Name: Chocolate Ball Mill Refiner (Lab & Industrial Models)
Brand: AkayGAM
SKU: BALL-MILL-REFINER-SERIES
Price: 6000.00 EUR
Availability: PreOrder

AkayGAM ball mill refiners are batch-type grinding machines designed for chocolate, nut spreads, creams, and tahini recipes containing at least 30% fat. Depending on refining time and recipe, the final particle size can reach as low as 18 microns for a smooth, premium texture.

Ball Mill Refiners for Lab, Artisan & Industrial Production

From product development labs to small workshops and medium-sized confectionery manufacturers, our range covers 15-1000 kg batch capacities with reliable temperature control and consistent refining performance.

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LabBM10 ball mill - technical features

Designed for laboratory refining and R&D batches.
Completely made of AISI 304 stainless steel.
Mixing arms are made of special heat-treated steel.
Water-jacketed tank with heating element.
PID-controlled heating system.
Top lid with safety switch.
Adjustable grinding time.
Cold-start protection.
Automatic cold-water inlet valve activation in case of overheating.
40 kg steel balls.
Loading capacity: 15 kg.
Total power consumption: 220 V, single-phase, 2.3 kW.
External cold water supply is required.

LabBM10 technical drawing

RBM20 ball mill - technical features

Built-in water cooling and a circulation pump make it a great choice for laboratory applications.
Completely made of AISI 304 stainless steel.
Mixing arms are made of special heat-treated steel.
Water-jacketed tank with a 1 kW heating element.
PID-controlled heating system.
Built-in water cooling.
Top lid with gas springs and safety switch.
Adjustable grinding time.
Cold-start protection.
Equipped with a magnetic filter.
Dry-heated rotatable arm for closed-loop circulation or transfer.
60 kg steel balls.
Loading capacity: 30 kg.
Total power consumption: 220 V, single-phase, 3 kW.
Recommended ambient operating temperature: 20–25 °C.

RBM20 technical drawing

RBM40 ball mill - technical features

Best solution for pastry shops with single-phase power supply.
Completely made of AISI 304 stainless steel.
Mixing arms are made of special heat-treated steel.
Water-jacketed tank with a 1 kW heating element.
PID-controlled heating system.
Built-in water cooling.
Top lid with gas springs and safety switch.
Adjustable grinding time.
Cold-start protection.
Equipped with a magnetic filter.
Dry-heated rotatable arm for closed-loop circulation or transfer.
Option to add an automatic three-way valve.
80 kg steel balls.
Loading capacity: 60 kg.
Total power consumption: 220 V, single-phase, 4.2 kW.
Recommended ambient operating temperature: 20–25 °C.

RBM40 technical drawing

RBM80 ball mill - technical features

Best solution for pastry shops with three-phase power supply.
Completely made of AISI 304 stainless steel.
Mixing arms are made of special heat-treated steel.
Water-jacketed tank with a 2 kW heating element.
PID-controlled heating system.
Built-in water cooling.
Top lid with gas springs and safety switch.
Adjustable grinding time.
Cold-start protection.
Equipped with a magnetic filter.
Dry-heated rotatable arm for closed-loop circulation or transfer.
Option to add an automatic three-way valve.
160 kg steel balls.
Loading capacity: 100 kg.
Total power consumption: 380 V, three-phase, 7.5 kW.
Recommended ambient operating temperature: 20–25 °C.

RBM80 technical drawing

RBM160 ball mill - technical features

Best solution for small to medium confectionery manufacturers.
Completely made of AISI 304 stainless steel.
Mixing arms are made of special heat-treated steel.
Water-jacketed tank with a 2 kW heating element.
PID-controlled heating system.
Built-in water cooling.
Top lid with gas springs and safety switch.
Adjustable grinding time.
Cold-start protection.
Equipped with a magnetic filter.
Dry-heated rotatable arm for closed-loop circulation or transfer.
Option to add an automatic three-way valve.
240 kg steel balls.
Loading capacity: 180 kg.
Total power consumption: 380 V, three-phase, 9 kW.
Recommended ambient operating temperature: 20–25 °C.

RBM160 technical drawing

RBM300 ball mill - technical features

Best solution for medium sized confectionery manufacturers.
Completely made of AISI 304 stainless steel.
Shaft is made of AISI 420 stainless steel.
Mixing arms are made of special heat-treated steel.
Water-jacketed tank with heating element.
PID-controlled heating and cooling system.
Built-in water cooling.
Adjustable grinding time.
Cold-start protection.
Equipped with a magnetic filter.
Water-heated automatic three-way valve for closed-loop circulation or transfer.
300 kg steel balls.
Loading capacity: 300 kg.
Total power consumption: 380 V, three-phase, 18.5 kW.
Recommended ambient operating temperature: 20–25 °C.

RBM300 technical drawing

RBM500 ball mill - technical features

Completely made of AISI 304 stainless steel.
Shaft is made of AISI 420 stainless steel.
Mixing arms are made of special heat-treated steel.
Water-jacketed tank with heating element.
PID-controlled heating and cooling system.
Adjustable grinding time.
Cold-start protection.
Equipped with a magnetic filter.
Water-heated automatic three-way valve for closed-loop circulation or transfer.
Brazed plate heat exchanger for connecting chiller water.
Optional chiller integration inside the machine frame.
Loading capacity: 500 kg.
Total power consumption: 380 V, three-phase, 22.5 kW.
External cold water supply is required.

RBM500 technical drawing

RBM750 ball mill - technical features

Completely made of AISI 304 stainless steel.
Shaft is made of AISI 420 stainless steel.
Mixing arms are made of special heat-treated steel.
Water-jacketed tank with heating element.
PID-controlled heating and cooling system.
Adjustable grinding time.
Cold-start protection.
Equipped with a magnetic filter.
Water-heated automatic three-way valve for closed-loop circulation or transfer.
Brazed plate heat exchanger for connecting chiller water.
Optional chiller integration inside the machine frame.
Loading capacity: 750 kg.
Total power consumption: 380 V, three-phase, 26 kW.
External cold water supply is required.

RBM750 technical drawing

RBM1000 ball mill - technical features

Completely made of AISI 304 stainless steel.
Shaft is made of AISI 420 stainless steel.
Mixing arms are made of special heat-treated steel.
Water-jacketed tank with heating element.
PID-controlled heating and cooling system.
Adjustable grinding time.
Cold-start protection.
Equipped with a magnetic filter.
Water-heated automatic three-way valve for closed-loop circulation or transfer.
Brazed plate heat exchanger for connecting chiller water.
Optional chiller integration inside the machine frame.
Loading capacity: 1000 kg.
Total power consumption: 380 V, three-phase, 30.5 kW.
External cold water supply is required.

RBM1000 technical drawing

How a Chocolate Ball Mill Refiner Works

A chocolate ball mill refiner reduces particle size by grinding the product between thousands of hardened steel balls inside a rotating refining tank. As the mixing arms move the chocolate mass through the ball charge, solid particles are gradually broken down into a fine and smooth texture suitable for premium chocolate and nut spreads.

Unlike dry milling systems, ball mill refining is designed for fully fluid recipes. For stable operation, the mass should contain enough fat (typically at least 30%) so it can circulate properly and prevent excessive viscosity. During refining, both particle size and the overall mouthfeel improve progressively, allowing producers to reach their target fineness depending on recipe and processing time.

Because grinding generates heat, temperature control is a key part of the process. AkayGAM ball mill refiners use a water-jacketed tank combined with a controlled heating system to maintain a stable refining environment. Depending on the model, cooling is provided by a built-in cooling circuit or by an external cold-water connection. This helps protect flavor quality, avoids overheating, and keeps the chocolate in an ideal working range throughout the batch.

In a typical workflow, ingredients are first mixed in a pre-mixer to dissolve powders and break down lumps before entering the refiner. This improves refining efficiency, shortens processing time, and supports a more consistent final viscosity. Once the batch reaches the desired fineness, the product can either be discharged directly or circulated through a closed-loop system using a pump and a three-way valve for controlled transfer to a holding or storage tank.

Ball mill refining is widely used in chocolate production because it combines compact design with reliable results. It is suitable for applications such as chocolate, praline masses, hazelnut spreads, peanut paste, creams, and tahini, especially when smooth texture and repeatable fineness are essential for product quality.

Auxiliary Equipment

Using cocoa nibs instead of cocoa powder, or refining crushed nuts into smooth pastes, is possible. However, ball mill refiners do not work efficiently with raw materials thicker than 1.5–2 mm. For consistent results, cocoa nibs and nuts should be pre-ground into a thick paste using an impact mill or a beater blade mill.

Because steel ball friction generates heat, models without built-in cooling require an external cold water supply. Tap water or tower water can be used, but we recommend using a chiller for stable temperature control and repeatable refining performance.

Good to Know Before Refining

To get a stable refining process, the chocolate mass should be fluid enough to circulate through the ball charge. Recipes with very low fat content may become too thick and reduce refining efficiency.

If you work with cocoa nibs or roasted nuts, pre-grinding them into a smooth paste can help protect the machine, shorten refining time, and deliver a more uniform final texture.

For consistent production, temperature stability matters. External cooling water can be used, but a chiller is the best option when ambient conditions change during the day.

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Chocolate Ball Mill Refiner (Lab & Industrial Models)