Monster Mills are completely Made in the USA, from materials made in the USA. I know because I own the company. Our bushings are made in the USA. The only Chinese parts on our mill are the small screws that we send to put the hopper together. The bolts to fasten the mill to the base, and hopper to the mill are made in North America. We use 1144 alloy steel for our rollers. The rockwell hardness for this material is 12-13 Rockwell C. The knurling process work hardens the rollers. We don't claim that the standard steel rollers are hardened because they don't under go an additional hardening process. Technically, anyone can claim any type of knurled roller is "Hardened". You don't know what they are doing to harden their rollers, because they don't tell you, right? I have no idea what anyone else is doing to harden their rollers. Our standard steel will last between 12-15K lbs of grain, which for most home brewers is a very long time. I have had some customers get twice this amount of life from their rollers.
Our larger Pro series mills have 2" diameter rollers that come with the same 1144 alloy steel rollers standard. We offer a hardened option on the larger pro mills. These rollers, made of the same type steel, are induction heat treated to Rockwell 51-54 C. We know because every batch is tested on a hardness tester. The heat treated rollers have lasted in excess of 150K lbs of grist in commercial applications. This information has been given to us by our commercial customers that use our mills day in and day out.
The Kegco mills are a Chinese COPY of my mill with some minor changes. They did NOT however even bother to change their copy of my hopper.
We don't use bearings on our standard mill because they add cost, and are not necessary. With proper maintenance, our standard bushings will last the life of our rollers, and longer. The only issue we have seen with bushing wear has been in motor drive applications with a belt that side loads the drive shaft, or when the gap is adjusted improperly, and the adjustable roller is crooked in the bushings. We offer the PD version of our mill that has a large USA made roller bearing to support the drive shaft, and the side loads generated by a belt, and eliminate the possibility of bushing wear.
Can you get replacement parts for your Kegco Mill? Can you get any support if you have a problem? Do you even know where it is made, or by what company? Tons of folks sell them, but no one has any idea who makes them. Maybe you don't care, but you might consider it.
All of the detailed information about our mills is spelled out in vivid detail on our web page, but for some reason no one seems to know. When I hear that my mill is made in China, it kinda makes me mad. When you spend money with us, you are benefiting at least 5 different families, and companies here in the USA that supply us with parts, and machining services. Our hoppers are cut on CNC laser cutters by a company in North Dakota. Our bases are CNC cut by a local cabinet maker here in GA. Our metal parts are all machined here in GA from material manufactured in the US. I won't try to compete with the Chinese on price. I can't beat them on price, and I don't want to try. I understand that our mills are more expensive, and they are because you get a better product with service and support. If you don't care about those things, and don't have the extra bucks, then the Kegco mill and its variants, seem to work for many folks. I think that our mill is a better value for the money, and will last longer than most others that are out there, and they come with the added benefit of keeping our money and jobs in the USA.
I will follow this thread if anyone wants to know anything about our mill that I haven't covered, or supply any info that isn't already on our web site.
Thanks!
~~fred francis
MBH
