Miller Magazine Issue: 152 August 2022

56 MILLER / AUGUST 2022 NEWS Bühler is investing a double-digit million Swiss Franc amount in a new Grain Innovation Center (GIC) at its site in Uzwil. The GIC will replace the old technology center, which was built in the 1950s and no longer fulfils the requirements of a state-of-the art innovation hub. At the new GIC, Bühler and its customers and partners will develop, test, and scale sustainable and efficient solutions for grain and feed processing to improve food and feed solutions. The focus will be on yield, quality, energy efficiency, and the flexibility of the plants together with nutritious and great tasting recipes based on a broad variety of grains and pulses. Embed- ded in Bühler’s Application & Training Center ecosystem at Uzwil, which includes bakery, pasta, proteins, and chocolate, the GIC will enable the development of innovative solutions along complete value chains, from raw materials to finished products. The GIC is scheduled to start operations by the end of 2024. Humans have been processing grain for around 10,000 ye- ars and yet milling has never been more innovative than it is today. Environmental regulations, food safety, customer needs, raw material sourcing – these ever-increasing demands require new processes and plant technology. Seventy years ago, Büh- ler built its first application center for milling at its site in Uzwil. However, it is now getting on in years and can no longer meet future demands. When today's application center was built in 1951, the raw materials were still delivered in 100-kilogram sacks. Transport and distribution relied on a great deal of human muscle power alongside the most advanced technology of the time. This is no longer realistic today, when the raw materials are delivered in one-ton bags or in bulk in tank trucks. The building and its infra- structure are reaching their limits. CONSTANTLY INCREASING REQUIREMENTS The contents of the bags delivered are also very different from those of 1951. Today, more and more diverse raw ma- terials are being processed, from the newly discovered old grain types to legumes and recycled plastic granulate PET. "Everything that can be ground, screened and sorted is in the right place here," says Rudolf Hofer, Head of Grain Innovation Center. On the other hand, there is a constant stream of end product innovation with start-ups, for example, developing products with a local connection to meet current customer tastes. All of this, in turn, places ever higher demands relating to sustainability, energy efficiency, food safety, and traceability. The circular economy is also becoming increasingly important, requiring new solutions and applications for by- and waste products such as hulls, husks, or bran. Bühler to build the future of milling in Uzwil