Maize either dry or after dampening, is fed into the degerminator from the top inlet. Then it is transferred to the processing part, which consists of a vertical degerming roll rotating inside a perforated screen housing. The maize is broken by intensive pushing and rubbing action between the roll and screen, and the germ and endosperm are collected in two streams at the outlet chamber.

The unit is connected to the central aspiration system where light particles are also collected, while by-products (germ, bran, etc.) are transferred to the related sifting passage for classification.