The process engineering solution of the Hosokawa Alpine Ultraplex fine impact mill stands for versatile grinding. This versatility is due to the high variability of the grinders and screens: "It is important that there are no fibrous pieces in the final product, only powder. The fineness can be adjusted by changing the sieve. With the help of the frequency converter, the speed of the grinding mill can be changed and thus quickly adapted to the conditions of the feed product," explains Barbara Kästl, Key Account Manager at Hosokawa Alpine. The high air flow of the UPZ grinding discs cools oily products and prevents clogging or smearing of the screens used. In addition, there are various sieve inserts with which the customer can influence the texture of the vanilla.
The technology is convincing in demanding everyday production: The Hamburg company has been working with the Hosokawa Alpine fine impact mills since 2015 and there was recently the commissioning the third Ultraplex 250 UPZ. Here, process optimisations such as a larger rotary valve and fluidisation to prevent product build-up have been carried out on an ongoing basis. In addition, a 28/40 Rotoplex granulator is used for cutting the vanilla beans and for pre-breaking larger lumps after sterilisation. To ensure that the vanilla powder is always of the same high quality and particle size distribution, the Alpine e200 LS air jet sieve is also used for fineness analysis, thus completing the overall system.
Living corporate responsibility
The fine impact mills are designed and used exclusively for vanilla production. Allergens, foreign flavours and cross-contamination can thus be excluded. However, Aust & Hachmann oHG not only takes responsibility for the quality of the high-quality end products such as vanilla cut, vanilla powder, vanilla extract or vanilla beans. "We have been bringing vanilla to customers from all over the world for more than 140 years. Therefore, we know the value chain of this special plant very well and see where there is a need for improvement and help," explain Christopher Schmidt and Berend Hachmann, managing director of Aust & Hachmann oHG. Together with the founding family Hachmann, they have therefore set up a foundation that provides social support to small farmers in Madagascar. Due to the costly cultivation, vanilla has sometimes traded more expensive than silver in recent years, and crime in the cultivation areas is on the rise. In order to improve the farmers' living conditions and ensure sustainability, the foundation works to ensure that all steps from cultivation to the fermented vanilla bean can take place locally. This allows farmers to charge higher prices - and to grow plants that are later used to refine products around the world.