Swiss technology group Bühler yesterday inaugurated its new Grain Innovation Centre (GIC) in Uzwil, Switzerland. According to Bühler, the new application centre marks a milestone in the promotion, collaboration and innovation in grain processing.
The new location replaces the company’s former Grain Technology Centre, which has served the milling industry since 1951. Spanning five stories and covering 2,000 square meters, the facility boasts a cutting-edge infrastructure, housing 70 advanced machines from Bühler and its partners. This forward-thinking Grain Innovation Center (GIC) is designed as a hub for customer-driven experimentation, innovation, and solution development tailored to specific industry needs.
“The Grain Innovation Center is the latest addition to Bühler’s growing network of application and training centres in Uzwil,” says Johannes Wick, CEO of Grains & Food at Bühler Group. “We cover the entire production landscape, from various raw materials to a wide range of finished products. This gives our customers exceptional flexibility and the choice they need to meet growing challenges and revolutionise their markets.”
Bolstering food security worldwide
At the GIC, food trials encompass a wide range of commodities, including cereals, herbs, spices, and pulses, with specialized technology and expertise to conduct trials on both local and traditional grains. These trials hold promise for bolstering food security worldwide. Bühler’s processing know-how extends beyond grains, with trials also available for coffee, nuts, and other commodities. The center further supports testing for non-food bulk materials, such as plastics and absorbers, expanding its reach across multiple industries.
The GIC forms part of Bühler’s Application and Training Center (ATC) network, which includes recently launched centres — the Flavour Creation Centre, Food Creation Centre, Protein Application Centre, and Energy Recovery Centre.
With this innovation centre, Bühler can offer complete coverage of processes from the field to the plate, covering the entire value chain, an environment that the company says is unique in the market. “Our broad business area spans the entire protein value chain and we have carefully implemented a strategy for partnerships, closed internal gaps and improved the material flow,” says Rudolf Hofer, Head of Grain Innovation Centre.
Here you can read our recent interview with Lukas Frei, Alternative Proteins and Food Ingredients at Bühler.