MechChem Africa May-June 2025

⎪ Local manufacturing and food processing ⎪

Education and development The rapid advancement of technology in milling requires a highly skilled workforce. Bühler is committed to knowledge-sharing and capacity building through its African Milling School, as well as its training programmes, workshops, and e-learning platforms. The company also collaborates with educa tional institutions and industry organisations to provide hands-on training and apprenticeship opportunities. “Training and skills development are key to future-proofing the milling industry. We invest in education to ensure millers are well-equipped to handle new technologies and industry shifts,” says Sutter. “As climate change and population growth put increasing pressure on food security, the need for resilient, sustainable milling solutions has never been greater. Bühler invites mills and industry stakeholders to join them in building a smarter, greener and more efficient food system for the future,” concludes Sutter. www.buhlergroup.com Malben is firmly driven by a continued focus on customer satisfaction, maintaining the high est quality, safety and technical standards, and consistent investment in two core pillars: its valued staff and new equipment and technology. “We will continue to nurture and develop fu ture leaders to work locally and further afield, as we grow the business in new markets overseas. Already, we supply automotive components that go into vehicles exported to Europe as well as North and South America. We are able to meet the stringent safety and quality stan dards for these regions, with their demanding, corrosive weather and we are confident about manufacturing and supplying directly into these countries,” Luca Smargiasso concludes. https://malben.co.za the company for many years. Quality Director, Werner Kapp, has been at Malben for 22 years; while Stanley Makwanazi, who started as an op erator in 1978 and has worked beside Amerigo Smargiasso since then, is now Production Manager at Plant 1. Cheryl Tranfaliglia, who started as the receptionist, is now the Human Resources Manager.

Malben Engineering’s Plant 2 press shop showing its 1 200 and 1 600 t Yadon sheet metal presses.

during the Second World War. The experiences from those very challenging years underpinned the tenacity with which our parents and their co-founders went on to manage Malben’s first, formative years.”

The company has a flat management struc ture, with an enduring ‘open door’ policy, and is characterised by three key elements: compassion, consistency and accountability. Many of Malben’s employees have been with

Smart milling for resilient, sustainable and energy-efficient food production Energy consumption is a major concern in milling operations, but Bühler is tackling this challenge head-on through advanced equip ment, automation and digital monitoring tools. High-performance motors and energy-efficient roller mills have been instrumental in cutting energy use, while its Energy Recovery Concept helps minimise heat loss. resilience, and Bühler helps mills balance cost effectiveness with environmental responsibility through modular processing lines that minimise raw material and energy waste.

Localised manufacturing is another key strategy for improving sustainability. By reduc ing transportation emissions and strengthen ing regional food security, Bühler’s approach ensures faster service and maintenance while enhancing supply chain resilience. In addition, the company encourages mills to adopt rec ognised sustainability certifications, such as ISO 50001 for energy management and LEED Green Building certification for sustainability and environmental compliance. Smart milling technologies Bühler’s smart process control systems opti mise efficiency while reducing environmental impact, ensuring mills operate at peak perfor mance with minimal waste. “Smart milling is the future, and Bühler is leading this transformation. Our digital solu tions empower mills with real-time insights, allowing them to make data-driven decisions that enhance efficiency and sustainability,” explains Sutter. Bühler Insights, a leading digital solution, provides real-time data analytics for moni toring energy use, raw material efficiency, and emissions. Predictive maintenance fur ther enhances sustainability by preventing equipment breakdowns, extending machin ery life and reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

“Bühler is committed to making milling more energy-efficient while maintaining high opera tional performance. Our solutions allow mills to reduce energy costs and ensure long-term sustainability,” says Marco Sutter, managing director of Bühler Southern Africa. Digitalisation plays a crucial role in improv ing energy efficiency. By leveraging real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and AI driven process optimisation, Bühler enables mills to reduce excess energy consumption and streamline operations. Case studies highlight the impact of these technologies, with mills achieving energy savings of up to 15% and waste reductions of 30% through Bühler’s automation solutions. To further minimise food loss, Bühler inte grates precise sorting technologies, optimised cleaning processes, and real-time milling pa rameter tracking. Building greener supply chains Bühler supports mills in adopting circular economy principles by designing machines that recover valuable byproducts and utilise recyclable materials. Sustainable sourcing and production practices are crucial for long-term

Arrakis roller mills from Bühler offer milling with reduced energy consumption.

May-June 2025 • MechChem Africa ¦ 33