A Brief History of the Hammermill

At West Salem Machinery, our rugged hammermill machinery offers superior fine grind processing performance and lower maintenance costs. Whether you need to grind wood fiber, bark, or feed products, our high-volume hammermill machinery delivers the exceptional performance needed to meet your processing goals.

The hammermill has long been used in various areas of the agriculture and food industries, especially in flour and feed factories. A rotating rotor aids the ability of the mill to crush and grind granular products. Once the raw materials have been crushed, they pass through screens that separate the materials by size. So while the working principle of the hammer mill may seem relatively simple, the mill’s efficiency depends on variables that include filter quality, rotation speed, screen, and beaters.

We have developed our West Salem hammermills using innovative designs that provide the optimal combination of power and efficiency. While our mills utilize the latest technology, let’s take a moment to look at the long and storied history of such an important invention.

This History of the Hammermill

The history of the hammermill dates back over 1,500 years to the 5^th century. Unlike the hammermills used today, these machines were most often used to create weapons or for mining. In 488 AD, the Chinese inventor and engineer Zu Chongzhi invented a water-powered hammermill. The increased power generated by powerful river currents enabled mills to begin crushing raw materials.

Archeologists have found evidence of water-powered mills used throughout the Middle Ages in European countries such as England, Germany, and Austria. In Germany, an inventor named Georgius Agricola developed a more advanced type of water-powered hammermill that became a regular part of mining operations for hundreds of years.

Unfortunately, no one knows when exactly in history the modern hammermill was first developed, but historians point to the early 1800s as the most likely date. Following the Industrial Revolution, the invention of the steam-powered hammermill increased production and opened new manufacturing methods. By the 20^th century, various new industries began incorporating hammermills into their production processes.

Since the 90s, hammermills have been an affordable option for manufacturers in many industries. Today, hammermills offer improved energy savings and efficiency while increasing productivity and making work environments safer.

West Salem Hammermills Offer the Performance Your Business Needs

If you’re considering buying a hammermill, you must decide what features and functionality your business requires. Our rugged Hammermill equipment comes in various styles, sizes, and capacities to meet any challenge. Large diameter hammer circle and throat widths range from 20” to 60”, enable processing capacities to range from 1 to 100 tons per hour. Custom control features are also available, including motor starters/controls, auto-reversing, and load sensing feed control.

Whatever your industry, West Salem offers the right type of dependable and affordable hammermill for your business. Contact our team to learn more about what features we can offer and how our hammermills can improve your efficiency and production.