Miller Magazine Issue: 136 April 2021

50 MILLER / aprıl 2021 NEWS Bühler announces a major step towards the digitally connected rice mill of the future. The first rollout for integrated rice mills is entering the final stages. The initial setup connecting sorter, whitener, and sensors is set to change rice milling practices. Artificial intelligence and machine learning technol- ogy transform stand-alone technologies into one smart integrated system, reducing waste, saving energy, and consistently providing the best product quality. The re- sults have tangible impact on the entire value chain. “Our digitally integrated system is the world’s first. Our solu- tion-focused thinking connects the entire mill. The mon- etary benefits for our customers are tangible, while re- duction in waste and energy consumption demonstrate our commitment to sustainable solutions,” says Johannes Wick, CEO Grains & Food at Bühler. Swiss rice miller Rise- ria Taverne SA is among the first visionary operators to successfully implement the system. The rice processing industry faces many challenges: The growing global population and the rise of the mid- dle class is driving up demand from consumers around the world who are increasingly quality conscious. At the same time, rice processors must manage huge varia- tions in input with ever fewer skilled operators. Mean- while, wider society is looking to all industries to become more sustainable. Bühler is meeting these challenges head on by connecting the optical sorter, whitener, and sensors into an integrated system powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. “It’s this potent com- bination that lifts our capabilities to entirely new levels, equipping millers with the tools to operate even more ef- ficiently and meet their customers’ ever-growing demand for consistent quality,” says Johannes Wick. “This isn’t a gradual improvement on already excellent performance but a real gamechanger. It represents a major leap to- wards the totally connected milling operation.” INTEGRATING WHITENER, SENSORS, AND SORTER TO UNLOCK ACTIONABLE DATA Bühler has been a pioneer in whitening technology for more than three decades, introducing the first ver- tical split-stone arrangement to the market. The new Automatic Whitener DRWC improves the process further by providing the best whitening performance through self-adapting whitening pressure. It also includes an overload protection mechanism and convenient recipe setting options that can be accessed via a touchscreen to provide maximum user-friendliness and efficiency. The shaftless design allows air to pass freely around rice ker- nels resulting in cooler and cleaner kernels, free from the bran. The emery wheel can be replaced easily, and the wear parts are highly durable. Bühler has defined the three quality parameters es- sential to the rice market: shine, smoothness, and white- ness. These, together with the percentage of broken rice, determine the quality and therefore the price that can be achieved with the final product. The RiceLinePro Bühler introduces integrated intelligent technologies for rice millers Johannes Wick CEO of Bühler Grains & Food The DS-C optical sorter