Where to Find Milling Equipment
Answered by: Richard Alan Miller
Question from: Richard Murray
Posted on: January 20, 2006

I have a herb farm in Ireland and have had difficulty locating some specific machinery. I’m looking to obtain a milling machine for grinding fresh and dried herbs. Can you recommend a manufacturer of such equipment? [Please include the] manufacturer’s and/or distributor’s name and a contact number or e-mail.

In my book "The Potential of Herbs as a Cash Crop," I list a number of resources in the Milling Machinery chapter. I also have several nice resource lists at http://www.nwbotanicals.org/oak/altagri/basicprinci.htm, and my book on Processing at www.herbfarminfo.com

Your best bet is buy used machinery, not new -- unless of course, you have lots of money and are building something for the public to see. It’s always best to buy used and find out why you need something different after use. "Bone yard" (used farm machinery) are everywhere, and even the new dealers will have them. Auctions are also an excellent way to get started.

Google also has a special search engine called Froogle. Try that for specific equipment. In North America I have used Arron Machine sales (Chicago), with more than 500 acres of used machinery. One the West Coast, I use Clarke Machine Sales (Long Beach). Remember, your machinery is landed costs, so try to find something nearby. Even when you rail (ship by railroad) something, it now has become very expensive.

You also really need to ready my book "The Potential of Herbs As A Cash Crop," and the book on milling facilities, found at www.herbfarminfo.com/. To my knowledge no one else has ever taken the time to write on this subject for our trade. Of course, I am still available as an outside consultant, and have been used by some of the largest industries in our field (Baltimore Spice, McCormick, Botanicals International, and Celestial Seasonings).

http://www.nwbotanicals.org/oak/oakservice.htm

You will have to be far more specific on what you need to mill, and to what end product for me to be any more specific. My last name is not "Miller" for nothing, and you may find everything you seek in information in the above references. How else can I help you?

Back to Commercial Herb Production and Marketing | Q & A Index

Copyright © 1997-2024 Otto Richter and Sons Limited. All rights reserved.