Agricultural research is in full swing in the Dutch polder. One of our customers, who operates their own lab, is conducting intensive research into what grows in the fields—onions, potatoes, chicory stalks—and the soil in which they grow. But anyone who processes a lot of samples knows that sample processing can quickly become the bottleneck. When the number of analyses increased significantly, their existing grinding solution began to slow down both speed and reliability. The switch to a Peppink 200CM sample mill changed that.
This innovative, modern, and high-tech laboratory is responding to the growing demand from its customers. Crop farmers want more and more information to increase their yield per square meter, and livestock farmers want more accurate data on the quality of their forage. The result: more and more samples, and increasing pressure on the process. The existing mill (from a German manufacturer) was no longer adequate. Throughput was low, cleaning was time-consuming, and the process generated unnecessary dust. After each sample, the mill had to be completely cleaned by hand.
The consequences were tangible. With the old solution, 10 samples were processed per hour. That’s not enough when you have to run large batches every day. Moreover, cleaning between each sample meant extra steps, extra wait time, and an increased risk of variations between operators. And when you grind many different crops one after another—such as onions, potatoes, and chicory stalks—contamination is always a risk. Not because the old mill grinds “poorly,” but because the process forces you to open the mill door after every sample is ground. This results in a significant loss of time for cleaning, often accompanied by a lot of dust. The Peppink 200CM, 200AN-C1, and 200AN-C2 clean themselves automatically, making it possible to process high numbers of samples per hour.
The decision to choose Peppink Mills didn’t come out of the blue. The team carefully compared the results. Several criteria proved to be decisive:
Our reputation in the industry also played a role. Major laboratories have been validating our mills for sample processing for years. That inspires confidence: not only in the machine, but also in the reproducibility that labs need to be able to compare data.
The implementation didn’t go smoothly, but it was effective. The customer wanted to collect the ground product in small plastic containers—specifically, small sauce cups similar to those that come with Vietnamese spring rolls. That was a challenge for us, because such containers aren’t sturdy and aren’t designed for industrial sample processing. Together with the customer, we developed a solution: a 3D-printed adapter that securely holds the container within a larger collection system, and it worked perfectly. We’re known for that kind of flexibility: not a one-size-fits-all solution, but engineering tailored to the lab’s workflow.
The numbers speak for themselves. While the old mill was limited to 10 samples per hour, the Peppink 200CM achieves 140 samples per hour in this case (with smaller samples weighing around 100 grams). We normally specify the 200CM for 60 samples per hour, but this application demonstrates what’s possible when the sample processing workflow is properly organized. In addition, the elimination of cleaning time between two ground samples saves a significant amount of time. The current Peppink sample mills blow themselves completely clean after grinding a sample, so the door doesn’t need to be opened and you don’t have to use compressed air or a vacuum cleaner every time.
For the people on the shop floor, the difference is immediately noticeable. They’re very happy because they’re free of dust. Less dust means a more comfortable work environment and more focus on analysis rather than cleaning routines. The process is “running smoothly” again.
The turning point in this case was the custom design of the collection tray. Without that adapter, the lab’s workflow would not have been optimal. This is precisely where we demonstrated our strength: rapid 3D design, prototype construction, testing, and production using modern tools such as 3D printing and 5-axis machining.
Are you an agricultural lab or research institution still on the fence? Then calculate the benefits of being able to process many more samples per hour with less cleaning and less contamination. For labs handling high-volume work (ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of samples per year), an industrial sample mill isn’t a luxury—it’s a strategic choice. If you’d like to learn how a Peppink 200CM or Peppink 200AN-C sample mill can benefit your sample processing—including custom collection solutions—schedule an appointment for a grinding test and demonstration of a modern Peppink sample mill to discover the possibilities.