Lawrie's Tea Processor

Lawrie’s Tea Processor (LTP):

LTP – the prototype was brought in from the UK in June 1971 and was installed at Panitola Tea Estate in Tinsukia District, Upper Assam, INDIA. I was solely in-charge of running and evaluating the prototype for the first two years of its life. And in making alterations to improve tea manufactured by this machine.
I append a note I prepared a couple of years ago for Tea Research of India, to give them an idea of the machine.
Lawrie’s Tea Processor (LTP):

LTP – the prototype was brought in from the UK in June 1971 and was installed at Panitola Tea Estate in Tinsukia District, Upper Assam.
1. The Machine: it was basically a stone crusher which had been modified a little bit & a balanced sifter installed to feed it.
2.
a. Output was between 2600 to 3200 withered leaf
b. Motor HP was 50, RPM was 2000 to 2400 (?)
c. There were 4 rods running parallel to the shaft
d. These 4 rods carried the knives & beaters in each slot

3. Wither – MC % of 70 to 71 was ideal for the UK market. If the MC % was higher the ‘dhool’ would come out and fall like a paste. If the wither was harder (< 69% MC) the tea would be very flaky and light.
4. Cuts intensity can be altered buy changing the beater & knife arrangements. The cut takes only a few seconds.
5. Fine cut and low temperature of LTP discharge
6. ‘Fermenting’ – The total time for oxidation from time of LTP is less by about 10%. However the time on the floor was higher, as it takes only a few seconds for the withered leaf to be cut in the LTP.
7. Low cost and low maintenance. No down time.
8. Sorting:
a. The fibre is cut very fine and so it is easy to remove all the fibre in the extractors.
b. The Brokens % was lower than the CTCs by as much as 10 to 12%
c. The LTP appearance was blacker than the CTC

9. LTP + 1 cut CTC – to increase the brokens % we did a single ‘shaping-cut’ to leaf that had been cut in the LTP. This gave very good results.

The reasons for the LTP not doing well in the 70s:-
1. There was almost no trough withering & wither is very critical to LTP
2. The grade % were a major reason as Brokens were low and the market was paying much higher prices for brokens.
3. The Orthodox market picked up and extraction could not be done with LTP.
4. Keeping quality was not as good as the Rolled CTC.
5. Infusions were slightly brighter than that of the Rolled CTC.
6. Density of the tea was slightly lower in the larger grades (PF upwards).