Oriental Food Industries
Oriental Food IndustriesPrivate Limited
Industrial tea processing machinery
HomeProductsTea & Leaf Processing

Product Range

Tea & Leaf Processing Machines

Complete tea processing lines for CTC, orthodox, green, and specialty teas — from withering through rolling, fermentation, drying, and grading. Engineered for large-scale continuous production.

WitheringCTC RollingOrthodox RollingFermentationTea DryersGrading
6
Processing Stages
200 kg – 5,000 kg/hr
Green Leaf Capacity
CTC & Orthodox
Tea Types Supported
Turnkey
Supply Scope Available

Complete Line Solutions

From Green Leaf to Finished Grade

Tea processing is a multi-stage operation where each step directly affects the quality, flavour, and grade of the finished product. Oriental Food Industries designs and manufactures machinery for every stage of the process — from the withering trough to the final grading line.

We supply individual machines for capacity upgrades and replacements, as well as complete turnkey tea processing plants — designed, fabricated, installed, and commissioned by our own engineering team.

CTC and orthodox processing lines — both in-house
Green tea and specialty tea processing capability
PLC-automated lines with full SCADA integration
Capacities from 200 kg/hr to 5,000 kg/hr green leaf
Turnkey supply: design, fabrication, installation, commissioning
Spare parts and after-sales support from Coimbatore
Tea processing machinery

Stage by Stage

Processing Line Equipment

Six processing stages — each with detailed technical specifications, key features, and available configurations.

1Withering2CTC3Orthodox4Fermentation5Tea6Tea
1

Withering Systems

Controlled moisture reduction from green leaf to pliable withered leaf

Withering Systems

Withering is the first and most critical step in tea processing — reducing the moisture content of freshly plucked green leaf from ~75–80% down to 55–70%, making the leaf pliable for rolling. Our withering troughs deliver uniform airflow across the full leaf bed depth, with independent zone control for consistent results across large batches.

Key Features

  • Uniform airflow distribution across full trough length
  • VFD-controlled fans for energy-efficient operation
  • Reversible airflow for even wither top-to-bottom
  • Independent zone temperature and airflow control
  • Integrated moisture monitoring sensors
  • Easy-clean mesh floor with hinged access panels

Available Configurations

Ambient withering troughHeated air withering troughTwo-tier withering system (space-saving)Continuous withering conveyor

Technical Specifications

Trough Length
20 m – 60 m (standard); custom lengths available
Trough Width
1.5 m – 2.4 m
Leaf Loading
0.8 – 1.2 kg/m² green leaf
Airflow
Centrifugal fans with VFD; reversible airflow option
Wither Duration
12 – 18 hours (ambient); 6 – 10 hours (assisted)
Moisture Reduction
75–80% → 55–70% moisture content
Temperature Control
Optional air heating to 35°C for accelerated withering
Material
SS304 mesh floor; galvanised or SS side panels
2

CTC Rolling Lines

Cut-Tear-Curl processing for high-volume black tea production

CTC Rolling Lines

CTC (Cut-Tear-Curl) processing is the dominant method for producing black tea for the mass market — delivering a uniform, granular tea that brews quickly and produces a strong, bright liquor. Our CTC lines integrate rotorvane pre-conditioning, multi-stage CTC rollers, and continuous fermentation conveyors into a single automated production line.

Key Features

  • Precision-machined hardened SS roller teeth for consistent particle size
  • Individual VFD drives per roller pair for speed optimisation
  • Integrated rotorvane for leaf conditioning before CTC
  • Continuous fermentation conveyor with humidity control
  • Automatic roller gap adjustment
  • PLC-controlled line speed and roller speed ratios

Available Configurations

2-stage CTC line3-stage CTC line4-stage CTC line (fine grade)CTC line with integrated rotorvane and fermentation conveyor

Technical Specifications

Capacity
500 kg/hr – 5,000 kg/hr (green leaf input)
CTC Stages
2 – 4 roller pairs (configurable)
Roller Speed
400 – 800 RPM (fast roller); ratio 8:1 to 12:1
Roller Diameter
200 mm – 400 mm
Roller Material
Hardened SS with precision-cut teeth
Rotorvane
Integrated pre-conditioning rotorvane upstream of CTC
Drive
Individual VFD-controlled motors per roller pair
Material
SS304 / SS316 product-contact surfaces
3

Orthodox Rolling Tables

Traditional rolling for whole-leaf and specialty tea production

Orthodox Rolling Tables

Orthodox rolling produces whole-leaf and broken-leaf teas with complex flavour profiles — the preferred method for premium, specialty, and export-grade teas. Our orthodox rolling tables replicate the traditional hand-rolling action through a circular pressure plate and table motion, gently twisting and breaking the leaf cells to initiate fermentation.

Key Features

  • Adjustable pressure cap for controlled cell rupture
  • Variable table speed and stroke for different leaf grades
  • Integrated roll-breaker (batterie) for leaf separation after rolling
  • Robust cast iron base for vibration-free operation
  • Easy-clean SS table surface
  • Available in single or multi-table configurations

Available Configurations

36-inch orthodox roller (small estate)42-inch orthodox roller (medium capacity)48-inch orthodox roller (high capacity)Multi-table orthodox rolling room

Technical Specifications

Table Diameter
36 inch (900 mm), 42 inch (1,050 mm), 48 inch (1,200 mm)
Capacity
50 – 250 kg per roll (batch)
Roll Duration
20 – 45 minutes per cycle
Pressure Plate
Hydraulic or mechanical pressure cap; adjustable pressure
Table Motion
Eccentric drive; adjustable stroke and speed
Drive
Geared motor with VFD; 15 – 30 RPM table speed
Batterie
Integrated roll-breaker (batterie) for leaf separation
Material
SS304 table and pressure plate; cast iron base
4

Fermentation & Oxidation Systems

Controlled oxidation for consistent colour, aroma, and flavour development

Fermentation & Oxidation Systems

Fermentation (oxidation) is the step that transforms rolled green leaf into black tea — developing the characteristic colour, aroma, and flavour compounds. Our fermentation systems provide precise control over temperature, humidity, and airflow to ensure consistent, repeatable results across every batch.

Key Features

  • Precise temperature and humidity control (±0.5°C / ±2% RH)
  • Continuous conveyor or batch tray options
  • Multi-zone control for staged oxidation profiles
  • Integrated colour monitoring for endpoint detection
  • PLC data logging for batch traceability
  • Hygienic insulated enclosure with easy-clean surfaces

Available Configurations

Continuous fermentation conveyorBatch tray fermentation roomClimate-controlled fermentation chamberIntegrated CTC line fermentation conveyor

Technical Specifications

Fermentation Type
Continuous conveyor or batch tray fermentation
Temperature Control
20°C – 28°C (±0.5°C)
Relative Humidity
90 – 98% RH (controlled)
Airflow
Forced air circulation; adjustable volume per zone
Leaf Depth
50 – 100 mm on conveyor / tray
Duration
45 – 120 minutes (product and grade dependent)
Monitoring
Temperature, humidity, and colour sensors with PLC logging
Material
SS304 conveyor and trays; insulated enclosure
5

Tea Dryers (FBD & Endless Chain)

Final drying to arrest oxidation and achieve target moisture content

Tea Dryers (FBD & Endless Chain)

The final drying step arrests oxidation and reduces the tea to its storage-stable moisture content of 2–3%. We supply both fluidised bed dryers (FBD) — preferred for CTC teas — and endless chain pressure (ECP) dryers for orthodox leaf. Both systems deliver precise outlet moisture control with energy-efficient operation.

Key Features

  • PLC-controlled inlet temperature and belt/bed speed
  • Uniform moisture distribution across full product width
  • Energy-efficient insulated dryer body
  • Integrated outlet moisture sensor for real-time control
  • VFD-controlled fans and drive motors
  • Easy-access inspection doors and cleanout ports

Available Configurations

FBD for CTC teaEndless Chain Pressure (ECP) dryer for orthodox teaTwo-stage drying (pre-dryer + main dryer)Biomass-fired tea dryer

Technical Specifications

Dryer Types
Fluidised Bed Dryer (FBD) and Endless Chain Pressure (ECP)
Capacity (FBD)
200 kg/hr – 3,000 kg/hr made tea
Capacity (ECP)
100 kg/hr – 1,500 kg/hr made tea
Inlet Temperature
120°C – 160°C
Outlet Moisture
2 – 3% (target)
Drying Time
18 – 25 minutes (FBD); 20 – 30 minutes (ECP)
Heat Source
Diesel, LPG, biomass, or electric
Material
SS304 product-contact surfaces; insulated body
6

Tea Grading & Sorting

Sifting, sorting, and grading to international tea grade specifications

Tea Grading & Sorting

After drying, tea must be graded into standard international grades — from whole leaf (OP, FOP, GFOP) to broken grades (BOP, FBOP) and fanning/dust grades (PF, PD, D). Our grading lines combine vibrating sifters, winnowers, and colour sorters to produce clean, consistent grades at high throughput.

Key Features

  • Multi-deck vibrating sifter for simultaneous multi-grade separation
  • Integrated winnower for fibre, stalk, and light material removal
  • Optional CCD colour sorter for defect and off-colour removal
  • Dust extraction system for clean working environment
  • Quick-change screen panels for grade changeover
  • PLC-controlled line with production data logging

Available Configurations

CTC grading line (BOP, BOPF, PF, PD, D)Orthodox grading line (OP, FOP, BOP, FBOP)Green tea grading lineCombined CTC + orthodox grading line

Technical Specifications

Capacity
200 kg/hr – 4,000 kg/hr made tea
Sifter Type
Vibrating flat-bed sifter with multiple deck screens
Screen Sizes
Customised to target grade specifications
Winnower
Integrated fibre and stalk removal
Colour Sorter
Optional CCD/NIR colour sorter for defect removal
Grades Produced
Up to 8 simultaneous grades from single line
Drive
VFD-controlled vibration motors
Material
SS304 product-contact surfaces; MS frame

Processing Flows

Tea Types & Processing Routes

Tea Type

Processing Route

CTC Black Tea
Wither → Rotorvane → CTC Rolling → Fermentation → FBD Drying → Grading
Orthodox Black Tea
Wither → Orthodox Rolling → Fermentation → ECP Drying → Grading
Green Tea
Steaming / Pan-firing → Rolling → Drying → Grading
White Tea
Withering (extended) → Drying
Oolong Tea
Wither → Partial Fermentation → Rolling → Drying
Specialty / Flavoured
Base tea processing → Blending → Flavouring → Grading

Across All Equipment

Engineering Standards

Material
SS304 / SS316 on all product-contact surfaces; MS structural with appropriate surface treatment
Automation
Siemens / Allen-Bradley PLC with HMI touchscreen; SCADA-ready outputs for full line monitoring
Drive Systems
Variable frequency drives (VFD) on all major motors for energy efficiency and speed control
Fabrication
In-house CNC fabrication, TIG/MIG welding, and surface finishing at our Coimbatore plant
Testing
Full factory acceptance testing (FAT) with water and product trials before dispatch
Compliance
CE-compliant design; ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing; food-grade hygienic design standards

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Discuss Your Tea Processing Requirements

Tell us your tea type, green leaf input capacity, and target grades — our engineers will design the right processing line for your factory.

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