A New Development in Malt Milling from Bühler: The Balance is Shifting in the Milling Chamber

Image: Bühler Group

The Swiss technology group Bühler is unveiling the Maltomat IV, a new malt milling machine developed for brewers and malt processing plants, at the BrauBeviale trade fair. Visitors to the Bühler stand at the fair, which runs from 10 to 12 November 2026, will be among the first to see the machine. The Maltomat IV is also being officially launched at the event.

Beer is essentially produced by processing malt – obtained by malting grains such as barley – with water, hops and yeast. Consequently, the quality of the finished product depends not only on the quality of the raw materials but also on the processing method. Malt milling, carried out prior to wort preparation, is one of the most critical steps in this process. However, raw material characteristics that vary from batch to batch, the expectation of uninterrupted production and increasingly stringent safety requirements make it difficult to achieve consistent results during milling. Bühler states that it developed the Maltomat IV based on discussions held with its customers. The aim is to achieve consistent results with less reliance on manual adjustments, to adapt to different malt batches without unnecessary downtime, and to operate in compliance with strict safety conditions.

The machine stands out as an upgraded version of the milling mill – familiar to brewers and maltsters – featuring enhanced software and powerful servo motors. The most striking innovation is the ATEX-certified 15-inch full HD touchscreen, which provides additional safety within the milling chamber. The screen brings real-time process monitoring directly to the operators. Integrated calibration wizards also guide operators step-by-step during set-up, replacing guesswork-based adjustments and aiming to reduce operational errors.

Live grinding gap adjustment eliminates the need to stop the line when switching to a new malt batch. The speed of the rollers, bed temperature and product feed are continuously monitored. Set-up time between batch changes is also reduced. For businesses that frequently change batches, these features are crucial for operational continuity.

The Maltomat IV can process dry or conditioned malt as well as unmalted grains. Available in four- and six-roll versions, the machine has a barley malt capacity ranging from 4 to 16 tonnes per hour. Compatible with both lauter tun and mash filter systems, the mill operates without the need for compressed air. This means that, in terms of both construction and cost, a system failure is avoided during plant installation.

On the safety front, it is certified for dust explosion protection, which includes a fire suppression system. The machine also complies with FDA and EU food safety requirements.