The Bühler production site in Appenzell is playing a central role in a wave of orders for cocoa processing equipment due to increased global cocoa prices and the growing emphasis on robust supply chains.
Appenzell is where engineering, manufacturing technology, and the highest quality standards come together. All key components for Bühler’s cocoa processing lines have been manufactured in Appenzell for three years.
Firmly rooted in Appenzell, Bühler has continuously invested in innovation, training, and the latest manufacturing technology at this site. This has enabled the most sophisticated machines and components from the Swiss foothills of the Alps to find their way into cocoa processing plants around the world.
Investors and cocoa processing companies are turning to Bühler not only for state-of-the-art process technology that ensures maximum yield of this expensive commodity with the highest efficiency. An equally important factor is that Bühler can support its customers locally with the best service and offers customised training and development opportunities for customer technicians at their plants.
“In challenging times, our customers rely on quality and efficiency, as well as on local support and service. Our commitment to innovation and partnership-based collaboration worldwide gives our customers security and confidence. That’s why Bühler is the obvious choice,” says Stefan Scheiber, CEO of the Bühler Group.
Local economies, governments and businesses around the world dependent on domestic cocoa processing are making significant investments in cocoa processing, not just in capacity but also in quality and yield. One of Bühler’s greatest advantages is its extensive presence in cocoa-growing regions, which enables service professionals to maintain the systems on-site.
The Bühler plant in Appenzell manufactures and assembles machines that use infrared technology to pre-treat cocoa beans before they are broken and hulled. The resulting cocoa nibs are then roasted.
The roasters and coolers required for this process are also manufactured in Appenzell. Roasting is an essential step in the process. Not only does it allow the intense flavour and full aroma of the cocoa bean to develop, it also ensures that the beans are efficiently processed into semi-finished products such as cocoa butter and cocoa mass, which are essential for the production of chocolate.
“Working with the team in Appenzell is characterized by a professional and friendly relationship at all levels. Transparency, openness, and a winning spirit are what set the team apart,” says Stefan Kellenberger, managing director chocolate & coffee at Bühler.
Bühler’s solutions for cocoa processing set global standards. In Uganda, for example, the country’s first industrial cocoa processing plant is being built in partnership with Bühler. A trading company is being transformed into a fully-fledged cocoa processor with a tailor-made solution – a family business that focuses on long-term partnerships and local value creation and will produce cocoa mass, butter, and powder directly on site in the future.
Another example is a leading chocolate manufacturer in Greece, which has modernised and consolidated its production with Bühler. By integrating cocoa processing on site, the customer now controls the entire value chain – from bean to chocolate bar – and benefits from increased product quality and efficiency thanks to Bühler’s modernisation expertise. With Bühler’s customised solution, the customer can deliver unique end products and thus differentiate itself.
