Committed To Quality, Committed To You
Pasta and noodle quality starts long before the dough reaches the extruder. One of the important raw-material factors is semolina particle-size consistency.
For pasta and noodle manufacturers, semolina isn’t simply a processed ingredient. The particle-size distribution of semolina affects the ability of the material to hydrate, mix and form dough. If the semolina contains an uncontrolled mix of fine particles, coarse particles, or oversized material, processing can become less predictable — making it harder to maintain consistent finished-product quality.
This is why, the sieving of semolina is of crucial importance in the control of the raw material before it goes to the next stage of production.
Semolina particles can act differently in terms of hydration and dough formation, depending on their size. The controlled particle-size distribution provides for the consistency of the raw material, while random particle-size distribution is likely to affect hydration and processing of the raw material.
For pasta and noodle producers, their goal is not only making semolina but also ensuring that the semolina has a particle-size distribution that allows for predictable and successful processing. That makes screening an important quality-control stage, not just a method for removing unwanted material.
After the handling processes, the particles in the semolina may be too big or contain unwanted matter. Left in the product stream, they affect the consistency of the material entering subsequent processing stages.
Another challenge is to ensure screening consistency at production scale. Fine semolina particles can attach to the screening mesh and diminish the area of screening — and as screening efficiency decreases, the ability to achieve the desired gradation becomes more difficult. It would be especially undesirable to stop the process or have to clean up frequently for a continuous production line and the screening system must maintain effective separation throughout the process.
This is where the design and configuration of the screening equipment become important.
The working principle of a vibro separator is based on vibrations used for moving semolina along the screen mesh. Depending on the configuration, material is separated according to the selected mesh opening, allowing the required fraction to be separated from oversized particles and unwanted material.
Galaxy Sivtek’s semolina screening application uses the Sivtek Vibro Separator® for Rava/Sooji powder screening, designed for gradation and separation of oversized impurities. A customized de-blinding arrangement — a tray-and-silicone-ball system — helps keep the screening mesh active during operation. That matters because consistent screening isn’t only about selecting the correct mesh; the screening surface also needs to stay effective throughout production, not just at the start of a run.
Yes. Semolina screening can also be integrated directly into the production line as a check-screening stage before packing.
Galaxy Sivtek’s semolina check-screening application demonstrates the Inline SIVTEK® Dual Motor used for exactly this — continuous check screening as part of the existing process flow rather than a separate batch operation. This matters where manufacturers need to maintain production throughput while still ensuring unwanted oversized material is removed before the semolina reaches packaging.
The key distinction is between gradation screening and final check screening. Gradation controls particle-size distribution; check screening acts as a final quality checkpoint before packing.
A documented Rava powder application illustrates why screening configuration needs to match the actual production requirement. Additional manpower requirements and inefficiency in production were being caused due to manual separation. After carrying out assessments on the application, Galaxy Sivtek proposed the use of GS 40 double deck screening machine with #20 and #50 mesh.
With the two decks, two steps of separation were obtained in a single machine, and the required fractions and production were obtained simultaneously.
The application illustrates one of the key facts for the manufacturers of semolina: The selection of screening equipment is not limited to the size of the largest machine available. Mesh configuration, number of decks, required separation, material characteristics, and production capacity all need to work together.
When evaluating a screening system for semolina, manufacturers should consider more than nominal machine capacity:
When choosing screening machines, these factors contribute to understanding if the machine is a good fit for the process instead of relying on catalogue specifications.
Semolina sieving doesn’t, by itself, determine pasta or noodle texture. What it does is help manufacturers control an important raw-material variable that influences downstream processing. A more consistent semolina particle distribution supports more predictable hydration and dough development, and effective screening removes unwanted oversized material before it enters subsequent production stages.
For pasta and noodle manufacturers, that means quality control begins with the raw material. Whether the requirement is semolina grading, removal of oversized particles, continuous check screening, or multiple particle-size separations, the screening system should be selected around the actual production objective.
Galaxy Sivtek provides semolina screening solutions including the Sivtek Vibro Separator® and Inline SIVTEK® Dual Motor, with application-specific configurations developed around material characteristics, mesh requirements, and production capacity.
Consistent semolina starts with consistent screening — and better control at the screening stage gives pasta and noodle manufacturers greater control over the process that follows.
