Garlic is one of the most challenging crops to grade—irregular shapes, loose skins, and wide size variations make manual sorting slow and costly. Discover how a drum grader helps garlic packers achieve consistent, high-volume grading.
Garlic is one of the world's most widely traded seasoning crops. From China and India to Spain and Egypt, millions of tons are harvested each year, destined for kitchens and processing plants across the globe.
But for garlic packers, a persistent challenge remains: how do you grade garlic efficiently and accurately—at scale?
Unlike apples or oranges—which are relatively uniform in shape—garlic bulbs come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Some are large and compact, others smaller with loose, flaky outer skins that peel off during handling. Traditional manual sorting is slow, labor-intensive, and increasingly difficult to staff. And when different workers apply different standards, the result is inconsistent grading that can lead to rejected shipments and lost export opportunities.
That's where a drum grader changes the game.
How a drum grader works—and why it's ideal for garlic
A drum grader uses a series of rotating rollers with gaps that gradually increase from the infeed end to the discharge end. As garlic bulbs travel down the line, smaller ones drop through the early gaps; larger ones continue until they find the gap that fits.
This simple but effective mechanism delivers consistent, high-volume grading—without the variability of manual sorting.
Why this matters for your garlic operation:
What the Drum Grader Delivers | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
5–8 tons per hour capacity | Process peak-season volume without bottlenecks—keep your line moving when garlic comes in fast |
4–6 adjustable grades | Sort by diameter to meet different market requirements—from local wholesale to export-grade specifications |
Gentle handling | Smooth roller surfaces and low-drop design protect garlic from impact damage—less waste, more marketable yield |
Built-in air blower | Removes loose outer skins and debris before grading—keeps the line clean and accurate |
Adjustable speed | Match the speed to your garlic variety and condition—slow down for delicate bulbs, speed up for robust ones |
A drum grader turns your grading line from a slow, inconsistent bottleneck into a smooth, high-output operation that meets the demands of export buyers.
What sets Fstsort apart:
· Proven performance — systems are handling millions of tons of garlic annually in packing houses worldwide
· Customizable configuration — choose 4–6 grades, adjust speed, and add optional brush cleaning or bag hanging weighing systems
· Built to last — stainless steel rollers and PVC materials that are waterproof, wear-resistant, and won't bend
· Turnkey solutions — from feeding and cleaning to grading and packing, we deliver a complete line designed around your operation
Whether you need a standalone drum grader or a complete cleaning-grading-packing line, Fstsort can design a solution that fits your volume, your garlic varieties, and your export targets.
Explore our garlic grading machine →