Bühler India has launched two solutions that will enable biscuit manufacturers to provide a diverse range of products to their customers, addressing the growing demand in the region. As part of the SmartLine series, the DirectBake Smart is a Direct Gas Fired (DGF) oven that can accommodate a diverse range of baking needs with ease, while the RotaMold Smart is a rotary molder that produces a wide variety of shapes and intricate designs. Both solutions incorporate Bühler’s cutting-edge technology and are reliable, versatile, and efficient. This launch is a testament to Bühler’s “Make in India” initiative and built on the company's long-standing expertise in manufacturing grain and food processing solutions in India since 1993.

Whether it is molded biscuits, crackers, or marie biscuits, the DirectBake Smart oven can produce a diverse range of baked goods with Bühler’s state-of-the-art heat transfer technology. It has a recipe-controlled burner system to ensure optimum operational parameters, which also makes it easy to change the product as required.

The DirectBake Smart oven is part of a global collaborative development program within Bühler with the focus on designing and manufacturing products in the region, for the region. It is designed and produced in India. Until now, Bühler India has only manufactured the ovens that were designed in Denmark.

The RotaMold Smart is another innovative and affordable product now available to customers in India. It molds each biscuit to the exact shape and size required, ensuring consistency across the entire batch. It can also produce an extensive variety of shapes and intricate designs, allowing manufacturers to offer a diverse range of biscuits.

Ajith Dharan, head of Consumer Foods Business, Bühler India, says, “The biscuit industry in India is substantial and growing rapidly, especially with the expansion of both domestic and international brands. To meet this increasing demand, we are launching these solutions at our facility in Bengaluru. With this approach, we are providing innovative and affordable technology that is commercially attractive for the Indian market.”

Flourishing industry

India is the third-largest producer of biscuits, and the industry is growing at an average Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5-6%. “In this fast-paced life where convenience is key, cookies and crackers are set to be the drivers for new growth, with variety and product differentiation not far behind,” says Prashant Gokhale, Managing Director, Bühler India. “Our target audience is primarily biscuit customers who want to have superior baking technology at competitive prices. With this launch, we are offering forward integration possibilities for our flour millers.”

Bühler has committed to a 60% reduction in the Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions in its operations by 2030 against its 2019 baseline. In line with this, the production facility in Bengaluru is designed to use less water and incorporate renewable energy such as solar power and natural daylight, thereby reducing its carbon footprint.

Johannes Wick, chief executive officer of Grains & Food at Bühler Group, says, “In a world of rapidly changing requirements, customers need flexibility and creativity to adapt their products to key issues such as healthy diets, affordability, the use of local raw materials, and sustainability. This prompted our decision to continue investing in this market and to support our customers in their innovation journeys.”