Alapala Launches SIMILAGO III, Setting a New Benchmark in Intelligent Roller Milling Technologies

Alapala Launches SIMILAGO III, Setting a New Benchmark in Intelligent Roller Milling Technologies

A New Generation Roller Mill Combining Direct Drive Technology, Intelligent Energy Recovery and Advanced Process Control

As global flour producers face increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption, improve operational efficiency and enhance product consistency, Alapala has introduced SIMILAGO III, its latest generation roller mill engineered to redefine the future of flour milling.

Developed entirely by Alapala’s in house R&D and engineering teams, SIMILAGO III represents a significant technological leap beyond conventional roller mill design. Combining high efficiency direct drive technology, intelligent motor-generator operation, advanced digital security and operator-focused engineering, the new platform delivers superior milling performance while significantly reducing operating costs.

“SIMILAGO III is much more than a new roller mill. It represents our vision for the future of milling where intelligent engineering, sustainability and digitalization work together to deliver measurable value for our customers. Every component has been redesigned to maximize efficiency, reliability and process control while reducing the total cost of ownership.”

Görkem Alapala - Group CEO, Alapala

Engineered for the Next Generation of Milling

The roller mill remains the heart of every flour mill, directly influencing energy consumption, flour quality, production capacity and overall plant efficiency. While traditional roller mills have served the industry for decades, today’s milling environment demands far greater flexibility, lower operating costs and smarter automation. SIMILAGO III was developed specifically to meet these evolving industry requirements.

Designed in Collaboration with Italdesign

Beyond engineering excellence, SIMILAGO III reflects Alapala’s commitment to combining advanced technology with world class industrial design.

The machine’s industrial design was developed in collaboration with Italdesign, the internationally renowned Italian design and engineering company recognized for creating some of the world’s most iconic automotive and industrial products. By bringing together Alapala’s deep expertise in milling technologies and Italdesign’s globally recognized design philosophy, SIMILAGO III achieves an exceptional balance of functionality, ergonomics and contemporary aesthetics.

This collaboration has resulted in a machine that not only delivers outstanding technical performance but also enhances operator experience, accessibility and the visual identity of modern milling plants.

Direct-Drive Technology Eliminates Mechanical Losses

Unlike conventional roller mills that rely on asynchronous motors, belts, pulleys and gearboxes, SIMILAGO III utilizes a high efficiency permanent magnet synchronous reluctance direct drive system.

By eliminating mechanical transmission components, the machine offers:

* Higher mechanical efficiency

* Reduced maintenance requirements

* Lower vibration levels

* Improved long term reliability

* More compact machine architecture

The simplified drivetrain also minimizes wear components, increasing machine availability while reducing lifecycle maintenance costs.

Intelligent Motor Generator Technology Delivers Up to 20% Energy Savings

One of SIMILAGO III’s most innovative technologies is its intelligent motor generator operating principle.

Unlike conventional systems where both grinding rolls continuously consume electrical power, SIMILAGO III enables the second roll to operate either as a motor or as a generator depending on process conditions.

Recovered kinetic energy is intelligently reused to regulate roll speed, significantly reducing overall energy consumption.

Powered by a high efficiency IE5 class permanent magnet synchronous reluctance direct-drive motor, SIMILAGO III can reduce energy consumption by up to 20%, enabling flour producers to lower operating costs while supporting their sustainability objectives.

Independent Roll Speed Control for Every Wheat Variety

Modern flour production requires increasing flexibility.

Different wheat varieties, moisture conditions and flour specifications require different grinding characteristics.

SIMILAGO III enables independent speed control of both grinding rolls, allowing millers to optimize differential roll speeds according to raw material properties and desired flour quality.

The result is:

* Improved grinding performance

* Greater process stability

* Higher flour consistency

* Better extraction efficiency

* Enhanced product quality

Compact Design with Maximum Uptime

By eliminating belts, pulleys and other mechanical transmission elements, SIMILAGO III achieves a significantly more compact footprint. Routine maintenance operations such as belt replacement, pulley alignment and tension adjustments are completely eliminated. The machine has also been redesigned with an operator-friendly service architecture that provides rapid access to internal components, reducing planned maintenance time and maximizing production uptime.

Digital Security Through RFID Authorization

As digitalization becomes increasingly important across the milling industry, SIMILAGO III integrates an advanced RFID based authorization system. Only authorized personnel can access machine parameters, preventing unauthorized modifications while protecting critical process settings. Every parameter change is recorded with user identification and time stamped history, providing full traceability and strengthening process security.

Pneumatic Locking Technology Protects Milling Precision

Maintaining precise roll settings is essential for consistent flour quality. SIMILAGO III incorporates an innovative pneumatic locking mechanism within its fine adjustment system. Once grinding parameters have been established, the mechanism physically locks the adjustment system, preventing unintended operator intervention during production. This ensures stable grinding conditions, minimizes human error and protects product consistency throughout the milling process.

Designed Around Sustainability and Lower Total Cost of Ownership

Beyond improving milling performance, SIMILAGO III has been engineered to reduce the total cost of ownership. Lower energy consumption, fewer wear components, simplified maintenance procedures and intelligent digital control combine to reduce operating expenses throughout the machine’s lifecycle. The result is a smarter investment that helps flour producers achieve greater profitability while supporting global sustainability goals.

Shaping the Future of Milling

SIMILAGO III reflects Alapala’s continued commitment to developing technologies that move the milling industry forward. By integrating intelligent direct-drive engineering, advanced energy recovery, digital process security and operator-focused innovation into a single platform, Alapala is setting a new benchmark for the next generation of roller milling. Designed with Italdesign and developed by Alapala’s R&D team, SIMILAGO III empowers flour producers to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and confidently prepare for the future of intelligent milling.

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