar, and experiment with the station's configuration by clicking each piece and moving it with the arrows that appear above.
Pick From Our Favorites
With these pre-configured workstations, you can view popular underbar configurations for concepts such as sports bars, wedding venues, and hotels. Unlike the Build Your Own Station option where users build a bar from scratch, the Pick From Our Favorites allows you to customize an already designed workstation. Pick your base design then add, move, or remove equipment and accessories to adapt the bar to fit your establishment. You can also see a top or 3D view of what you've designed by selecting "add product" at the bottom of the design tool. By hovering over the available options, you can read a description of some of the workstations. Though most are self-explanatory, two options – the Taffer Command Station and the Zero Step Design Bar – are designed with efficiency in mind, instead of a specific concept.
Designed in collaboration with Jon Taffer and Krowne, the Taffer Command Station enables bartenders to have full control of their workstation and is bluetooth capable to automate tasks. This design includes a craft ice storage freezer, garnish station, drop-in bar top, C02 froster, mixology station, insulated ice bin, elixir bottle storage, soda gun holder, hybrid speed sink, and a liquor display.
The Zero Step Design Bar enables bartenders to efficiently mix cocktails without taking any steps away from the bar, keeping supplies within arm's reach. This pre-configured station includes a garnish station, dump sink, dipperwell, liquor display, ice bin, and an elixir station. As Krowne's most popular pre-configured workstation, it is designed to promote maximum efficiency behind the bar.
BarFlex3D Wizard
If you are unsure of where to start when customizing your bar, the BarFlex3D Wizard asks questions to help guide users through this process. Once all the questions are answered, the BarFlex3D Wizard creates a bar for you, which can then be adjusted to meet your operational requirements. Once the design meets your requirements, select "add product" to view and arrange your bar in top or 3D mode.
BarFlex3D Wizard Questions
- Do you want the bar built on modular bar die or traditional legs?
- Do you want a built-in cold plate for soft drinks?
- What size ice bin do you intend to use?
- Do you intend to use fresh garnishes?
- Do you intend to use glass elixir bottles?
- How many bottles per station?
- Do you want a dump sink?
- Do you want a glass rinser and dipperwell station?
- Do you want dividers in ice bin for storage or different ice and product?
- Do you want LED lights built above each unit?
BarFlex3D's Final Steps
Once you design your bar either with a pre-configured workstation or from scratch, you can view your design with measurements by hitting the bottom left-hand corner of the viewer to ensure it fits in their bar. At this point, users can also change the support from modular dies to traditional legs and vice versa.
Hit the submit button and enter your information to submit your design to KaTom and Krowne. Once received, you will get an email with model numbers, spec sheets, and files of your design.
