What Is a Milling Plant?
A milling plant is a facility used to process grains and other raw materials into flour.
These plants mill wheat, corn, rice, and raw materials for pharmaceuticals into flour. They manage multiple processes, from pre-processing, such as removal of foreign material and sieving, to milling and product packaging.
Advanced automatic control systems are often implemented to achieve specific objectives, stabilize particle size and production volume, and reduce operator workload. Additionally, modern milling plants are designed to minimize emissions, ensure quality control, and consider hygiene and environmental impact.
Efficient and uniform crushing of raw materials is crucial in milling operations. Mills are equipped with conveyors, crushers, sifters, air classifiers, and other machinery to facilitate the smooth transfer of raw materials through each stage of processing, producing powders of the required size. The integration of multiple devices not only enhances production efficiency but also stabilizes the quality and hygienic conditions of the final product.
Applications of Milling Plants
Milling plants are used in the following applications:
1. Food
One primary application is the production of wheat flour and other cereal flour. Flour is used in bread, noodles, and confectionery, and the accuracy of the milling process significantly affects the final product. Therefore, plants equipped with high-performance milling and sieving machines are utilized. Process optimization, including fine particle size and temperature control, is employed to maximize the flavor and nutritional content of grains. Additionally, milling temperature and humidity are adjusted based on the properties of the raw materials.
2. Chemical
In the chemical industry, milling plants grind raw materials such as pigments and resins. Ensuring a uniform particle size helps stabilize the quality of paints and plastic products. In the pharmaceutical field, milling plants enhance drug absorption efficiency and formulation uniformity by processing active ingredients to a specified fineness. In research and development, small-scale milling plants are often employed for testing and experimentation.
3. Animal Feed
Milling plants are also used in animal feed production. Feed for livestock and farmed fish must be processed into easily digestible forms, with precise adjustments to particle size and moisture content. For example, grains and soybeans are ground into fine powder while retaining their nutrients to produce feed that supports animal health. Another advantage of feed processing is improved transportation efficiency and reduced storage space. In some cases, the processed powder is compressed into a more usable form.