New rice mill concept aims to support local rice self-sufficiency in Southeast Asia

 Bühler launches Uniline, a new integrated rice mill concept, in Southeast Asia

Singapore, March 31, 2021 – Bühler Group, the Swiss technology leading supplier for grain and food industry, is releasing a new integrated rice mill concept optimized for Southeast Asia’s rice varieties. Uniline rice mills are all-inclusive equipment packages which can be installed and running within 18 weeks from order. Fostering local rice self-sufficiency “Early months of the COVID-19 virus crisis have shown vulnerabilities in rice supply chains worldwide,” says Vianney d’Hostel, Head of Business Intelligence Southeast Asia at Bühler. Due to lockdowns, restrictions in movement of the workforce have stressed needs for more automated mills. At the same time, disruption in supply chains and fast-changing protectionist policies have highlighted the need for shorter and distributed rice supply chains.” With many countries and provinces now ramping up plans to increase self-sufficiency in rice production, Bühler anticipates public and private sector will tend to prioritize simpler, more robust and decentralized solutions to the food supply chains. Simplified project management and all-inclusive project scope “The fundamental idea behind Uniline is that it is an all-inclusive rice mill delivered to your site”, explains Asif Abbas, Southeast Asia Regional Manager for Rice at Bühler. It includes all the equipment, the automation systems and the prefabricated steel structure needed to create a compact 2-level rice mill”. Uniline relies on an optimized concept developed by Bühler, which allows the Swiss company to achieve 15% energy savings in a 40% smaller footprint compared to conventional rice mills. Project speed is also increased, with commissioning taking place 18 weeks from the order with the support of local Bühler installation teams. “This all-inclusive package reduces the project’s complexity for rice millers, who will now have a single point of contact accountable for their entire mill,” adds Mr Abbas. Suitable for greenfield projects or sustainability projects The Uniline rice mill is already available for orders in Southeast Asia in three capacity options: 5 tons per hour (t/h), 8t/h and 10t/h. “Our primary market for Uniline are remote green field projects. We also anticipate interest from established rice millers who would be interested to add new dedicated lines for organic or local rice sub-varieties.” Uniline offers a high-level of automation, quality control, and food-safety, making it suitable for operations aiming at export markets. For more information about Bühler’s Uniline, please visit: https://www.feeding.asia/bangladesh   Source: Email/SZK