A New Milling Concept from Bühler for Emerging Markets: EvoMill

Image: Bühler Group

Bühler has announced EvoMill, a new solution designed to enable milling investments to be realised at a lower initial cost, particularly in emerging markets. Developed as a standardised and pre-engineered milling concept, EvoMill is designed to meet basic milling requirements from the outset, whilst also allowing for the facility to be expanded at a later stage.

Bühler’s development of this concept is based on the assessment that investment needs vary across different markets. It is noted that whilst there is high demand for technologically advanced solutions in some markets, in emerging milling sectors, investment costs, operational simplicity and the ability to commence production quickly can be more decisive factors.

A basic milling solution with a capacity of 300 tonnes per day

EvoMill is designed for a daily wheat processing capacity of 300 tonnes. Peter Striegl, Head of the Bühler Grain Innovation Centre & Milling Academy, states that the concept specifically targets regions such as Africa, where the population and demand for food are growing rapidly. According to Striegl, the EvoMill concept is structured in such a way that it can be applied not only in Africa but also in other regions with similar investment dynamics.

According to Bühler’s statements, the basic configuration of EvoMill is designed for the production of standard, multi-purpose flour with a yield of approximately 78 per cent under standard conditions. The system also allows for the diversion of the product stream towards alternative outputs, such as low-ash or darker flour. If required, purifiers can also be incorporated into the system for semolina production. However, Bühler expects the majority of EvoMill users to focus on the production of a single type of all-purpose flour.

The concept covers the core milling processes, from raw material reception, cleaning and grinding through to the in-process storage of the final product and by-products, and on to the packaging stage. The aim is thus to reduce the need for investors to bring together separate solutions for different process stages.

Digital infrastructure integrated into the system from the outset

One of the standout features of EvoMill is the inclusion of digital solutions in the starter package. The digital starter kit provided by Bühler enables data from the production process to be transferred to the Bühler Insights cloud platform. Operators can monitor production data via customisable dashboards on their mobile phones, tablets or computers.

A key component of this infrastructure is the Bühler Yield Management System (YMS). The system helps plant operators monitor production yield and compare deviations between different recipe applications.

It is planned that raw materials entering the production plant will be weighed in real time via receiving scales, with the resulting data transferred to Bühler Insights. Similarly, it will be possible to track the final products leaving the plant via exit scales. This creates a data infrastructure that enables the comparison of incoming and outgoing product quantities and the evaluation of production processes to improve efficiency.

Aims to streamline the pre-engineering investment process

It is noted that EvoMill comprises more than just milling equipment; it also aims to facilitate the coordination of the various stages of the investment. Bühler EvoMill Programme Manager Andreas Oertle highlights that setting up a mill at a new site requires the coordination of numerous different components, such as site works, roads, infrastructure, warehouses, grain silos and process buildings.

In this context, Bühler is able to offer pre-engineered building, silo and milling concepts in collaboration with suppliers it has previously worked with and who have been vetted on EvoMill projects. The aim is thus to reduce the burden on the investor of evaluating different suppliers and ensuring they are compatible with one another at the start of the project.

The concept envisages separate contracts for the building, silo installation and milling solutions. This structure aims to define the areas of responsibility between different solution providers more clearly. According to Bühler, pre-defined technical concepts and business partners make it possible to achieve greater predictability in terms of costs and the project schedule.

However, EvoMill is not based entirely on a fixed supplier model. Investors are also given the option to select their own project partners. Bühler states that it is open to working with different business partners selected by the customer. However, it is noted that in such cases, construction and installation times may be longer compared to projects carried out with pre-validated suppliers.

A scalable entry-level model

Markus Pölzl, Head of Sales and Commercial Milling Solutions at Bühler, explains that EvoMill’s fundamental approach is to offer a standard solution initially, and then to add new features to the system in line with the customer’s needs.

This approach presents a model that, particularly in emerging markets, allows for the development of capacity and technological capabilities in line with market growth, rather than completing the investment in a single phase.

Whilst it is noted that EvoMill initially focuses on wheat milling and a daily capacity of 300 tonnes, it is reported that Bühler plans to develop new project partners in the future and extend the concept beyond wheat milling with the existing capacity.

EvoMill is thus positioned not as a high-tech, complex facility, but as a standardised yet adaptable milling model that focuses on the initial investment needs of new or growing milling markets.