Litchis are among the most delicate fruits in the world — thin skin, juicy flesh, and easily bruised. Here‘s why a well-designed sorting and packing line makes all the difference.
Why Litchis Are Different
Litchis are not like apples or oranges. Their thin, fragile skin and juicy, tender flesh make them extremely vulnerable during post-harvest handling.
A litchi’s skin can crack or brown from the slightest pressure. Once damaged, the fruit loses its market value in hours — not days. For growers and packers, this means every touchpoint in the sorting and packing process is a potential point of loss.
Traditional sorting methods — whether manual handling or rough mechanical graders — often do more harm than good. Workers handling thousands of litchis a day inevitably squeeze or drop some. Standard graders, designed for firmer fruits, can bruise or crack the delicate skin.
The takeaway: Litchis need equipment that treats them with care — from the moment they enter the line to the moment they leave.
The Challenge: Space Constraints in Packing Houses
For many litchi packers, there‘s another challenge beyond fruit delicacy: limited space.
Packing facilities, especially in tropical growing regions, are often compact. Large, linear sorting lines simply don’t fit. Growers who want to upgrade from manual sorting to machine grading often find themselves stuck — they need the efficiency of automation, but they don‘t have the floor space for traditional equipment.
This is where design matters as much as technology.
A Smarter Design: The U-Shaped Layout
Fstsort’s litchi grading and packing line features a U-shaped design that wraps the entire processing flow into a compact footprint.
Instead of stretching the equipment in a straight line — which can take up 10–15 meters of floor space — the U-shape folds the line back on itself. The result: significantly less floor space without sacrificing any functionality.
What the U-shape delivers
· More packing capacity in less space — Packing houses can add automated grading without expanding their building or rearranging their entire operation
· Better workflow — The U-shape naturally brings the end of the line back near the start, making it easier for workers to oversee the entire process
· Lower installation cost — A smaller footprint often means simpler installation and less structural modification
For packers in tropical regions where space is at a premium, the U-shape isn‘t just a nice feature — it’s a necessity.
The Complete Line: From Hopper to Packed Box
The U-shaped line integrates every stage of litchi processing in one continuous flow:
· Hopper & elevator — Gentle feeding with low drop height to minimize bruising
· Inspection table — Manual removal of defective or damaged fruit
· Roller grader — Sorts litchis by diameter with 3–6 adjustable grades
· Automatic box fill & weigh — On selected grade exits, boxes fill to preset weight automatically
· Conveyor & sealing — Filled boxes move to sealing or collection
The roller grader is the heart of the line. Because litchis are oval to nearly spherical, roller grading — which sorts by diameter — is the most accurate and gentle method available.
What sets this line apart: you choose which grade exits get automatic box filling. Not every grade needs automation — you can equip only the high-volume exits and handle the rest manually. This flexibility keeps the investment targeted and cost-effective.
Ready to see how the U-shaped litchi line fits your packing house? Explore the full specifications on our litchi grading & packing line page →
Designed for the Season
Litchi season is short and intense. When the fruit is ready, it must be picked, sorted, and packed quickly — or it spoils.
A well-designed line doesn‘t just sort fruit. It helps you capture the season’s value — by handling litchis gently, sorting them accurately, and packing them efficiently, all within the space you have.
The technology exists. The question is whether your line is ready for the next season.