MACHINES THAT DRIVE SUCCESS

Maize meal quality checks #3: Granulation test

Maize Quality Check

Quality control plays an important role in every stage of the production of maize products, from intake to packing.

Large mills have fully equipped laboratories where routine quality checks are carried out. However, the small miller cannot afford to equip and run such a laboratory, and therefore needs an area in the mill where the simpler, basic tests can be carried out.

Record results

Here, we focus on the granulation test:

Granulation test 

Although the granulation of products such as samp, maize rice and maize grits are fairly uniform throughout the industry, that of meal products vary from area to area. Some areas of Africa prefer a coarse meal while others prefer a finer flour.

Therefore, when investing in a mill, the correct machine should be ordered and set up with commissioning to produce the required granulation preferred by customers in the area.

By doing regular granulation tests on the final product, one could also pick up problems in the mill, such as rolls grinding too hard and burst or damaged sieve covers. These problems could have an adverse effect on the granulation of the meal.

laboratory sifter

Equipment

The following laboratory equipment is needed:

  • A suitable laboratory sifter
  • Hand-held sieves
  • Laboratory scale

Method

  • Weigh out 100g of the sample to sieve test.
  • Use a selection of different size mesh sieves to suit the granulation of your products. It’s always better to have the sieves clothed in micron sizes than in mesh per inch, as the micron size is more accurate.
  • Ensure that each sieve that’s placed in the laboratory sifter has a small cube sieve cleaner to keep the apertures of the sieve clean.
  • Sieve for 5-10 minutes depending on product.
  • Weigh off the stock on top of each sieve as well as the fines in the sifter pan.

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An example of covers used for conducting a sieving analysis

Product  Sieve size in microns  Specification*  Result obtained
Super refined - coarse granulation 1200 Less than 5%
700 More than 30%
500 Balance
Thro's Between 20% and 30%


*Dependent on season

Frequency of test: At least twice per shift.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions below

A maize mill gives producers the opportunity to add value to their own maize instead of relying only on the raw grain price. By milling, packaging and marketing maize meal, producers can create an additional revenue stream and reduce the impact of maize price volatility on their business. By-products like maize germ and bran can also be sold or used in feed operations, helping ensure that more of the maize kernel contributes to the bottom line.

Maize prices are constantly influenced by market conditions, weather, climate changes and global events. When prices are low, producers may feel pressure on margins, especially when input costs remain high. Milling helps producers move further up the value chain by selling a finished product rather than only raw maize, giving them more control over their margins and market position.

A commercial maize mill can produce maize meal, while some configurations can also produce grits for snack products. The milling process also creates by-products such as maize germ and bran, which can be sold to feedlots or used in a producer’s own animal feed operation. In Idlani’s case, this has become a useful additional income stream alongside their main maize meal business.

The Roff R-70 is a compact commercial maize mill designed for entrepreneurs who want to produce maize meal at scale. It has a milling capacity of 4 to 5 tons per hour and can produce up to 120 tons of maize per day, depending on the configuration. Roff positions the R-70 as a compact, all-in-one maize mill built around simple, high-quality milling principles.

Roff supplies the mill, electric panel boards, installation, set-up and training. The blog also highlights the value of choosing a manufacturer with a strong reputation, industry knowledge, after-sales support and locally available parts, especially when downtime can directly affect profitability.

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2 comments

We are a maize milling company. Kindly send me laboratory manual with relevant laboratory equipment for a maize mill.
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Reginald, Kindly note that we do not supply laboratory equipment or laboratory manuals. However, we would be happy to assist you with information regarding our milling equipment. Please feel free to contact our Sales Team at sales@roff.co.za<mailto:sales@roff.co.za> for detailed information and assistance. We look forward to hearing from you.
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Reginald, Kindly note that we do not supply laboratory equipment or laboratory manuals. However, we would be happy to assist you with information regarding our milling equipment. Please feel free to contact our Sales Team at sales@roff.co.za<mailto:sales@roff.co.za> for detailed information and assistance. We look forward to hearing from you.

Reginald Tangirai,

Send me maize flour laboratory manual..
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Roff Milling replied:
Good morning. Please confirm where you are situated so that the designated consultant can get in touch

Getaneh bekele,

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