Sri Lanka’s first durum mill successfully commissioned with Bühler technology
The facility is now operating at full capacity, marking a significant development for local durum processing and strengthening the country’s ability to produce high-quality durum-based products domestically.
SRI LANKA – Sri Lanka has reached a new milestone in its grain-processing industry with the commissioning of what the project team describes as the country’s first durum mill.
The facility, developed with Bühler as its technology partner, is now operating at full capacity and is reported to be delivering strong milling performance and product quality.
According to the project team, the newly commissioned mill is running smoothly and has achieved an extraction rate above the originally expected level.
The result highlights the importance of efficient process design and technology selection in durum milling, where achieving high-quality semolina and flour while maximizing extraction is central to commercial performance.
Bühler was selected as the technology partner for the project, bringing its expertise in grain-processing and milling systems to the facility.
The Swiss engineering group has a longstanding presence in Sri Lanka’s milling sector. Its technology is already used at established flour-milling operations in the country, including Serendib Flour Mills, which operates a major facility at Colombo Port using Bühler equipment.
The successful start-up also stemmed from close cooperation between the customer’s team and Bühler’s project team throughout the development and commissioning process.
Such collaboration is particularly important during the transition from installation and testing to full commercial production, as mill performance depends on integrating equipment, process parameters, raw-material characteristics, and operator expertise.
The commissioning adds a new dimension to Sri Lanka’s grain-processing capabilities.
Durum wheat is primarily used to produce semolina and pasta products, requiring milling systems designed to efficiently separate the grain’s endosperm and produce consistent particle sizes and quality characteristics.
Durum wheat milling requires specialized equipment and processing conditions distinct from those used for common wheat, given the crop’s harder kernel structure and its primary use in pasta and semolina production.
The successful launch of a dedicated durum mill gives Sri Lanka new domestic capacity to process durum wheat, potentially reducing reliance on imported semolina and durum-based products while supporting local pasta and food manufacturing supply chains.
Sri Lanka already has significant experience in large-scale wheat milling. Serendib Flour Mills, for example, began commercial operations in 2008 and has subsequently expanded its production capacity using Bühler technology.
The company says its facility produces a range of wheat-flour products for commercial and consumer markets.
The latest project therefore further develops the country’s milling infrastructure while demonstrating the potential for specialized grain-processing facilities to expand the range of products manufactured locally.
With the new durum mill now operating at full capacity and recording extraction performance above initial expectations, the project team described the commissioning as a significant achievement for both the customer and Bühler.
The successful start-up also underscores the value of combining modern milling technology with strong technical cooperation and operational expertise.
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