Bühler opens Grain Innovation Center to drive sustainability and technology

Swiss technology group Bühler has inaugurated its new Grain Innovation Center (GIC) in Uzwil, marking a significant milestone in grain processing innovation. This state-of-the-art facility combines advanced technology with Bühler's extensive expertise, fostering collaboration to empower customers in the food and animal nutrition sectors. The GIC is designed to help these industries innovate and enhance their processes, ensuring they remain competitive in an ever-evolving market.

Feed trials can be performed with production capacities of up to 5 tonnes per hour, covering the entire production line or individual process steps.Bühler“The Grain Innovation Center is the latest addition to Bühler’s expanding network of Application & Training Centers in Uzwil,” said Johannes Wick, CEO of Grains & Food at Bühler Group. “We cover the entire range of production, from various raw materials to a wide array of finished products, providing our customers with exceptional flexibility to address increasing challenges and revolutionize their markets."

As the milling industry grapples with changes in global grain supply chains, rising nutritional demands, and transparency in sourcing, it faces significant challenges. These include maintaining flour quality amidst variable raw materials, enhancing production and energy efficiency, and managing safety concerns, all while striving to attract and retain skilled professionals. The GIC is poised to address these issues by leveraging new technologies such as automation, IoT, and data analytics, while also responding to the growing consumer demand for healthier and more sustainable products.

Food trials encompass a variety of raw materials, including cereals, herbs, spices, and pulses.BühlerThe GIC is a modern, high-tech facility that replaces Bühler’s former Grain Technology Center, which has supported the milling industry since 1951. Spanning 2,000 square meters across five stories, the GIC features state-of-the-art infrastructure and over 70 pieces of cutting-edge equipment from Bühler and its partners. It serves as a leading arena for customers to experiment, innovate, and develop tailored solutions to meet their specific needs.

Equipped with the latest technologies for processing grain and pulses, the GIC allows customers to conduct tests on food and animal feed, developing new processes in areas such as cleaning, optical sorting, grinding, sifting, mixing, and protein shifting. It also provides capabilities for hygienization, pelleting, dehulling, peeling, and pearling of grains and pulses. “The GIC offers an unparalleled environment where customers can develop tailored processes and witness the extensive capabilities of Bühler’s diverse portfolio firsthand,” noted Stefan Birrer, Head of Business Area Milling Solutions at Bühler.

Food trials at the GIC encompass a variety of raw materials, including cereals, herbs, spices, and pulses. The center is equipped to conduct trials on local and ancient grains, which can play a crucial role in enhancing food security globally. Additionally, the GIC offers testing for various commodities, such as coffee, nuts, and insects, and caters to non-food bulk solids like plastics and absorbers.

The Grain Innovation Center works as a leading-edge arena for customers to experiment, innovate, and find concrete solutions to meet their specific needs.BühlerFor feed trials, the facility can handle production capacities of up to 5 tonnes per hour, covering the entire production line or individual process steps. “One of the main advantages of the GIC is its ability to provide detailed data that enables continuous and precise monitoring of the process, as well as the physical and chemical properties of the product at every stage of production and under varying process conditions,” explained Lothar Driller, Department Manager Feed Application Center and Trainings at Bühler.

The GIC also focuses on sustainability by feeding side streams, such as wheat bran and rice husks, to Bühler’s Energy Recovery Center, which provides heating for Bühler offices in Uzwil. This initiative allows customers to explore the potential of utilizing side streams for energy recovery, contributing to reduced carbon footprints, waste, and energy costs.

The GIC is part of Bühler’s broader Application & Training Centers hub, which includes recently launched centers like the Flavor Creation Center, Food Creation Center, Protein Application Center, and Energy Recovery Center. This innovation hub allows Bühler to offer comprehensive coverage of the entire value chain, creating a unique environment in the market. “Our broad business stretches across the entire protein value chain, and we have meticulously implemented a strategy for partnerships, closing internal gaps and enhancing material flow,” said Rudolf Hofer, Head of the Grain Innovation Center.

The five-story facility features state-of-the-art infrastructure along with over 70 pieces of cutting-edge equipment from Bühler and its partners.BühlerFurthermore, the modernization project will house Bühler’s Milling Academy and the Swiss Institute of Feed Technology (SFT) in a new structure located next to the GIC, fostering synergies. This facility will include classrooms, open learning areas, meeting rooms, new laboratories, and a workshop area, enabling both Bühler’s team and customers to develop the necessary skills to adapt to the rapidly changing work environment. In 2023 alone, about 1,000 customers and 150 internal employees were trained through more than 120 courses offered by the Milling Academy and SFT. The new training facility is set to become operational by January 2025.

Bühler’s Grain Innovation Center stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to driving innovation and supporting the milling industry as it navigates a complex and evolving landscape.