COMPANY FOCUS
Forging ahead during challenging times
The first integrated grinding system, Arrius MIRRA, from Bühler
Every day, billions of people come into contact with Bühler technologies to cover their basic needs for food, mobility and more. The range of technologies covers from smartphone parts to the food you eat. Maryke Foulds looks at how the company creates innovation for a better world with a focus on healthy, safe, and sustainable solutions.
A
s health-conscious consumers
“This year has offered us a chance to
This plug-and-play system considerably
make changes to their eating
reassess what is important and where
reduces installation and commissioning
habits, Bühler is expecting to
to focus our resources and energy now
time. By using power busbars for the
see a wave of new better-for-you options
and post-pandemic. We are also proud
electric power distribution, installation
hitting shelves in 2021.
to announce the launch of the Arrius – a
time can be reduced by a factor of three,”
groundbreaking grinding systems that
Bloechlinger points out.
“We are predicting an even bigger move towards alternative proteins from sources
allows for lower energy consumption, faster
such as pulses and TVP, also known as
installation, maximum food safety, highest
texturised vegetable proteins,” explains
operating reliability and best grinding
OPTIMISED GRINDING PERFORMANCE AND HYGIENE
Harry Bloechlinger, MD Southern Africa.
performance. During the new development
Bühler roller packs have stood out for their
“We have also seen that consumers are
phase, millers were the focus of attention.
stability and precision for decades. In spite
purchasing more items tailored to quick
They were involved in the development
of – or perhaps precisely because of –
and easy snacking options. This is creating
project from day one and their input has
this, the company has continued to carry
opportunities for nutrient-dense snacks
ensured that Arrius is a machine that is both
out intensive research in this area. The
with functional health benefits aimed at
revolutionary and familiar to millers,” he
roller pack with integrated grinding force
supporting immune systems that enhance
points out enthusiastically.
mood and sustain energy.” myriad of challenges, such as currency
INTEGRATION FOR MORE EFFICIENCY
fluctuations on imported wheat, the
Arrius is not just a roller mill but an integrated
Founded in 1860, Bühler is still
company remained 100% operational
grinding system. The switch cabinet, drive
run as a family business
throughout the lockdown period. “We
and gearbox and web server, which provides
stayed close to our customers to ensure
the link to digital services, are all built in.
that we understood and could assist
These components are all separate in a
with the challenges they may be facing,”
conventional roller mill.
Although COVID-19 has kicked up a
Bloechlinger explains. “Bühler has service
Integrating them brings significant
engineers that work 24/7 to ensure
advantages. It makes Arrius remarkably
your business can work fulltime too. We
energy efficient, for example. The novel
offer remote support as well as service
drive reduces energy consumption by up
engineers that can be dispatched from our
to 10% compared with conventional belt
local hubs to remote areas to ensure that
drives. Furthermore, the integrated drive unit
our customers don’t have downtime on
together with the direct suction means it is
their plants.”
possible to save an entire floor when building
Going into 2021 Bühler has increased its
a new mill.
sustainability goals and its aim is to reduce
“The innovative design also allows the
energy requirements, water consumption,
Arrius grinding system to be delivered to its
and waste by 50% in customer value
destination as a ready-to-install module and
chains. No business can do this alone. One
to be flexibly positioned within the plant. Just
of the strategic pillars for the Middle East
connect three cables – compressed air, and
and Africa region in 2021 is Food for the
product inlet and outlet – and the grinding
Future – alternative protein solutions.
system is ready for operation.
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JANUARY 2021 | FOOD REVIEW
DID YOU KNOW?
Harry Bloechlinger, MD for Southern Africa