Bühler’s global application center network is up and running. During the last 12 months, Bühler has become particularly adept at performing trials with customers, either virtually or within a carefully managed “bubble.”

“Twelve months ago, we asked ourselves if we can do factory acceptance tests and remote commissioning of lines, then why are we not doing virtual pilot plant trials together?” said Ian Roberts, chief technology officer at Bühler Group. “In a time of prolific use of digital technologies, there is no reason that our availability should be a bottleneck in the speed of innovation of our customers.”

In fact, by utilizing trial data capture, the Bühler Insights platform, remote visualization and video streaming, and on-site analytical labs, the company teams work together with customers to plan, run and adjust trials in real-time. Products are then sent for evaluation at customer sites. Although it is more fun to work side by side, the virtual trials are so efficient that Bühler will maintain this option even when travel is easier again. For physical trials, when national rules and travel allow, Bühler has excellent practices in place, from rapid testing to distancing, masks, disinfection and safe behavior, to create the safest possible work situation.

While Bühler’s application labs in China are running at full throttle with close to 100 trials run with customers in March, it is noteworthy that all Bühler application and training centers across Europe and the U.S. have run three to five customer trials per week during the same period, many of them remotely.

Bühler has a global network of application and training centers in 24 locations. “This enables us to be close to our customers and their markets but also to provide possibilities for virtual collaboration in the same language and frequently the same time zone,” said Sandra Lutz, global coordinator of Bühler’s application center network. “We invite our customers and partners to get in touch with us.”

Bühler invites customers, partners and start-ups to use Bühler’s global network of application centers as a joint playground to inspire and innovate. They can be used to validate and improve processes, get training on the latest technologies and co-create new products together with Bühler.