INTRODUCTION
The seeds of this grand enterprise which has diversified now into a big group having interests in Agro based industries, Granite Industries and Hotels – hospitality sector was planted by Shri.Devaraja a dedicated soul who belonged to Zamin and a land lord family. He had his own vision and mission to success. Shri Mathialagan has turned his fathers vision into reality. He carried forward this institution to great heights by tireless efforts.

Shri.Mathialagan by his efficient management and dynamism has made this Enterprise, a world class one. Devaraja Agro and Aseptic industries has grown by leaps and bounds as one of the leading exporters of fruit pulp from Tamil Nadu.

From ‘fruit to pulp’ is an interesting process, a visual treat. Let us enter Devaraja Agro Aseptic Industries situated in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu.

Mangoes are generally procured from different villages in and around Krishnagiri. They are also brought from the adjoining states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka also as per the requirement of the pulp unit.

These mangoes are procured from the cultivators with the help of agents and brought in lorry loads, Tractors and other carriage vehicles to the factory.

Before unloading the mangoes in the godown they are measured in the weigh bridge.

Mangoes are then spread on the floor over the hay stalks in such a way ensuring free circulation of air and to prevent decaying due to rubbing.

Fruits thus stored will be inspected by supervisors after three to four days to ensure whether the fruits have started ripening and are ready to be sorted.

SORTING
A Group of 10 to 20 workers segregate ripe and unripe fruits from the lot. Unripe fruits are kept aside in a separate lot to ripen in the near days and the ripened fruits are carried by the workers to be put on the conveyor belt to be taken for production.

CONVEYOR BELT
Nearly 1000 tonnes of mangoes are sorted out in a day and the ripe fruits are fed to the conveyor belts.

A few workers stand on either side of the conveyor belts to ensure that only good ripened fruits move on the conveyor and remove any decayed or un ripened fruits found on the conveyor.

WASHING MACHINE
The ripened fruits moves on the conveyor belt and reaches washing machine.

CHLORINE TANK
It is being thoroughly washed in the water mixed with chlorine to remove the bacterias from the skin.

DIPPING IN THE NORMAL WATER
They are again dipped in the normal water and thoroughly cleaned again and fruits are then sent to the next stage.

CUTTING CONVEYOR
Mangoes thus cleaned with fresh water are then sent to cutting conveyor. On each side of the conveyor belt nearly 30 persons engage in removing the stem attached to the fruits. In addition to this, any damaged fruits if found will also be removed at this stage. These food grade fruits are moved to the next stage called De – stoner through the 40 feet food grade conveyor belt.

DE- STONER
In the De-stoner the outer skin and the hard seed are separated. The pulp from the fruits get collected in a tank.

De-Stoner is the wonder machine which extracts only the pulp leaving aside skin and the hard mango nut.

The pulp thus collected in the tank is sucked through the screw pump and flows through the SS pipes to reach the pulper.

PULPER
This two-in-one pulper has the capacity of 5 tonnes. Filters made up of wood and nylon materials are fitted in this. The process of filtration of the pulp takes place here. Fruit fibers and other dross in the pulp are removed at this stage.

Pure fruit pulp is then collected in a tank called finisher tank. The pulp collected in this tank is ready for process. This pulp is normally called cold pulp.

PRE – HEATER TANK
The cold pulp will be sent to the holding tank before heating.

Cold pulp is being sent through SS Pipe to the equipment called Pre-Heater. Here the pulp is heated making use of steam by providing 60 ‘ to 70 ‘ centigrade of heat.

The heated pulp is then collected in the collection tank.

This pulp is again sent to the De-Canter machine for removing dross which appear in the pulp as black and brown specs.

Dross free, bacteria free, pure mango pulp is ready and it is received in the collection tank.

The pulp from the collection tank is pumped to the sterilizer and initially the pulp is heated up to 110 ‘ centigrade with help of steam which flows in the reverse direction.

Subsequently the pulp is sent to the cooling module. In this cooling module the temperature of the hot pulp is stabilized to 28 ‘ to 30 ‘ centrigrade with the help of chilled water which flows on the reverse side of the module. This effect of heating and subsequent cooling provides with the pulp free from lively organisms.

Entire quality control process is totally mechanized and controlled by the technicians who operate on the computer panel attached to the sterilizer.

Finally the pulp reaches the filling head. In the aseptic bars which are thoroughly sterilized using steam. The pulp is being filled untouched by human hand conforming to international standards.

The pulp is filled in Aseptic Bags to around 210 to 215 kgs kept in the drums and sealed. The filled drums are moved to the godowns and put on the lots and kept pending for shipment till the advise of the buyers.

Efficient management; Enthusiastic workers, quality conscious professionals have provided the dynamism of success to this enterprise.