The correct understanding of technical terms used in the milling and grain processing industry is of great importance for establishing healthy communication in the sector and professional development. This comprehensive glossary aims to provide a reference source for sector professionals, new employees, students, and related stakeholders by explaining fundamental concepts, equipment names, and technical terms used in the milling field.
As Tanış A.Ş., with our industrial experience and technical knowledge accumulation spanning over 60 years, we have prepared this glossary, which is presented alphabetically organized and categorized. The terms in the glossary have been verified by sector experts and academicians and are compliant with international standards.
While using the glossary, you can quickly access the term you are looking for with the help of the alphabetical index or examine terms belonging to a specific field collectively by following the relevant category headings.
Raw Material and Grain Terms
Aleurone Layer: The thin layer rich in proteins and enzymes located between the endosperm and bran layer of the grain kernel.
Wheat: The basic cereal plant belonging to the Gramineae family, used in flour production.
Durum Wheat: Amber-colored wheat type with hard endosperm, used in pasta and semolina production.
Falling Number: A parameter that measures the alpha-amylase enzyme activity of wheat and determines flour quality.
Endosperm: The starch and protein-rich part inside the grain kernel that is converted into flour.
Gluten: The elastic structure formed when wheat proteins (gliadin and glutenin) are kneaded with water.
Hectoliter Weight: The weight of 100 liters of grain in kilograms, one of the important indicators of wheat quality.
Bran: The outer shell of the grain kernel, the part rich in fiber.
Germ: The vitamin, mineral, and oil-rich germination part of the grain kernel.
Hard Wheat: Wheat type with high protein content, preferred in bread flour production.
Soft Wheat: Low protein content wheat used in the production of biscuit and pastry flours.
Aspiration: The process of transporting, classifying, or cleaning products by creating airflow within the mill.
Break System: The first milling stage aimed at opening the wheat kernel and separating the endosperm from the bran.
Extraction Rate: The ratio of the amount of flour obtained from processed grain to the total grain amount, usually expressed as a percentage.
Sifting: The process of classifying milled products by passing them through sieves of different sizes.
Purifier: A purification machine based on airflow and sifting principles that separates endosperm particles from bran.
Conditioning (Tempering): The process of moistening wheat with water for a certain period before milling and allowing it to rest.
Blend: Mixing wheat with different characteristics in specific proportions to obtain the desired flour quality.
Passage: A processing step in the mill flow diagram, a stage consisting of milling and sifting steps.
Reduction System: The milling stage that gradually brings endosperm particles from the break system to flour fineness.
Sifter: A machine that classifies sifted products according to their density with the help of airflow.
Cleaning: The initial process where foreign materials (stone, metal, straw, etc.) in wheat are separated.
Extensograph: A device that measures the extensibility and dough resistance of flour.
Farinograph: A device that measures dough water absorption and kneading stability.
Ash Content: The amount of mineral matter remaining when flour is burned, a basic parameter determining flour type.
Mill Flour: Standard flour obtained by mixing flours from different passages in specific proportions.
Shorts: By-product consisting of coarse bran particles and endosperm mixture obtained from wheat kernel milling.
Sedimentation: A test that determines flour gluten quality by measuring the settling value of proteins in water.
Whole Wheat Flour: Flour obtained by milling wheat together with its bran, endosperm, and germ.
Type 550, 650, etc.: Numbers indicating flour classification according to ash content; lower numbers indicate whiter flour.
Flour Yield: The amount of flour obtained from 100 kg of wheat.
Wet Gluten: The amount of gluten proteins obtained by washing from flour, measured together with water.
Damaged Starch: Starch granules damaged by mechanical effect during milling, a factor affecting water absorption.
Roll and Milling Equipment Terms
B1, B2, C1, C2: Codes showing milling passages in the mill flow diagram. “B” indicates break system, “C” indicates reduction system.
Differential Speed: The friction and cutting effect created by the different rotation speeds of rolls in a roll pair.
Smooth Roll: Roll used in the reduction system with a smooth surface.
Fluted Roll: Roll used in the break system with angular grooves on its surface.
Scraper Blade: Part that cleans flour adhering to the roll surface and ensures its flow.
Flutes: Grooves on break rolls that enable grain particle breakdown.
Roll Stocks: Cylindrical parts made of special alloy steel that perform the milling operation in the mill.
Flute Angle: The placement angle of grooves on the roll, a factor affecting milling performance.
Sieve Cloth: Metal or synthetic fabric with different opening sizes used in sifting operations.
Sieve Efficiency: Performance parameter showing how much of the sifted material is separated into correct fractions.
Mesh Opening: The size of holes in sieve cloth in microns or mm.
Square Sifter: Classic sieve type with horizontal movement used for sifting.
Plansifter: Multi-level and multi-compartment, high-capacity sifting machine used in mills.
Cleaning Balls: Rubber or plastic balls used between sieve cloths to prevent clogging of sieve openings.
Gyration: Circular or linear movement made by the sieve machine to effectively sift material.
Elevator: Bucket system that transports materials like grain and flour vertically.
Air Lock: Equipment that allows material passage while maintaining air pressure in pneumatic transport systems.
Screw Conveyor: System that transports material horizontally or at slight inclines through its internal spiral structure.
Pneumatic Transport: Method of transporting materials with the help of airflow through pipelines.
Cyclone: Centrifugal force-based equipment that separates air-transported materials from air.
Silo: Vertical, cylindrical structure used for storing materials like grain and flour.
Rotary Valve: Star-shaped compartmented rotor that provides controlled material feeding in pneumatic systems.
Chain Conveyor: Palette system mounted on chains that transports material horizontally or at inclines.
Control and Automation Terms
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition): Computer system used to monitor and control industrial processes.
HMI (Human Machine Interface): Interface that enables operators to interact with machines and systems.
PLC (Programmable Logic Controller): Programmable logic controller used in mill automation.
Level Sensor: Sensor device that measures material level in silos and bunkers.
Flow Meter: Sensor that measures the amount of material passing through pipelines.
PID Control: Proportional-integral-derivative-based control algorithm used to bring variables to desired values.
Process Flow and Diagram Terms
Flow Sheet: Schematic drawing showing mill process flow.
Mill Diagram: Technical drawing showing the relationship of milling, sifting, and transport systems.
P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram): Technical diagram showing pipelines, equipment, and instrumentation elements.
Passage Diagram: Technical drawing containing detailed representation of each passage in the mill.
Energy and Efficiency Terms
kWh/ton: Amount of energy in kilowatt-hours consumed to process one ton of product.
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness): Indicator measuring overall equipment effectiveness, including availability, performance, and quality factors.
Specific Energy Consumption: Amount of energy consumed per unit product.
Efficiency Class: Standard classification showing energy efficiency of motors and equipment (IE1, IE2, IE3, IE4).
Mill Operations and Management Terms
Production Planning and Quality Control Terms
Batch: Product group with the same characteristics produced in a single operation.
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice): Good manufacturing practices, food safety and quality standards.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points): Food safety management system for hazard analysis and critical control points.
Lot: Product group produced in a specific time period, used for traceability.
Sampling: Process of collecting samples using specific methods to evaluate product quality.
Blend: Process of mixing raw materials with different characteristics in determined proportions.
Predictive Maintenance: Approach that enables maintenance planning before failure by monitoring equipment performance.
MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures): Average operating time between two failures.
MTTR (Mean Time To Repair): Average time required to repair a failure.
Preventive Maintenance: Protective maintenance activities performed in a planned manner to prevent failures.
ATEX: European Union directive regarding equipment used in explosive atmospheres.
Ex-proof: Equipment classification that can be safely used in explosive atmospheres.
LOTO (Lock Out / Tag Out): Procedure for cutting equipment energy and labeling and locking during maintenance and repair.
Dust Explosion: Explosion risk that may occur when flour and grain dust mix with air at certain concentrations.
Sectoral Commercial and Economic Terms
Market and Trade Terms
Base Price: Reference price used as basis in wheat buying and selling.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): Price including cost of goods, insurance, and freight.
FOB (Free On Board): Price including costs up to the point where goods are delivered to ship deck.
Gluten Index: Parameter used in evaluating wheat and flour quality, measuring gluten strength.
Protein-Based Classification: Categorization of wheat according to protein ratio.
CAPEX (Capital Expenditure): Capital expenditures, investment made for mill establishment or modernization.
Capacity Utilization Rate: Rate showing how much of existing production capacity is actively used.
OPEX (Operational Expenditure): Operating expenses, expenditures made for daily operation of the mill.
ROI (Return on Investment): Rate showing in how much time the investment will amortize itself.
International Standards and Certification Terms
BRC (British Retail Consortium): Internationally recognized certification standard on food safety.
Halal Certificate: Certificate documenting that products are produced in accordance with Islamic rules.
ISO 22000: International standard for food safety management systems.
Kosher: Certificate documenting production in accordance with Jewish religious rules.
Dictionary Usage and References
The terms in this glossary have been compiled with reference to international standards, sectoral sources, and Tanış A.Ş.’s 60 years of experience. Terms are listed alphabetically and grouped according to their categories.
Cross-references are provided between related terms within the glossary, and English equivalents of some terms are also indicated in parentheses.
Term Search and Filtering
To search for terms in the glossary:
- You can access terms starting with the relevant letter by clicking on the alphabetical index
- You can examine terms in a specific field collectively using category headings
- You can directly search for the desired term using the search box
Contribution and Feedback
We welcome your valuable suggestions and feedback for the development and expansion of the glossary. You can send an email to info@tanis.com.tr for new term suggestions or improvement of existing definitions.
The glossary is updated periodically, and new terms are added in line with developments in the sector.
Conclusion
The use of correct terminology in the milling and grain processing industry is of great importance for establishing healthy communication in the sector, proper transfer of technical knowledge, and maintaining quality standards.
As Tanış A.Ş., we aim to contribute to terminology standardization in the milling field and provide a valuable reference source to sector stakeholders with this glossary prepared by sharing our sectoral knowledge accumulation and technical expertise.
You can contact our technical team for questions or suggestions regarding the glossary.