Knife mills or knife cutters are industrial equipment used for grinding and homogenizing foods and feeds. These are majorly used across various sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, materials science, and food processing. The machine is designed to reduce the size of medium to soft solid materials by shearing and cutting them into more manageable pieces.
Applications of Knife Mills
- Food Processing: Knife mills are used for grinding and chopping food items, including spices, herbs, grains, and vegetables.
- Pharmaceuticals: They are utilized in pharmaceutical manufacturing to minimize the size of active components and excipients for drug formulation.
- Materials Science: In materials research, knife mills are employed to reduce the size of a variety of materials, such as metals, ceramics, and polymers, to prepare samples for analysis.
- Agriculture: Knife mills can be used for chopping straw and other plant materials for animal feed or composting in the agriculture field.
Key Takeaways
The global knife mills market was valued at USD 754.07 million in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 1,259.05 million with a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period.
The expanding use of these knives in numerous contexts, including the manufacture of furniture and kitchenware, is propelling the knife mills market growth.
Manufacturers’ rising attention to and implementation of innovations in knife mill designs with advanced features, such as detachable bowls and adjustable blades to boost versatility and user-friendliness, is further fostering the industry expansion.
Rising innovations like enhanced blade design, improved material handling systems, energy efficiency, and customization options are gaining significant traction and driving the knife mills market growth.
The increasing use of cutting-edge technology in knife mills, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and machine learning, offers profitable potential for improved productivity and efficiency, which is likely to boost market growth.
Which Application Segment Holds the Largest Knife Mills Market Share?
Plastic segment is predicted to witness a healthy CAGR over the foreseen period owing to the widely used knife mills to process plastic materials, breaking them down into powder or tiny particles for use in a variety of industrial applications. Further, rising concern regarding plastic waste and environmental sustainability, which has led to increased requirements for effective waste management solutions, is fueling the demand for efficient knife mills in plastic recycling and shredding plastic materials.
Why Did the Asia Pacific Region Dominate the Market in 2022?
By geography, Asia Pacific witnessed a considerable share in 2022 owing to the use of these machines for various applications, such as material processing, size reduction, and sample preparation in industries like chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and construction materials, which has increased in recent years, particularly in countries like China, India, and Southeast Asian nations. In addition, the region’s demand for the product as essential machinery for manufacturing and scientific advancements is growing as government authorities increasingly implement beneficial policies, incentives, and investment-leading infrastructure development plans, smart city projects, and R&D activities.
Recent Developments
In June 2021, Peak Spec announced the launch of its new multi-purpose pocket knife, which has a unique design made up of high-quality metal. The newly developed knife has a smooth finish and quality construction, which allows it to perform hard-core cutting tasks.
Conclusion
With rising technological developments, the knife mills market is anticipated to grow, offering innovative solutions to meet the different needs of modern manufacturing and research. From food processing to pharmaceuticals and materials science, these machines play a pivotal role in reducing the size of ingredients.