To grind something solid, many of us might think of a mortar and pestle as the original grinding machine. In fact, that technology goes back at least to 1550 BCE, when one was described in Egyptian writing. Many other hand-powered mills and grinders followed, leading to powered devices in today’s many forms.
Top 5 Signs You Should Service or Replace Your Mill or Grinder
![]() | The mill or grinder is no longer producing accurate and reproducible results. |
![]() | The instrument does not have the features/accessories you need, to support new or future applications, or the instrument is unable to grind material to the fineness you need. |
![]() | It is becoming too difficult and costly to find replacement parts for the instrument. |
![]() | Liquids and powders have built up on the machine to a disgusting degree. Regular cleaning with a mild cleaner or damp cloth should help users avoid this problem. Users should always remember to turn the machine off when cleaning. |
![]() | Mechanical components are worn or dried out and may need either replacing or lubricating. |
Top 5 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Mill or Grinder
![]() | Will the mill/grinder be used for wet or dry milling? |
![]() | For dry milling, ask how finely the material needs to be ground and what are the properties of the material? Rotor beater, disc, and mortar mills for example, are best for mid-range grinding (final fineness of ~0.01-0.1 mm). |
![]() | For wet milling, ask what capacity of grinder you will need. Bead mills are usually best for small capacity applications while rotor-stator homogenizers should be considered for larger scale applications. For very large scale applications, industrial-scale mills are probably the best fit. |
![]() | How important is preventing cross-contamination? Bead mills are likely a good choice if you don’t want any risk of contamination. |
![]() | Based on the materials you will be milling, how long does the miller or grinder typically last? How much do replacement parts cost and how easy are they to get? What level of support/warranties does the company offer? |
Recently Released Mills & Grinders
Cryo Mill Cryogenic Mill
- Oscillating frequency of 30 Hz allows for 50 % increase in grinding energy
- Now includes reinforced housing and optimized liquid nitrogen duct
- Autofill System provides liquid nitrogen in the required amount so that the user avoids direct contact with the LN2
- Achieves improved grind sizes thanks to the increased oscillating frequency of 30 Hz
RETSCH
www.retsch.com
Geno/Grinder® 2010
- Accommodates a variety of formats ranging from deep-well titer plates to centrifuge tubes
- Features automated mechanical disruption suited for high-throughput applications involving sample preparation for DNA, RNA, and protein extractions, pesticide residue analysis, and more
- Typical pressing cycle is less than two minutes
- Equipped with digital timer, lockdown lid, and safety interlock for operator protection
SPEX SamplePrep
www.spexsampleprep.com
CRYO-CUP GRINDER
- Specifically designed to pulverize and grind soft plant and animal tissue samples at liquid nitrogen temperatures
- Up to 5 grams of tissue can be placed in the pre-cooled mortar and ground to a fine powder with a special pestle made of non-heat conductive plastic
- Cools to liq.N2 temperatures faster than classic ceramic mortar and pestle
BioSpec Products
www.biospec.com
TUBE MILL
- Batch mill with single-use milling vessels enables serial testing to be carried out under reproducible conditions
- Single-use milling vessels save on cleaning, time and energy; they also prevent crosscontamination
- 40 ml capacity milling vessels and hood are made from transparent material, allowing the milling process to be observed at any time
IKA
www.ika.com
Mill and Grinder Manufacturers
BioSpec Products | www.biospec.com |
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Buehler | www.buehler.com |
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C.W. Brabender Instruments | www.cwbrabender.com |
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Drais | www.draiswerke-inc.com |
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Extec | www.extec.com |
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Fritsch | www.fritsch.de/en |
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Glen Creston | www.glencreston.co.uk |
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Glen Mills | www.glenmills.com |
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Hosokawa | www.hmicronpowder.com |
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IKA | www.ika.net |
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Lab Synergy | www.labsynergy.com |
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Retsch | www.retsch-us.com |
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SCP Science | www.scpscience.com |
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SPEX SamplePrep | www.spexcsp.com |
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Sturtevant | www.sturtevantinc.com |
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The Fitzpatrick Co | www.fitzmill.com |
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The Jet Pulverizer Co | www.jetpul.com |
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Union Process | www.unionprocess.com |
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