Stable 100 kg/h spice milling for a North American seasoning producer

1. Project Background

In Canada, demand for cumin powder, star anise powder and related spice blends is growing steadily, especially from ethnic restaurants, retail spice brands and seasoning manufacturers.
However, many small and medium processors still rely on basic grinders, which often suffer from:

• Inconsistent particle size, with coarse and fine particles mixed in the same batch;

• High oil content in cumin and star anise leading to screen blockage and caking;

• Difficult cleaning and product changeover, resulting in cross-flavor contamination.

This Canadian customer wanted a dedicated small-capacity spice grinding solution for cumin and star anise, targeting 20 mesh powder at about 100 kg/h, with easy cleaning and food-grade construction.

2. Customer Profile & Application

The customer is a spice and compound seasoning producer in Canada, mainly engaged in:

• Supplying cumin powder, star anise powder and barbecue blends to foodservice channels;

• Contract packing of small retail spice jars and pouches;

• Exporting part of their finished products to the US and other North American markets.

Key requirements for the grinding line:

• Dedicated milling for cumin and star anise to avoid cross-flavor issues;

• Controlled to around 20 mesh, coarse enough for texture but fine enough for blending and packing;

• Compact design that fits into the existing spice workshop and meets local food-contact standards.

3. Our Solution (Equipment & Main Specifications)

Based on the customer’s target capacity and layout, we supplied a:

Small 304 Stainless Steel Spice Grinding System + Screening Unit
(Dedicated for 20 mesh cumin and star anise powder)

• Materials handled: Cumin, star anise and similar dry spices;

• Target fineness: approx. 20 mesh, controlled by interchangeable screens;

• Design capacity: around 100 kg/h (per single spice, depending on properties);

• Construction: All product-contact parts made of 304 stainless steel, food-grade compliant;

• Design highlights:

  • Smooth internal transitions in the grinding chamber to reduce dead zones and residue, allowing easier product changeover;

  • Optimized rotor speed and tool design to limit heat build-up during grinding and help preserve spice aroma;

  • External screening section ensures only powder passing the 20 mesh screen goes to the finished product line, with coarse fraction automatically returned for regrinding.

Key Technical Data (Excerpt)

4. Customer Feedback (Initial Operation)

After installation and a period of production trials, the Canadian customer reported:

• More consistent 20 mesh particle size
  Cumin and star anise powders now fall into a tighter size range, improving flowability and dosing accuracy in blending and packaging.

• Better flavor retention
  Controlled temperature rise during grinding helps reduce aroma loss. Sensory evaluation showed a stronger and longer-lasting spice aroma compared to the previous grinder.

• Easier cleaning and product switch
  With the grinding chamber and screen system designed for quick disassembly, changeover between cumin and star anise is faster, with significantly less odor carry-over.

The customer plans to use this dedicated line as the main platform for new spice and seasoning formulations in the future.

5. Conclusion

This small-capacity spice grinding solution for the Canadian customer was designed around three core goals: 20 mesh fineness, ~100 kg/h throughput and food-grade stainless steel construction. It helps the customer:

• Stabilize cumin and star anise grinding quality and improve final product consistency;

• Enhance flavor retention during milling, increasing product competitiveness;

• Reduce time spent on cleaning and changeovers, supporting a multi-SKU, small-batch production model.

For other North American or European seasoning producers, such a dedicated small-capacity grinding line for specific spices (like cumin/star anise) is a practical and cost-effective way to upgrade process stability and product quality.