FIIRO multipurpose commercial pepper grinding machine is a unique prototype designed to solve the problem of metal contamination among other problems associated with the conventional pepper grinding machines that are being used in Nigeria.

It can function as a batch or continuous mill. It is very easy to operate, and it has in-place cleaning feature for thorough cleaning after use. It is has zero tolerance for contamination from the machine parts. It is designed to reduce noise pollution to the barest minimum. It can be used by small and medium scale food processors as well as individual entrepreneur for rendering milling services in the neighbourhood thereby creating employment for Nigerians. Its design conforms to (ISO and NIS) standards. Mode of Operation:  Batch / Continuous Operation, Power requirement: 3-5 Hp (Single phase electric motor or Petrol or Diesel Engine.)

The machine consists of a barrel within which a main shaft rotates with a set of grinding knives. Attached to the barrel is a detachable hopper for feeding the food crops into the barrel. The barrel is opened at the bottom to allow the ground product to pass through a mesh which allow only ground product of the desired particle size to be collected through the discharge chute. All the component parts of the machine from the hopper to the chute are made with stainless steel. The machine is designed to handle dry and wet milling with the aid of easy to couple accessories. It can mill food crops like: Tomatoes, Pepper, Cowpeas, Maize, Sorghum, Millet, Soybeans, etc.

The overall dimension of the machine is 500mm x 600mm x 1300mm

During the technical session at a forum of Nigerian Fabricators hosted by FIIRO in 2012, Nigeria fabricators (AMEFAN) made a request to FIIRO intervene on the issues of substandard Pepper Grinding Machine, by coming up with a design of an appropriate Pepper Grinding Machine.

A multi-disciplinary taskforce was constituted by FIIRO management to carry out R & D work to ascertain the extent of heavy metal contamination in ground products due to substandard Pepper Grinding Machine, design and fabricate a prototype of an appropriate pepper grinding machine for mass production by Nigeria fabricators. The taskforce commenced work in 2013.

The conventional pepper grinding machines that are being sold in the country today do not conform to NIS nor ISO standards, and they contaminate the food that is being processed with them. The machines are not properly designed, they are poorly fabricated, they have high cost of maintenance, and are fabricated with unsuitable materials. The report on the investigation of heavy metal contamination carried out by FIIRO researchers reveals that there are infiltration and contamination of heavy metals into the ground/milled food items due to abrasive friction. The analyzed trace metals are higher than the standard limit for fruits and vegetables set by NIS, WHO, and USEPA.

FIIRO as at today has designed, fabricated, and tested an appropriate pepper grinding machine that does not contaminate the ground food. The machine can be cleaned easily and thoroughly, it is portable, it can serve as a commercial grinder in the market place, as well as a food processor in a small/medium scale industry. It is made with stainless steel. It is affordable, and can be mass produced by the local fabricators.

Further works on this project include fabrication of pulley guard and dry milling accessories, characterization of the machine and technology transfer.