The journey from raw materials to powders typically involves subsequent milling stages. Solids are crushed, shredded, and milled into smaller materials. Advanced powder milling equipment pulverizes granules into powders of varying grades, from coarse to ultrafine. Powder fineness determines the surface area ratio of particles. Increasing this ratio accentuates the properties of the material required in products such as high-potency APIs. But extreme fineness is not always desirable. For example, sawdust particles that go into wood pellets must retain a level of coarseness to prevent smoke when lit up.