Tea, a booming industry for over 145 years

H.G.M. de Fonseka

Tea is one of the major industries which has been operating for over 145 years in Sri Lanka. For more than 100 years it was confined to producing small grades such as BOP, BOPF, Dust and Dust 1, owing to the demand in European countries. This pattern began to change with the demand in Middle East countries.

It is highly concentrated on the appearance of the tea. Therefore there is a high demand for flowery grades, wiry grades and leafy grades, which could gain higher offers than the small grades. Unfortunately the tea industry is unable to fulfill this increasing demand for the Middle East countries, because of the weakness in manufacturing. Therefore the Tea Industry has come across many obstacles such as

* Disability of finishing grading tea daily.
* Integrating tea stock inside the factory.
* Disability of supplying tea which has high prize and high demand.
* Having large amounts of refused tea while producing, grading and firing exceeding the general average.
* High production cost.

Product services

With the modern technology, the mission of the project is to generate a vast revolution in the tea industry via modern technology.

This project with the introduction of new technology could fulfill the increasing current demand of the Middle East countries.

At present, there are more than 350 tea factories in the low country. Almost all these factories are unable in filfilling the current requirements. It is mainly owing to the obsolete in technology.

The Mesh which has been invented by H.G.M. Fonseka in 1983 is a very indispensable method of the Tea Industry. The Mesh consists of rectangular interstices instead of square interstices. Three machines are being designed using this concept which can gain a marvellous output.

A machine for the rolling room which emphasis the manufacturing side widely. It has the capability of staffing the skin of manufactured tea which cannot be done by present machines. Furthermore it can increase the quantity of producing OP1, BOP1, FBOP1, and FBOP than the present big bulk.

The second machine is for the sifting room which is mainly for wiry grades. General a rate of producing wiry grade of 50 kgs per hour. The new machine can increase it by five folds times.

The third machine the shifter machine could only produce wiry and leafy grades in a high percentage.

Certainly, there are wonderful advantages of these machines. They pave the way for reducing the manufacturing time, reducing the refuse tea percentage, increasing the quality of the appearance of the tea and minimizing the re-firing process.

The above methods had been used by H.G.M. Fonseka but for a certain extent as there was no better enrollment for promoting it. Even the above methods were confined only to the rolling room the results were absolutely unique.

It was firstly applied to the Pelawatte Estate in 1987. It gave a wonderful result in the same year and became a number two and later a number one in the Kalutara district.

Next it was applied to the Opatha Estate in 1992 and it became a number one, obtaining the highest NSA.

During the period 1993–1997 it generated a marvellous result in low country estates, like Namunukula Plantation Limited.

Not only could it make a wonderful mark in 2002 regarding Katandola Estate. Finally it was uplifted to Noloin in the Galle district within three months. In addition to these three machines drier trays are a very important factor. The drier trays should be in various sizes for added profits.

Tea becomes brownish colour, as a result of the shortcomings and can be prevented by making the drier trays according to the relevant sizes.

Boiler method are very effective and it makes less cost than the Heater method which is mostly used now. Not only that it is an excellent solution for the future firewood shortage too.

However, prevailing boiler system cannot be gained, as its capacity is larger than the required size. Therefore it makes unnecessary cost. It is true; it can prevent these shortcomings by importing only compulsory parts from India and assembling them using other parts in a correct manner. It is more advanced indeed.

The core objective of this project is to make a tremendous revolution in the tea industry by introducing the modern technology.

It is true that the tea industry has come across a number of obstacles while fulfilling the current demand of Middle East countries. On the other hand it can be a successful profit using resource. So what is pulling the Tea Industry back, is the obsolete where technology is concerned.

The main machines, boiler system with new less cost methods and newly adjusted drier trays have been introduced to the Tea Industry in this project. It creates more benefits to the Industry. All these methods generate best production with less cost. The efficiency and success of the new methods may generate more and more demand for the machines continuously. Therefore this can be recognized as an ideal investment too.

In fact, this project could grant many fruitful outcomes in numerous ways.