The Global Miller: July 2017

July 31, 2017

01/08/2017: First full colour optical sorter for rice installed in the Caribbean

Rice is one of the most important agricultural products in the Dominican Republic, it has a major political, economic and social impact on the Dominican society

These reasons, among others, are why rice millers in the country are always looking for ways to improve the quality and production capacity of rice being sold to consumers. One of the most important characteristics of the final processed rice grain is its appearance.

Roberto Familia and Team with REZS
Image credit: SATAKE Group

Consumers in the Caribbean have come to expect high quality rice that shows a uniform and consistent bright white colour. There are many types of processing machines and equipment to help clean the product, but the optical sorter sits at the heart of the operation and can be considered the most important.

The full colour sorter serves as a final quality check at the end of the processing line, removing any remaining defective product such as foreign material or damaged and discoloured grains. Satake, a world leader in rice milling technology, recently launched their new, cost-effective, high capacity optical sorting platform, the REZS colour sorter in Latin America.

This full colour innovative sorting technology has been proven worldwide as an industry standard for rice inspection and defect removal. Earlier this year in the Dominican Republic, Mr Rafael “Negro” Hernandez, owner of Agroservicios del Cibao and representative for Satake, successfully installed and started-up the first Satake REZS in the Caribbean for Federación Gregorio Luperon.

The cost-effective Satake REZS colour sorter delivers high capacity clean rice at a price that every processing mill can afford. This type of machine not only increases Federación Gregorio Luperon’s quality and reputation, but customers are also very satisfied with the superior product.

Mr Roberto Familia, the company’s President, comments in a recent interview; “Our clients are also happy. Our sales are increasing because we are sending them higher quality rice. We are also not getting any more returned product with this machine. We have excellent rice quality now.”

Read the full article, HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

For additional daily news from milling around the world: global-milling.com

Tanis Machine Technologies company profile

Tanis Machine Technologies has been a leading agricultural machines manufacturer Company since 1956.

They manufacture, export, install and commission flour, semolina, maize milling plants, oilseeds and pulses processing plants, grain stocking and handling systems and feed mills with the latest modern technological methods with any capacity range designed as compact or concrete construction forms in 25,000 closed area in Gaziantep Organised industrial zone, Turkey.

Having obtained certificates their quality standards to ISO, CE, TUV and TSE norms with the first modernisation in 1990.

Within the second modernisation in 2014-2015 they renewed their image in terms of institutionalism, professional management and new bands as;

- Tanis Flour Mill Technologies
- Tanis Seed Processing Technologies
- Tanis Feed Milling
- Tanis Grain Handling Solutions

Tanis co. is active in the milling industry
TANIS CO has a lot of knowledge on the industry and with sectional experience.
The company aims to serve its customers properly with its young and intelligent staff.

Visit the website HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine GFMT
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

For additional daily news from milling around the world: global-milling.com

July 30, 2017

31/07/2017: Livestock Taiwan pre-registration is now open

The first edition of Livestock Taiwan will take place from 28 – 30 September 2017 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre

The Expo will gather world known exhibitors from 14 countries and regions including Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Germany, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, UK, USA and Vietnam to present the latest total solutions, top-notch technologies and products from all segments of the livestock industry.

Featured products include feed ingredients, feeds, feed additives, probiotics products, vaccines, egg grading & packing systems, animal waste recycling systems, automatic weather station, remote monitoring systems, testing kits and many more.

Change your mind and want to exhibit at the Expo?
Book, HERE.

Here are your privileges for registering in advance:
• Free admission to the exhibition hall
• Save your time by receiving barcode before the show
• Receive updates of Conference programmes and other onsite activities

Mark your calendar and visit us at Livestock Taiwan 2017!

Visitor Registration system is now open online. We welcome all trade visitors to take advantage of this system and save your valuable time onsite.

Guide to Pre-registration:
Step 1: Click “Visitor Pre-registration” button on http://www.livestocktaiwan.com
Step 2: Create your account with either your email or social media account
Step 3: Fill out the required information and “Submit” the form
Step 4: Get barcode for visitor badge collection.

UBM Asia Ltd., Taiwan Branch
PIC: Ms. Natasha Chiang
Tel: +886-2-2738-3898
Fax: +886-2-2738-4886
Email: aat-tw@ubm.com

Visit the Livestock Taiwan website, HERE.

31/07/2017: How Ötzi, the first person known to have eaten cereals came to Wittenburg, Germany

Two chance finds kickstarted what is now one of the most extensive exhibitions dedicated to the cultural and historical significance of flour

In June the extension to the FlourWorld Museum in Wittenburg near Hamburg opened to the public. To show aspects of the main idea “Flour.Power.Life” the new rooms address a variety of topics including the earliest history of grain cultivation.

Angelika Fleckinger, Director of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology and Volkmar Wywiol, the founder of the FlourWorld Museum in Wittenburg present the Ötzi in Wittenburg.
Image credit: Mühlenchemie
© Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

At the start of a tour round the extension stands a life-like replica of Ötzi the Iceman, who lived 5,300 years ago. He represents the first person ever known to have eaten cereals.

The Wittenburg Ötzi is Germany’s only replica of the prehistoric original that created a sensation when first discovered in the Ötztal Alps; he appears in the museum thanks to close cooperation with the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bozen/Bolzano.

It all started in 1998 when Volkmar Wywiol found a flour sack on the beach in Dubai. Wywiol, partner in the firm Mühlenchemie, then began to acquire his unusual collection of flour sacks. The logos used by the millers speak of the traditions, stories and myths surrounding flour.

Today this unique collection of over 3,400 exhibits from 137 countries is the centrepiece of the FlourWorld Museum in Wittenburg, which is dedicated to the cultural history of mankind’s most important staple food.

“Cereal Grains Knowledge Forum”
“We regard our collection as a “Hall of Fame” honouring all millers who supply people with their daily flour,” Volkmar Wywiol said at the official ceremony to open the museum extension in Wittenburg.

“The opening of these new rooms marks another milestone on the way to a “Cereal Grains Knowledge Forum”, designed to tell experts and consumers more about the history and significance of grain for our daily bread”.

The new exhibition space has been created on the upper floor of the neoclassical building dating back to 1848. While the ground floor is dedicated to the flour sacks and their various motifs, the upper storey is all about the cultural history of the product flour.

The very title “Flour.Power.Life” (the German original can also be read as “Flour makes life”) is a tribute to the important role that flour, seemingly unremarkable and mundane, has played in human history: not only does it ensure survival, but is the foundation of every social order bigger than the tribal group. Flour is not just something that sustains life, it signifies power too.

Unique replica of Ötzi
An impressive symbol of the earliest history of grain cultivation, the “Man from the Glacier” launches the exhibition with a multimedia welcome to visitors. The mummified body of the man who was found in the Ötztal Alps has been perfectly preserved and offers a window into the world of 5,300 years ago, the early phase of crop cultivation in Europe.

In fact, two grains of cultivated einkorn were found in the remains of Ötzi’s fur coat. Einkorn is generally regarded as the oldest form of cultivated wheat. This replica of what Ötzi looked like is the only one in Germany.

It was created in close cooperation with the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, Bozen/Bolzano. The actual figure of the mummy from the glacier is modelled on CT scans of the skeleton. Animal skin clothing, shoes and copper axe are copies of the original finds.

The new rooms deal with the Neolithic revolution and the role of crop cultivation in the development of early civilisations. Although people had been collecting wild grasses for thousands of years, it was only about 10,000 years ago that they started to deliberately sow seeds.

Hunter-gatherers become settlers
The preferred type of plants were those that did not shed their grains as soon as they were touched, but whose grains stayed firmly packed together. Because people selected plants with firm ears, the desired quality became dominant relatively quickly.

Such fine adjustments are actually the guiding principle behind crop cultivation. This transition period is called the Neolithic revolution, because the new crop-planting lifestyle was a radical departure from how the hunter-gatherers of the Palaeolithic period lived.

During the Neolithic people gradually stopped roaming in small bands of huntsmen in pursuit of ice-age big game such as mammoths and elks in favour of permanent settlements. The fields had to be protected from animals and weeds at all times.

Supplies of grain stored in granaries allowed populations to grow over time, despite the risks of failed harvests. Extended families grew into clans, clans into groups of several thousand people led by a chieftain.

Cultivating grain permits population growth
In the long term, grain supplies led to expanding populations. And because fields of grain use up far less space than keeping herds of cattle, towns grew up. The chiefdoms grew bigger, turning into state-like structures populated by tens or hundreds of thousands of people.

To keep control of so many people, the rulers (great kings, pharaohs or emperors) relied on a special class of royal administrators, which in turn led to differentiated layers of society. Lists had to be kept documenting the payment of taxes (emergence of scripts).

Huge irrigation systems, royal palaces and cultural sites were created and had to be protected from attack. Trade grew apace, and with it long-distance routes and markets. This was the dawn of the first civilisations. At present the first two rooms on the upper floor have been completed.

The end result will be a walk through the cultural history of flour, cereals and flour, their role in folk religions, the industrialisation of agriculture and milling, the future of flour, its ingredients, flour improvement, enzymes and flour products from around the world.

Visit the Mühlenchemie website, HERE.

Visit the FlourWorld Museum website, HERE.

31/07/2017: The six guidelines you need to specify a bulk bag filler

by David Boger, Vice President of Flexicon Corporation

Exponential growth in the use of bulk bags has spawned an entire manufacturing segment dedicated to producing specialised equipment that not only fills and discharges bulk bags, but offers various degrees of automation and integrates filling and unloading operations with upstream and downstream equipment

As the number of equipment options increases, so should the ability of the ‘specifier’ to evaluate stand-alone equipment and integrated systems against current and anticipated needs. Here I address the ‘filler’ half of the bulk bag handling equation, offering the six most important parameters to consider when satisfying any individual bulk bag filling requirement with top efficiency and cost effectiveness.

1) Anticipate maximum capacity
The difficult but critical question: How many bulk bags will you need to fill per week during the useful life of your next bulk bag filler?

With few exceptions, buying a more costly filler with higher capacity than you now need will be less costly than replacing a filler you outgrow, unless that filler can be retrofitted with performance enhancements at a later date.

Capacity requirements run the gamut, from one bag per week to 20 bags per hour. Where your volume falls should, in part, influence your decision to specify a manual, semi-automated or fully automated machine. Generally speaking, the more manual the filling operation, the more output is subject to variation.

When gauging the capacity and payback of manual equipment against automated equipment, you need to determine the average pace at which operators can attach, detach and cinch bag spouts, remove filled bags, load pallets and conduct all other filler-related operations.

When estimating the time allocated to these manual functions, it is advisable to anticipate a pace that an operator can realistically maintain throughout an entire shift while avoiding fatigue or injury.

Figure 1.
Image credit: Flexicon

For the lowest volume applications, basic filler operated manually will maximise your return on investment. One example is a medium-gauge Twin-Centrepost™ filler (FIG. 1) that offers the structural integrity of four-post fillers but at significantly lower material and fabrication costs and with less weight.

This two-post design also affords unobstructed access to the bag spout and loops, facilitating rapid manual insertion and removal of bags. This class of filler is typically equipped as standard with fill head height adjustment via fork truck to accommodate all popular bag sizes, a feed chute vent port for dust-free air displacement during filling, and an inflatable cuff to seal against the bag inlet spout and ensure it does not collapse on itself during filling.

Limited performance options, which can be added initially or retrofitted, include an inflator to expand the bag prior to filling, and a programmable scale system with flow control valve for filling by weight.

Figure 2.
Image credit: Flexicon

The cost of a scale system can be avoided by placing the entire filler onto an all-purpose plant scale, providing the filler is properly equipped for in-plant mobility (FIG. 2).

If a forklift is unavailable to remove filled bags, as is required by the above-mentioned fillers, configurations are available with a three-sided base that provides access from the open side using a pallet jack (FIG. 3).

This low-profile configuration can also be utilised to conserve height in low headroom applications. The time required to prepare empty bags for filling, and to remove filled bags from beneath the filler, can have as much or greater influence on maximum filling capacity than the rate at which material enters the bag.

As such, adding a roller conveyor allows filled bags to be rolled out of the filling area for spout cinching and pallet/bag removal while another bag is being filled. Adding such a conveyor system, however, generally requires a filler with rear posts (FIG. 4) and a cantilevered fill head equipped with hooks that release bag loops automatically, so if higher capacity is in your future, a rear post configuration may be your best choice today.

Figure 3.
Image credit: Flexicon

Increasing the capacity of systems equipped with roller conveyors to the next level generally entails adding an automated pallet dispenser (FIG. 5) which places pallets and slip sheets onto the roller conveyor upstream of the filling operation, further reducing the time required for each filling cycle by limiting manual operations within the filling station exclusively to loading an empty bag.

To further reduce the time needed to attach the spout of an empty bag to the filler, this Swing-Down® filler (FIG. 6) lowers the entire fill head to within an arm's length of an operator standing on the plant floor.

Further, it pivots the bag spout into a vertical position, enabling the operator to connect the spout of an empty bag to the inflatable bag spout collar in several seconds, after which the spout pivots back to horizontal, the entire fill head returns to fill height, the bag is inflated, and filling commences.

Figure 4.
Image credit: Flexicon

Additionally, when the bag reaches its target weight, the bulk material delivery system deactivates automatically, the spout collar deflates, the fill head raises to decouple from the spout, and the powered roller conveyor sends the bag downstream of the filling area--automatically, rapidly and safely.

2) Evaluate safety against manual operations required at any given level of capacity
With manual and semi-automated filling operations, the potential for worker fatigue and injury can increase according to required output per shift, relative to the type of bulk bag equipment specified.

Figure 5.
Image credit: Flexicon

Consider that the connection points of a conventional filler are often beyond the reach of most operators, even when short bags are being filled. But adding the height of a roller conveyor to the height of a bulk bag to the length of its bag loops puts the connection points for bulk bags of only 122 cm in height at approximately 213cm above the floor!

This requires an operator to stand on a platform, a ladder, or on the roller conveyor while straining to reach overhead spout connection points and inserting hands between temporarily disabled moving parts. Difficult-to-reach spout connection points can therefore compromise safety as well as capacity—two problems that can be solved with the addition of a fill head that lowers and pivots to the operator at floor level.

Figure 6.
Image credit: Flexicon

Repetitive manual tasks such as releasing bag hooks, placing pallets on a roller conveyor or actuating bulk material delivery, also increase the potential for error and injury, justifying semi- or fully automated equipment for all but the lowest volume applications.

Read the remaining guidelines in the full article, HERE.

Visit the Flexicon website, HERE.

Obial company profile

OBIAL is one of the leading global companies on grain storage technologies

Achieving to become a sought-after brand thanks to its philosophy of offering the highest quality with the most reasonable prices, OBIAL sets its targets being conscious of the responsibilities that come with being the leader in the sector.

In this parallel, the company offers turnkey grain storage system solutions with reasonable prices through the use of materials of highest quality, superior design and production standards, and an effective customer relations management.

Visit the company website, HERE.

July 27, 2017

28/07/2017: Viterra’s Port Lincoln terminal in Australia ships 2 million tonnes of grain

Viterra’s Port Lincoln terminal has reached 2 million tonnes of grain shipping in its busiest October to July period in five years

This achievement, coupled with grain shipped from Thevenard, has helped the Eyre Peninsula set a new record for total grain exports. More than 2.63 million tonnes of grain has been shipped from the region in 2016/17.

Image credit: Joanna Poe on Flickr

James Murray, Operations Manager for the Western region, said strong production, demand and an efficient supply chain had all contributed to the record.

“Following the largest-ever harvest, the efficiency of the Viterra supply chain and hard work from employees and strategic partners has also helped the Eyre Peninsula achieve these record exports,” James said.

“This is the Port Lincoln terminal’s busiest October to July period since 2011/12 and third busiest ever. Strong grain exports will continue from Port Lincoln for the remainder of the year. Shipping capacity at Port Lincoln is very highly sought after by exporters which provides long term benefits for growers.”

Viterra’s total grain exports for 2016/17 have now reached 6.15 million tonnes. Port Lincoln’s milestone was passed on Friday (21 July) with a 55,000 tonne cargo of wheat being loaded on the Golden Trader vessel on behalf of Glencore Agriculture, headed for Indonesia.

David Fleming, Glencore Agriculture’s Field Officer on the Eyre Peninsula, said Indonesia was the biggest buyer of Australian wheat.

“About 20 to 25 per cent of all Australian wheat goes to Indonesia. They use it mainly for noodles, flour and bread,” David said. “We enjoy close relationships with growers on the Eyre Peninsula and are committed to connecting them with end-use customers for all their commodities.”

Visit the Viterra website, HERE.

28/07/2017: Food Safety Modernisation Act training offered for animal food production

Industry experts in food safety will learn key concepts in regulatory requirements that will impact sectors for animal food

Food safety is continuously important for the animal food industry. Due to popular demand, the NGFA–KSU Food Safety Modernisation Act Feed Industry training course will be offered September 26–29, 2017 at the IGP Institute Conference Centre.

Image credit: IGP KSU

The deadline to register for this course is September 8. The course will give individuals in the animal food industry the opportunity to gain an understanding of the new safety requirements and implement a plan for animal food safety associated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The training course also has an additional component that will be accredited to the HACCP Alliance. Upon completion of both courses, participants will receive two certificates and will be able to demonstrate a “preventative controls qualified individual” to the FDA. “I have really enjoyed the instructors in this course,” says Bill Bookout, president of the National Animal Supplement Council from Valley Centre, California.

“You get a concentrated shot of technical information and it’s 8–5 every day. The instructors are technically competent, but they are also good teachers. I would really compliment them in that regard of being able to teach and to effectively communicate so that people understand the subjects being taught.”

The curriculum of the course was developed by the Food Safety Preventative Controls Alliance. The separate HACCP component occurs on the final day following the animal food training, requires registration and is accredited by the International HACCP Alliance.

“There are many new requirements, and this course will describe those requirements to participants as well as give some ideas for implementation and training to those concepts,” says Cassandra Jones, associate professor at Kansas State University.

Jones adds that she is excited to offer the training for industry and regulators.

For more information about other upcoming courses visit the IGP website, HERE.

To register for this course please visit the IGP registration website, HERE.

28/07/2017: The grain chain: Grain storage on farms

by Chief Industries, UK

No one can deny grain storage is necessary on farms

The producer needs to store the large quantities of grain coming off the land at harvest time. The stock farmer needs to store sufficient grain to ensure he has stocks to provide reliable reserves of grain for his cattle, pigs, chicken, etc. But what are the options for storage, and what are the considerations for storage? Well there are two basic considerations: cost and security.

Image credit: Chief Industries, UK

Cost
When considering the cost, one must take into account obvious capital cost and whilst this is one’s first main focus, it has to be evaluated in terms of the annual cost. What is the lifetime of the plant or equipment? What is the maintenance cost and running cost? Is there a resale value? What are the associate labour costs?

All of these questions should be asked in the mind of the farmer prior to making a decision. Then finally, review that cost in relation to the value of the crop being stored. What can seem like a lot of money may be comparatively small in relation to the contents of the storage system.

Security
Security actually covers a wide range of factors that are very important to consider. Of prime importance is to keep the grain in safe and good condition. What grain you put into storage should come out in almost exactly the same condition. That is of paramount importance. The most expensive loss you can have is to have stored grain spoiled.

Of course the method of storage should also be designed to accommodate the stresses of holding grain in the storage method and the forces associated with stored grain are substantial. Ignore them at your peril, or someone else’s since failed storage systems can easily result in loss of life. Of course you need to consider damage and losses due to rodents, birds, and insects.

How secure will the grain be against moisture, from rain entry, ground water, condensation, or simply being put into storage at too high a moisture content? Finally maybe the first thing anyone thinks about when you mention “security” is how safe is the grain against theft. Unfortunately it is an aspect that also has to be borne in mind.

Storage methods

Bags
Thankfully the days of storing in bags are coming to an end, but only slowly in Africa. It is labour intensive work. Bag life is short, so although it may not be a high cost, it is ongoing and an annual. Bags are susceptible to damage from rodents and other pests, and need protection from rain and surface water.

There are some reasonably successful insecticide treatments nowadays that can be administered under reasonable sealed tarpaulins a task that needs to be taken with significant care. Bagged grain is relatively easy to steal in small quantities of a few bags at a time, necessitating the need to count and control every movement of bags, which becomes extra administrative time.

Warehouse
If one already has a suitable storage shed this is a relatively cheap method of storing grain and well suited to storing a single crop. Ventilation of the grain is not easy and will require temporary ventilation ducts that need lifting up as the store is emptied and relaying down again as the store is filled. Alternatively one can use small fans on spear shaped ducts that you push down into the grain. They work but are not ideal. Filling and emptying existing shed is always a problem. Usually the most effective way is with a front-end loader with a decent size bucket on the front. If you already have one then it is the simplest way. If you have to buy one simply to use an existing shed then the economics are doubtful.

Firstly, the capital cost of these units is not cheap, and then when you add on the running and maintenance cost it can be very expensive to use. Alternatively you can use a pneumatic conveying suction blower. They can work quite well but take a lot of kW power either electric or tractor driven.

They are not suitable for sensitive crops like edible beans, but are very versatile with normal grain. When using an existing shed take great care with the walls. They are unlikely to be retaining walls and will not be built to withstand the pressure of grain, which is considerable. If they are not retaining walls, then plan to have the natural angle of incline of the grain at floor level when it reaches the walls.

You need to allow for some slippage of the grain during storage so in any event it can end up resting against the bottom 300-400mm of wall in any case. Alternatively you can purchase retaining wall panels to stand inside the existing walls, or you can have your existing walls reinforced by a civil engineer to accommodate the loads.

Of course you could consider having a purpose built grain storage shed to store your grain. This has many advantages over using and existing shed. A purpose built storage shed can have level floor ventilation channels already built in. You can have dividing walls between bays, allowing you to store different crops and you can have retaining walls already built into the design.

If you are still going to use your front-end loader for filling and emptying, then you can still be competitive with silo storage, but you have high running costs with your loader. You also do not have good environmental control, difficult insect control, and possible access by rodents and birds.

Of course with a purpose-specific designed warehouse for grain storage, you can also have a good mechanical filling and unloading system but then your costs could easily be 20 percent higher than a silo storage system and you do not have such good alternative use of the warehouse when not storing grain. Your area of land occupation will also be much larger than with grain silo storage.

Read the full article, HERE.

Visit the Chief Industries, UK website, HERE.

Global Industries, Inc. company profile

The Global International sales team is committed to providing cost-effective solutions for clients around the world, using a broad portfolio of grain storage, conditioning and handling products, as well as buildings for the housing of poultry and livestock and wastewater treatment systems.

With offices in Bangkok, Thailand; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Rostov-on-Don, Russia, they are positioned to serve.

Visit the website HERE.

27/07/2017: China International Food & Feed Processing Industry Exhibition (CICFO)

The China International Food & Feed Processing Industry Exhibition (CICFO) takes an international perspective of food and feed processing, aiming to provide comprehensive solutions

Since its establishment in 2013, the scale of the show, and the scope of its display has grown rapidly alongside a myriad of professional visitors. This year it will present a wide range of food and feed manufacturing equipment, and facilitate technical exchanges and trade development.

CICFO 2017 will be held at the Beijing International Exhibition Centre from September 11th to 13th, 2017.

The exhibition area will exceed 30,000 square meters, of which 27,000 square meters will be displayed in the exhibition area. This enormous area will be populated by more than 450 exhibitors, of which the almost one third are of international background, and more than 28,000 attendees.

THE ‘BUILD MY’ CONFERENCES
At CICFO 2017, Build My Flour mill 2017 will be presented for the first time alongside the second iteration of its sister event, Build My Feed Mill. Each conference will use a programme that arranges speakers into a coherent order following the flowchart progress of a flour or feed mill. In this way, these unique conferences allow for a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of food and feed milling machinery, as well as the industries themselves.

BUILD MY FLOUR MILL
With a packed speaker list for the first ever Build My Flour Mill conference, corporate partners have flocked to this one day conference with enthusiasm. Our partners include high profile companies each producing more than 3,000 tonnes of flour per day.
They include:

• Wudeli Group;
• COFCO;
• Yihaikerry Group;
• Lamsoon Group;
• Hengfeng Group;
• Bei Da Huang Group;
• Luwang Group;
• Fengzheng; and,
• Zhongyu.

Here are also some highlights of the high profile speakers featured at our event:

- Innovations in Grain Preparation for Milling
Roger Cook, Senior Technical Specialist
PETKUS Technology GmbH

- Use of Advanced Enzyme Technology in Optimisation of Flour Milling Extraction
Marco Choi, Factory Director
Lam Soon Group

- Grain Dust Explosion and Dust Explosion Suppression
Prof Zhou Nairu
Henan University of Technology

- Thinking about the transformation of flour milling technology in the new situation
Professor Wen Jiping
Henan University of Technology 河南工业大学

- Trends in the Development of China 's Flour Industry and How to Encourage New Strategies
Dan Zhimin, Chairman of the Board
Wudeli Group

BUILD MY FEED MILL
After great success of the first Build My Feed Mill conference this year in Bangkok, it has been extended to include a full day of speakers. Join us for an event sponsored by a myriad of companies, including:
• Cargill – 33 feed mills in China; Puruina - 17 feed mills in China; Tongwei - 130 feed mills in Asia; Puai Group - 6 feed mills in China; DBN - 53 feed mills in Asia.
• Contifeed - 40 feed mills in China; CP Group; ADM; Haid Group - 60 feed mills in China; Twins Group - 60 feed mills in China; New hope agri - 50 feed mills in China.
• Evergreen Conglomerate; Well hope Group - 19 feed mills in China; Trs Group - 40 feed mills in China; Zhengbang Group - 20 feed mills in China; TQLS Group - 51 feed mills in China.

Here are also some highlights of the high profile speakers featured at our event:

Analysis of Maize Deep Processing Industry
Wei Xuming, Secretary General
China Starch Industry Association

The role of silver in the precise management of feed production
Sunny Shang, FSQR Lead
Cargill

Visit the event website, HERE.

July 26, 2017

27/07/2017: ADM opens soy processing capabilities at oilseeds plant in Spyck, Germany

Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) has successfully crushed its first non-GMO soybeans at its facility in Spyck, northwestern Germany

Located close to the Dutch border, the site was previously only used to crush rape and sunflower seeds. The new switch capacity is part of ADM’s long-term strategy to expand its network of European soy processing plants, enabling it to better service its soybean meal customers and support local farmers in increasing the region’s soybean acreage.

Soybean Field Rows
Image credit: United Soybean Board

“The extended soybean crushing capacity in Spyck will help us meet customer demand as the European non-GMO soybean market continues to grow,” says Jon Turney, general manager, European soybean crush at ADM.

“The additional flexibility that we now have also gives us the ability to quickly respond to changing market dynamics for rape, sunflower and soy in the future.”

ADM also crushes non-GMO soybeans at its facility in Straubing, Germany. In the past year, it has been working with farmers and industry accreditation bodies to create further opportunities to grow and market soybeans across northwest Europe.

“We are committed to growing the soybean industry in this region, and we are working hard to help farmers in France and along the Danube see the value of growing soybeans within their rotation,” said Rene van der Poel, commercial manager for Oilseeds in Germany at ADM.

“It is a great achievement for the team in Spyck to execute this latest step in our growth strategy, both on time and on budget. Flexible crush capacities, scale and carefully managed production costs per unit all remain key to our ongoing success in the region over the long term,” said John Grossmann, president, European crush and origination.”

About ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve the vital needs of a growing world. Today, we’re one of the world’s largest agricultural processors and food ingredient providers, with approximately 32,000 employees serving customers in more than 160 countries. With a global value chain that includes approximately 500 crop procurement locations, 250 ingredient manufacturing facilities, 38 innovation centres and the world’s premier crop transportation network, we connect the harvest to the home, making products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses.

Visit the ADM website, HERE.

27/07/2017: USDA-GIPSA approval for Romer Labs fumonisin test kit

The AgraStrip® Total Fumonisin WATEX® test receives approval after passing USDA-GIPSA performance criteria evaluation

Image credit: Romer Labs

AgraStrip® Total Fumonisin WATEX® tests have been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) for official testing of total fumonisin in the US national grain inspection system.

The AgraStrip® WATEX® test kits are ready-to-use lateral flow devices (LFD) for on-site testing. They are available for aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins (B1, B2, B3) and allow a rapid analysis of a wide range of food and feed samples in an assay time of only three minutes.

With the eco-friendly One for All WATEX® extraction, only one single water-based sample extract is required for the analysis of multiple mycotoxins. “This recent USDA-GIPSA approval confirms once again their accuracy and robustness which makes AgraStrip® WATEX® the product of choice for simple, fast and eco-friendly mycotoxin detection.” says Phillip Gruber, Product Manager at Romer Labs.

About the GIPSA Mycotoxin Test Kit Evaluation (MTKE) Program
The MTKE program is one of the toughest mycotoxin test kit performance evaluations in existence. It uses naturally contaminated samples which are unknown to the submitter, thereby taking the impact of sample specific matrix effects into consideration.

The performance criteria of each analyte are defined by GIPSA and documented in official performance criteria sheets. The kits are tested by three different GIPSA staff member operators. Each operator conducts seven tests per contamination level.

Each operator must use a different kit lot. At least 20 out of 21 (95%) results for each concentration level must be within the acceptable range. The samples used are unknown to the kit manufacturer. Additionally, an extensive internal study must be submitted to GIPSA.

For additional information, click HERE.

27/07/2017: Reliability is not just a maintenance issue – but a culture

by Edward LaPreze, CMRT, Pepper Maintenance, Milo, Missouri, USA

How is reliability defined? Most people expect that equipment will start and continue to operate as long as needed

But how is reliability defined? Reliability for equipment is defined as; “the ability to perform a required function under stated conditions for a specific period of time.” An important note is that reliability is not just a maintenance issue, it is a culture. Reliability involves management, maintenance, operations, engineering and all parts of the company.

There are a number of methods used to measure reliability. One method is ‘Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)’. This method measures the amount of time between placing a machine in service and when performance failure occurs. MTBF method is adequate when comparing equipment with similar operational use such as the length of service hours.

To compare one machine that runs 24 hours a day with another running once a week will not be an equivalent assessment. Another method is ‘Mean Time to Repair or Replace (MTTR)’ which measures the time between maintenance operations. Both of these methods result in the same assessment error.

A superior method may be the ‘Operational Availability’, which measures the percentage of time between actual operations and scheduled to operate. Operational Availability attempts to even the playing field regardless of actual operating hours. There are many tools available to a reliability culture.

The first tool to consider is documentation. Without good records, it is very difficult to track, trend or understand the costs or constraints of equipment. Trusting memory is laden with errors and paper files are difficult to manage or search. ‘Precision Alignment’ is the next tool to consider. Equipment requires a good foundation that will dictate the life of the equipment.

Good installation maximises the potential for reliable equipment life. Infrared surveys are crucial for electrical systems. There is no better method for locating electrical resistance problems. Correcting these issues will reduce electrical usage, nuisance trips and major heat damage to electrical systems. Ultrasonic lubrication enhances bearing life.

It is a great method for ensuring proper grease levels and defect detection. Ultrasonic leak detection on compressed air systems can save thousands of dollars a year. Finally, ‘Vibration Analysis’ is an EKG on equipment providing a health report on each machine. ‘Vibration Analysis’ provides earlier warning detecting and identifying issues leading to reduced equipment life and availability. Documentation is a critical step to reliability.

Keeping equipment specifications records (motor HP, motor frame, reducer, coupling, belts, bearings sheaves and other parts) makes any replacement or repair easier. Documentation will aid in determining reliability needs.

Do you have records to justify a replacement, reconstruction or other major work that may be necessary? How much is your equipment costing you to run or maintain? Record keeping helps to understand how much reactive work is being performed.

What are the percentages for reactive, rework or proactive work? Records provide the documentation to know how your system is performing. The greatest projects are built on a solid foundation at the beginning of equipment installation. Precision alignment builds on the foundation providing equipment the best possible start on life. Often overlooked, this is one of the most important maintenance tasks of reliability.

Precision alignment ensures the most efficient transfer of power from drive to driven. Horsepower is lost overcoming misalignment and the restriction it causes. Any misalignment can increase energy consumption by as much as 10 percent or higher. Misalignment also increases stress on seals, bearings and belts.

These stresses cause premature wear and failures. Misalignment in belt drives often leads to over tension solely to maintain belt traction. With these increases in load, the life of the bearing decreases. Increased load has a cubed effect on decreasing the life of a bearing. Infrared surveys are the only technique for locating resistance in electrical systems.

Resistance loss is measurable but locating the actual source requires infrared thermography. Infrared is a non-contact inspection and will not interrupt production. Eliminating electrical resistance ensures the best power quality to your equipment. Not only will this provide better quality power to your equipment but will also reduce the energy loss to heat.

Read the full article, HERE.

Lambton Conveyor company profile

Family owned since 1965, Lambton Conveyor Limited is a multinational manufacturer of grain, storage, material handling, drying and feed equipment. They provide an ever-expanding line of innovative and practical products.

Products include: bucket elevators, chain conveyors, tube conveyors, screw conveyors, flow system accessories, grain bins, bin unloads, bin dryers, gravity screen cleaners, pellet mills, hammer mills, mixers, coolers, crumblers and custom fabrications.

Almost all of the equipment produced by Lambton Conveyor is fabricated using galvanised steel. The galvanised coating ensures a long service life and a low maintenance finish.

Most products are also available in stainless steel and painted mild steel upon request or depending on the application.

Lambton equipment can be seen around the world in varying environments and applications.

The modular design of our equipment provides our customers with flexibility and assembly efficiencies.

From the local farmer to the commercial processor they have a reputation for providing high quality and cost effective equipment.

Visit the website HERE.

26/07/2017: BIOMIN submits EU dossier for Digestarom® DC as zootechnical feed additive in piglets

Following the launch of the innovative phytogenic feed additive at VIV Asia in March, BIOMIN continues the global rollout by applying for zootechnical status in the EU

Following a successful start to a global launch, BIOMIN submitted a dossier for the EU authorisation of Digestarom® DC, a phytogenic feed additive (PFA), for zootechnical status based on its ability to improve the performance parameters of weaned piglets.

Michael Noonan
Image credit: BIOMIN

Focus on piglets
For piglets, achieving high feed intake early on is crucial. “Phytogenics can be particularly relevant for young animals to reduce gut disorders, counter weaning stress, encourage milk and feed intake and boost immunity—all of which can help set them on the path to the most productive future possible,” explained Michael Noonan, Global Product Manager Phytogenics at BIOMIN.

Multiple trials
The EU dossier, submitted for evaluation in May, includes three efficacy trials and one tolerance trial with weaned piglets that were conducted to demonstrate the efficacy and the safety of Digestarom® DC. “The trials conducted with Digestarom® DC have shown better growth performance, greater weight gain and improved feed efficiency in piglets,” stated Mr Noonan. “Particularly in the context of profitability, competitiveness and as a tool in antibiotic reduction, PFAs have a clear role to play in supporting swine producers by promoting gut health and performance,” he added.

Innovative Biomin® Duplex Capsule
Digestarom® DC incorporates a unique encapsulation technology that ensures continuous delivery of active phytogenic compounds throughout the digestive process, demonstrates stability under common pelleting conditions and offers easier handling. The Biomin® Duplex Capsule also supports the triple action formulation of Digestarom® DC, which consists of three modules: 1) appetising and endogenous secretions, 2) gut microbiota modulation, and 3) gut protection.

Image credit: BIOMIN

Market leadership
The submission of Digestarom® DC for zootechnical authorisation marks the latest milestone in ongoing activities around phytogenics at BIOMIN. “This fits neatly with our efforts to focus on phytogenics, deepen the industry and scientific understanding, commit further resources and deliver novel developments in a longstanding product line with a proven track record,” said Mr Noonan. In 2016, BIOMIN announced its ambition to become PFA market leader by 2020.

Next steps
The dossier for zootechnical registration has been submitted for scientific review by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). “We have worked diligently to fully comply with the necessary requirements, and look forward to the outcome,” commented Mr Noonan.

Visit the BIOMIN website, HERE.

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