Page 22 - ABFI March 19 issue

techNology

Investing in Quality Ensures

Greater Value for Müller’s Mühle

Leading German rice, lentil and pea processor proves that when it comes to
investing in sorting technology – you get what you pay for.

hen buying sorting
technology,
Wfocusing on its
value to improve profitability
in the longer term is a wise
business strategy – as the
success of Müller’s Mühle
shows.
Müller’s Mühle is part
of GoodMills Deutschland
GmbH. It is one of Europe’s
largest rice refiners and
Northern Europe’s largest
processor of peas, beans and
lentils. At its headquarters,
at the inland port of
Gelsenkirchen-Schalke in
western Germany, it employs
140 people, has a production Breuer explains, “When we present a food-safety issue, it’s balls and clumps of bran;
capacity of 120,000 tonnes and rebuilt our rice mill in 2010, associated with lower quality. thanks to the option they were
each year turns over some €60 we successfully trialed and However, the SORTEX A not given by Bühler to retrofit an
million. invested in SORTEX optical only delivered a far superior InGaAs upgrade kit on their
Peas from Europe, beans sorters, because they gave us sort quality, but complaints SORTEX Z+. Bühler offer
from Asia and North America the highest product quality about FM (Foreign Materials) their customers a full range
and lentils from North and yield.” also fell, because the SORTEX of service packages, such as
America arrive at Müller's “And we achieved the technology is more accurate upgrade kits, so that they
Mühle world-class facility. same capacity by using when it comes to identifying can benefit from the latest
When sorted, they are sold two SORTEX sorters as we difficult to detect FM. technologies at a fraction of
under Müller’s Mühle’s own did when using five of our “Customer satisfaction is the cost of an equivalent new
brand (it is a leader in rice, previous sorters. Plus we vital to us and we’re always machine.”
pre-boiled rice and pulses) got a better reject ratio and looking for ways to further The main challenge when
and various others, with we could call upon German- improve our already high- sorting peas is to remove
customers ranging from speaking technicians nearby level product quality and shelled from unshelled peas,
wholesalers and cash and for servicing.” safety.” as well as foreign seeds
carry businesses through Müller’s Mühle also has such as wheat. Defective
big supermarket chains to Bühler optical sorters on its Rising to the Challenge products must also be taken
professional caterers and pea and lentil processing The SORTEX Z+ improves out, including peas that
kitchens. lines, providing a vital quality and safety on are discoloured, rotten,
final quality check before Müller’s Mühle’s rice line, by misshaped, broken or split.
Highest Product Quality and packing. “Since installing the removing FM such as glass, Making sure that any
Yield SORTEX A, there have been sticks and stones, as well as trace of wheat is removed
Founded in 1893, Müller’s a substantial increase in yield defective product. Bühler from lentils and peas is also
Mühle has used Bühler and a decrease in complaints,” Sales Engineer, Johann Högler essential, with many buyers
equipment since 1913. says Breuer. explains, “The type of defects expecting and needing them
More recently, three of its “Previously, most removed is rotten grains, rice both to be gluten-free. The
processing lines have been complaints were about with black tips, greyish rice SORTEX A’s technological
using SORTEX technology. discoloured product, and kernels, etc. Müller’s Mühle capabilities are tested to
As Plant Manager, Tobias while discolouration doesn’t can now also tackle mud the maximum, because

22 March 2019 AgriBusiness & Food i ndustr y