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Ginger and turmeric processing
Dry ginger, ginger powder, paste, oleoresin feedstock, polished turmeric, turmeric powder
Ginger and turmeric processing line by GEM Foodtech, Kolkata, India — capacity 500 kg to 8 tonnes of fresh rhizome per hour, final yield 18% of raw intake, delivered as a turnkey plant with installation and commissioning worldwide.
The commercial reality
Both crops are sold on appearance and on volatile content, and both are traditionally processed in ways that destroy one to achieve the other. Controlled drying holds curcumin and gingerol where sun drying and open boiling do not, and the premium for a certified, low-microbial-count product is substantial in EU and US markets.
Process flow diagram
Generated for the standard configuration. Yours is redrawn to your product mix, capacity and site.
Process chart
Every stage with the equipment that performs it, the operating parameter and the control point that decides quality.
| # | Stage | Equipment | Parameter | Control point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Washing | Fruit and vegetable washer | Rotary drum washer with brushes | Soil removed without skin damage |
| 02 | Boiling or steaming, turmeric | Steam cooker and conditioner | Steam cook 45–60 min for turmeric | Gelatinisation and colour development |
| 03 | Peeling, ginger | Peeler, abrasive or steam | Abrasive peeling, light | Skin removed, oil cells intact |
| 04 | Slicing | Slicer, dicer and shredder | 3–5 mm slices for drying | Uniform thickness |
| 05 | Drying | Belt dryer and dehydration system | Belt dryer, 55–65 °C to 8–10% moisture | Volatile oil and curcumin retained |
| 06 | Polishing, turmeric | Polisher and whitener | Abrasive polisher | Surface finish and colour |
| 07 | Grinding | Grinder and pulveriser | Cooled pin mill | Product below 45 °C to hold volatiles |
| 08 | Sieving and packing | Vibro sifter and grader | 60–100 mesh, metal detection | Mesh and moisture to specification |
Mass balance
Basis of 1,000 kg of raw material. Change the tonnage below and the whole table rescales.
| Stage | Output, kg/h | Yield | Loss, kg/h | Where the loss goes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh rhizome received | 1,000 | 100% | 0 | — |
| After washing | 970 | 97% | 30 | Soil and trash |
| After peeling or boiling | 880 | 88% | 90 | Skin to compost or oil extraction |
| Dried at 10% moisture | 190 | 19% | 690 | Water evaporated |
| Graded powder | 180 | 18% | 10 | Milling losses |
By-products: Peel and trim carry residual oil; can be dried and sold to oleoresin extractors instead of discarded.
Equipment schedule
Core machines for this line. Conveying, tanks, CIP and utilities are added to suit the layout.
| Equipment | Capacity range | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit and vegetable washer | Preparation | Removes field soil, latex and surface load with recirculated, filtered water. |
| Steam cooker and conditioner | Thermal | Steam conditioning ahead of shelling, flaking or drying. |
| Peeler, abrasive or steam | Preparation | Abrasive carborundum drum or batch steam peeler with flash vessel. |
| Slicer, dicer and shredder | Preparation | Uniform slices, dices, strips or kibble — cut geometry sets drying time. |
| Belt dryer and dehydration system | Drying | Multi-zone drying with controlled curve — the GEM core competence. |
| Polisher and whitener | Finishing | Surface finishing on rice, turmeric and similar dried commodities. |
| Grinder and pulveriser | Size reduction | Hammer, pin or cryogenic milling to a controlled mesh. |
| Vibro sifter and grader | Separation | Mesh separation into grades; oversize returns to the mill. |
Questions we get on this line
Why does drying temperature matter so much?
Gingerol and curcumin degrade with heat and time. A controlled curve at 55–65 °C keeps both, which is a direct price difference per tonne in the export market.
Can we make oleoresin here?
Extraction is a separate solvent plant. This line produces the dried, milled feedstock that extractors buy, at a specification they will pay for.
What capacity range does the ginger and turmeric line cover?
Standard GEM Foodtech builds cover 500 kg to 8 tonnes of fresh rhizome per hour. Larger duties are engineered to order — the right size is set by the raw material supply through the season, not the nameplate figure.
Is this supplied as a complete turnkey plant?
Yes. The Ginger and turmeric processing line is delivered end to end — feasibility, pilot trial on your own material, engineering, manufacture in Kolkata, installation, commissioning and operator training — or as individual machines to fit an existing plant.
Want this line costed for your tonnage?
Send the raw material specification and the capacity you are targeting. You get a flow diagram, an equipment schedule and a budget number.