UZWIL, SWITZERLAND — Bühler has added the Arrakis to its advanced grinding portfolio, designed as an evolution to the Airtronic roller mill.

The Arrakis features a patented grinding gap adjustment feature, a sturdy casted frame and high vibration absorption capabilities, ensuring prolonged continuous operation.

The grinding gap adjustment ensures rigidity and stability over time to maximize grinding performance. A cast stand is used as the load-bearing element. Cast stands dampen vibrations from roller mills and thereby increase the longevity of the installed components. Product detection is carried out via a load cell, a proven and widely adopted method for accurate measurement. The load cell sensor regulates the feeding gap to provide a stable product flow across the grinding rolls for maximum efficiency. In addition, foreign object protection prevents damage to the rolls, increasing longevity of the roller mill.

“Airtronic was a solid machine, and its durability is exactly what made it beloved by millers all around the world,” said Marcel Scherrer, head of business unit wheat and rye at Bühler.  “We took what we learned from the success of this icon and used it as a foundation to build upon when developing Arrakis.”

Ease of operation is a further highlight of Arrakis. It includes an intuitive user interface allowing for simple control and monitoring. Secure remote access enables operation from various devices, enhancing convenience and flexibility.

Arrakis addresses the need for retrofitting existing milling plants seamlessly, minimizing transition risks and upkeep expenses. Due to its identical footprint to the Airtronic, it permits direct replacement, streamlining the installation process. Moreover, its integrated fixed-speed feeding roll contributes to a more efficient system.

“We also thought of our customers who want to upgrade their systems,” said Urs Schwendener, product manager in Milling Solutions at Bühler Group. “Conversions of existing productions are usually very complex, and the available space is limited. With the Arrakis, we have the opportunity to replace Airtronic and other roller mills in a short time, thereby saving valuable production time.”

Maintenance ease is further refined with features like a cleaning flap for complete product discharge. Brushless scrapers remove grain fragments jammed in corrugations. These scrapers significantly improve food safety compared to the traditional scraping brushes that are still in use to this day. The new patented knife scrapers automatically adjust to the surface of the smooth rolls, eliminating the need for manual adjustments and keeping the rolls consistently clean.

For more information about Bühler’s grinding portfolio, visit its website.