PRODUCTION OF POPCORN
Popcorn
is a type of corn which when heated explodes into bigger fluffy masses.
Although
popcorn is not used as food, it has become very important for use as snacks
especially
by children in primary and secondary schools nationwide. Although firm
market
data for it is unavailable, what is seen in the various popcorn locations
nationwide
suggests
that the demand is on the high side and stable too. To enjoy synergy, we
suggest
that
popcorn business be combined with ice cream production.
TECHNICAL
PRODUCTION
The
business under consideration is a small-scale plant dedicated to the commercial
production
of popcorn. Although there are various popping machines in the market:
manually
driven popping machine, semi auto popping machines and continuous popping
machine.
The
machine required (the popcorn machine) for the production of popcorn is a
rugged
continuous
popper. The popper has a popping bowl, which is heated by electricity and
connected
to a relay switch. Working on a single shift of 8 hours, the machine can pop 1
ton
of popcorn on a continuous basis. On three shifts of 8 hours each per day, a
total
output
of 3 tons is assured but actual production in this write – up is based on a
production
of 1 ton per shift of 8 hours for 300 days in a year.
HOW
TO PRODUCE
Vegetable
oil is sprinkled on the popcorn to be popped and the corn is fed via funnel
into
the
popping bowl in the popping machine. Sugar or salt may be added depending on
the
type
of popcorn that will be produced.
Heat
is transferred to the popping bowl through a switch-regulated cylinder. The
popping
is
continuous and stickiness is prevented by a rotary spindle that rotates within
the
popping
bowl in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. This is controlled by a
switch.
The
popped corn is collected in the chamber from where it is packed and sealed
ready for
the
market.
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