Greater control over the milling stage at a herb producer

In herb and spice production, grinding is a critical step: it determines not only the fineness of the grind, but also processing time, changeover time, and product purity. An herb producer in the northern Netherlands was struggling with an outdated mill and chose Peppink Mills. The result: higher capacity, faster changeovers, and greater production continuity.

Challenge: Outdated system and parts no longer available

The herb producer was using an older mill from a brand that no longer existed. As a result, essential parts—such as screens—became increasingly difficult or even impossible to order. This put the company’s continuity at risk and made it harder to maintain consistent delivery. In addition, there was a practical problem that many herb companies recognize: a wide variety of products and strong aromas. Switching from, say, pepper to cloves or cinnamon requires quick, reliable cleaning to prevent the transfer of odors and flavors.

Approach: Testing with real herbs and comparing mill types

Instead of immediately recommending a standard solution, we began a testing phase in collaboration with the herb producer. The customer brought in various herbs, which we tested on several different types of mills. Based on the desired grinding result, capacity, and ease of use, the Peppink 200CM sample mill was selected.

Solution: 200CM custom-designed for herbal products

Although the Peppink 200CM was originally developed for grinding samples, it proved to be well-suited for this production environment due to its high capacity and ease of cleaning. Capacity depends on the properties of the product being ground and the desired fineness. For this herb producer, the mill was also customized to accommodate their preferred collection method: the ground product had to be collected in special packaging of their choice. This customization was essential for a smooth process and minimal downtime.

Result: faster production, quicker changeovers, greater reliability

Since it was put into operation, the benefits have been immediately apparent:

Significantly higher processing speed: increased output and better planning capabilities during peaks in demand
Faster changeovers between spices: the mill is easy to clean, which reduces downtime and minimizes the risk of odor or flavor transfer
Greater continuity: no longer dependent on unavailable parts; wear parts and screens are available when needed
Flexibility through in-house engineering: within a single mill type, Peppink Mills can implement customer-specific variations (such as collection systems and process configurations)

Conclusion

For this herb producer, the switch to Peppink Mills meant regaining control over the grinding stage, with greater capacity, faster changeover times, and a more reliable process that scales with production needs.

Mills for a wide range of applications

Peppink Mills supplies laboratory and production mills for a wide range of applications in the agri-food and feed industries:

200CM: versatile for both sample and production grinding of, among other things, herbs, spices, coffee, sugar, and plant-based raw materials
200AN / 200AN-C: for automated, continuous grinding and dosing in laboratories and larger test environments
200AN II: high-end solution for large laboratories with high processing capacity, minimal contamination, and maximum automation
larger production mills (including the 550ANW, 350, 600, and 700W series): for grinding hundreds to thousands of kilograms per hour, such as sugar, herbs, seeds, or recycling streams
A significantly larger version of the Peppink 200CM is currently under development; this will be the 700CM, intended as a production mill

Each mill can be customized based on the raw material, desired fineness, capacity, and collection method.

Which mill is right for your product and process?

Would you like to know which mill is right for your product and process? Schedule a grinding test with your own material or contact us for a no-obligation consultation.