Processing machine for the food industry

Overview
The 1–50+ tons/day cassava starch production line is a turnkey industrial solution to convert fresh cassava roots into commercial-grade starch. The line integrates washing, crushing, two-stage grinding, slurry separation, protein removal, desanding, vacuum dewatering and airflow drying to deliver consistent starch quality and improved yield. Indicative starting price: 80,000 USD.

Production process (10–50 ton per day example)

• 1. Selecting raw materials: Use appropriately matured cassava; very young roots (<10 months) have lower starch, very old roots (>24 months) are fibrous.
• 2. Washing and conveying: Remove dirt, sand and peel; uniform feeding and correct water pressure ensure effective cleaning and steady material flow.
• 3. Crushing: Break roots into ~1 cm pieces to improve grinding efficiency and starch release.
• 4. Grinding: Two-stage grinding process
  • First grind: releases coarse starch while preserving granule integrity.
  • Second grind: regrinds residues with water to increase overall starch yield by ~3–5%.
• 5. Slurry and residue separation: Pressure rotary sieves separate starch from fibers; residues can be dried for animal feed or used wet.
• 6. Desanding: Centrifugal desanders (two cycles) remove sand and heavy particles to improve purity.
• 7. Rotary filtering: Removes fine debris before disc separators to protect downstream equipment.
• 8. Disc separation (protein removal): Disc separators remove up to ~80% protein in the first stage and reduce protein to <0.5% after the second stage, improving whiteness and quality.
• 9. Cyclone washing and refining: Countercurrent cyclone washing eliminates residual proteins and minerals for a purer starch product.
• 10. Dewatering: Vacuum drum filters remove excess water producing wet starch with ~39% moisture—optimal for drying.
• 11. Drying: Airflow collision dryers with two-stage pressure and air-recycle reduce energy consumption (typical air-recycle savings ~20–40%) while maintaining starch consistency.

Features

• Fully automated controls for continuous operation and reduced manual labor.
• High starch recovery via advanced crushing and two-stage grinding.
• Low water and energy use through efficient washing, recirculation and air-recycle drying.
• Stainless steel construction for hygiene and ease of maintenance.
• Modular and configurable capacities for small, medium and large industrial setups.

Applications and adaptability
Suitable for food processing, pharmaceutical ingredients, paper and textile industries. The line can be adapted to process cassava, potato, sweet potato and tapioca sources.

FAQ (selected)
What is the output capacity? From 1 ton/day for small lines up to 50+ tons/day for industrial configurations.
How much does a production line cost? Automatic lines start from about 80,000 USD depending on equipment and configuration.
Is the system fully automated? Yes; control systems support full automation to lower labor requirements and enhance consistency.
How much space is required? Small lines: ~100–200 m²; large industrial lines: ~500–1000 m².

Technical specifications

• Capacity range: 1–50+ tons/day (configurable).
• Indicative starting price: 80,000 USD.
• Wet starch moisture after dewatering: ~39%.
• Protein removal: ~80% removed in first disc stage; final protein <0.5% after second stage.
• Yield improvement: second grinding increases starch yield by ~3–5%.
• Desanding: centrifugal desanders with two cycles.
• Dewatering method: vacuum drum filters.
• Drying technology: airflow collision dryers with two-stage pressure and air recycling (energy savings ~20–40%).
• Construction: stainless steel components for hygienic production and maintenance.
• Adaptability: configurable to cassava, potato, sweet potato and tapioca starch production.
• Estimated installation area: small lines ~100–200 m²; large lines ~500–1000 m².