Bühler Group, the Swiss manufacturer of processing technologies for food, feed, and advanced materials, is presenting multiple new and improved solutions in the wake of Interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Harnessing the full potential of the latest findings in hygienic design, usability, and digital solutions as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Bühler has developed a variety of upgrades and new processes to ensure maximum reliability, improve yield, and open new market opportunities for its customers. Some of the innovations were launched and showcased at booths C46 and C47 in hall 3 at Interpack from May 7 to May 13.
Bühler’s customers are navigating increasingly volatile markets. Fluctuating raw-material prices, rising expectations for food and feed safety, traceability, and transparency, and rapidly shifting consumer trends demand constant agility. This fast moving landscape brings challenges – but also significant opportunities for producers ready to innovate and respond decisively to emerging needs.
Excellence from bean to bar
Roasting the cocoa nibs is a vital step at the beginning of the chocolate production value chain. Bühler’s new cocoa roaster, Lucent, is setting new industry standards. Built on the company’s proven technology and expertise, it helps industrial-scale cocoa processors improve efficiency, reliability, and food safety. Compared with its predecessor, the Tornado roaster, Lucent uses at least 20% less energy per batch of cocoa and delivers up to 20% higher throughput, while minimizing yield loss. Its stainless steel, easy-to-clean design and fully sealed product flow ensure high hygiene standards and safe food production. Lucent is also designed for effortless operation, with predictive, self-learning controls that help customers achieve consistent roasting results without requiring deep machine expertise.
Bühler’s Chocolate Business Unit presented key advancements across chocolate mass processing: The Finer S Edition 26 five-roll refiner and the ELK S Edition 26 single-shaft conche. The latest editions are designed to offer improvements in areas such as cleanliness, usability, transparency, and efficiency. “Our five-roll refiner has been a trusted technology in chocolate production for many years,” says Skeljzen Nesimi, Head of Product Management, Chocolate & Flavor Creation at Bühler. “With Edition 26, we have focused on enhancing the user experience and supporting customers with improvements in operation, maintenance, hygiene, reliability, and energy performance.”
Flexibility meets precision
Launched in 2025, CompactMix brings together the proven ShearMix mixing system with a spiral agitator for fast, uniform mixing, and the Aurora ball mill for grinding. This combination ensures optimal mixing and refining performance, forming the basis for CompactMix’s exceptional product consistency. The system delivers uniform textures with particle sizes below 20 microns, resulting in a smooth mouthfeel. It also handles everything from low-fat to high-fat recipes, giving producers full flexibility in chocolate mass production while consuming up to 30% less energy than conventional models.
Designed for operational efficiency, the new solution enables fast product changeovers with minimal waste and cleaning time under two hours. Its hygienic, fully enclosed design supports global food safety standards, and its modular scalability – from 400 kg/h to 3000 kg/h – makes it suitable for both small-scale and industrial production.
