Swiss technology group Bühler has inaugurated its pioneering Grain Innovation Center (GIC) at its headquarters in Uzwil. The GIC marks a substantial step forward in grain processing, merging high-tech solutions with Bühler's longstanding expertise in a collaborative space designed to drive innovation. This new facility supports customers in the food and animal nutrition sectors, helping them innovate and enhance their processes to remain competitive and responsive to evolving market trends.
Customers and partners can also benefit from the Application & Training Centre (ATC) hub in Uzwil, which connects entire value chains.
"The Grain Innovation Centre is Bühler's latest addition to our growing network of Application & Training Centres in Uzwil," says Johannes Wick, CEO of Grains & Food at Bühler Group. "We cover the entire production spectrum, from raw materials to a wide array of finished products, providing customers with flexibility and the choices needed to address challenges and reshape their markets."
The GIC's opening comes at a time when the milling industry faces mounting challenges due to shifts in global grain supply chains, changing nutritional requirements, price pressures, and increased demands for sustainable practices. With a focus on automation, IoT, and data analytics, Bühler's GIC helps address these complexities and empowers customers to meet the demand for healthier, more sustainable products.
Designed as a modern and technologically advanced facility, the GIC replaces Bühler's former Grain Technology Centre, which served the industry since 1951. Spanning five stories and 2,000 square meters, the GIC is equipped with over 70 pieces of advanced equipment from Bühler and its partners, offering customers a cutting-edge environment for experimentation and tailored solutions.
A High-Tech "Playground
The GIC features the latest solutions and technologies for grain and pulse processing, enabling customers to test processes and develop innovations across various applications, including cleaning, optical sorting, grinding, sifting, and protein shifting. Customers can also conduct food trials using diverse raw materials, such as cereals, herbs, and pulses, including local and ancient grains that enhance food security. Feed trials can reach capacities of up to five tonnes per hour, covering complete production lines or specific processes.
"One of the GIC's major advantages is its ability to provide detailed data for monitoring processes and assessing the physical and chemical properties of products at every production stage under different conditions," says Lothar Driller, Department Manager Feed Application Centre and Trainings at Bühler.
The GIC's energy-efficient design integrates side streams, such as wheat bran and rice husks, into Bühler's Energy Recovery Center, which powers heating for Bühler offices in Uzwil. Customers can explore energy recovery options to reduce their carbon footprint and minimise waste.
Part of a Broader Innovation Hub
The GIC is part of Bühler's Application & Training Centres hub, which includes the Flavour Creation Centre, Food Creation Centre, Protein Application Centre, Energy Recovery Centre, and other specialised centres, such as the Extrusion and Pasta Application Centres. This comprehensive hub enables Bühler to support the entire farm-to-fork value chain in a unique market environment.
"Our broad business spans the entire protein value chain, and we've implemented a strategy to foster partnerships, streamline internal processes, and enhance material flow," says Rudolf Hofer, Head of the Grain Innovation Centre.
Training and Upskilling
The modernisation project includes new facilities for Bühler's Milling Academy and the Swiss Institute of Feed Technology (SFT), both of which will be housed next to the GIC. The updated structure will feature classrooms, open learning areas, labs, and workshop spaces to enhance training and skill development. In 2023 alone, Bühler trained around 1,000 customers and 150 employees through more than 120 courses offered by the Milling Academy and SFT. The new training facilities are set to open in January 2025.