1. Project Overview
A leading food processing enterprise in Thailand, specializing in high-quality baking and confectionery ingredients, sought to expand its production. The client required a turnkey solution for Icing Sugar Ultrafine Grinding, converting granulated sugar into a fine powder (200 mesh/approx. 75μm) while maintaining the material’s flowability and whiteness.
- Material: Granulated Cane Sugar
- Core Equipment: Epic Powder Air Classifier Mill (ACM)
- Target Particle Size: 200 Mesh (D99≥ 75μm)
- Production Capacity: 200 kg/h
2. Technical Challenges
Grinding sugar involves several critical hurdles that standard mills often fail to address:
- Heat Sensitivity: Sugar is prone to melting and caramelizing due to frictional heat, which leads to “glazing” on the grinding elements and screen clogging.
- Hygroscopicity: Thailand’s tropical climate and high humidity make sugar powder extremely sticky and prone to clumping.
- Explosion Risk: Fine sugar dust in high concentrations creates a combustible atmosphere, requiring strict electrostatic and spark control.
3. The Epic Powder Solution: Air Classifier Mill (ACM) System for Icing Sugar Ultrafine Grinding
To meet the 200 kg/h requirement, we deployed a compact ACM system specifically optimized for food-grade processing.
Core Advantages:
- Temperature Control: The ACM utilizes a high-volume airflow system that carries away heat during the grinding process. For this project, a Chiller System was integrated to ensure the grinding temperature remained below 25°C, preventing any color change or caking.
- Integrated Classification: The machine features a built-in dynamic classifier wheel. Users can precisely adjust the particle size between 60 and 500 mesh via a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) without stopping the machine or changing screens.
- Food-Grade Standards: The entire unit is constructed from SS304/316L stainless steel with mirror-polished internal surfaces to meet FDA/GMP hygiene standards, ensuring no “dead zones” for bacteria growth.
- Safety Engineering: The system is equipped with anti-static filter bags, explosion-proof rotary valves, and explosion relief panels to ensure a safe production environment.
Results and Feedback
The system has exceeded the client’s expectations since commissioning:
- Uniformity: The particle size distribution is exceptionally narrow, significantly improving the mouthfeel of the client’s end-user bakery products.
- Stable Output: The 200 kg/h capacity is maintained comfortably with optimized energy consumption.
- Low Maintenance: The scientific design allows for quick cleaning and easy replacement of wear parts (hammers and classifier wheels) in under 15 minutes.