Procurement of Raw Materials

Thai Maparn Trading purchases milled rice from many parts of Thailand. Jasmine rice is usually acquired from the Lower Northeast, such as Surin, Buriram, Sisaket, Ubon Rachatani, and Nakon Rachasima.
White rice is procured from Central Thailand and the Lower North, such as Supanburi, Chainat, Saraburi, Nakon Sawan, Pichit, and Pisanulok. Sweet rice is brought in from the Upper North, such as Chiengrai, Payao, and Chiengmai.
     
Storage in Silos

The company stores its rice in silos because:

1. Long-term storage is not necessarily detrimental to the quality of rice, since the silo has good ventilation and permits the circulation of air.

  
2. Pests such as weevils are inhibited from damaging the rice. Each silo is securely sealed and so prevents entry of pests from outside. The contents of silos can also be fumigated to prevent pest proliferation.

3. Silo storage allows for better and more consistent control of raw material use, resulting in a higher overall quality of processed rice.
     
  Cleaning

Rice from upcountry mills has usually been processed by old machinery and so still has mixed in with a certain amount of unwanted foreign matter. To remove these materials, the rice is passed through various sizes of grates.
After the grains of rice have fallen through, objects larger than the grains remain on top and are then removed, while dust and debris are blown off by means of a powerful suction fan system.
     
Removal of Stones

The milling of paddy involves the use of small pieces of silicon to whiten the grains of rice after the husk has been removed. The chunks of silicon thus become mixed in with the milled rice.

 
To separate them, a stone removal machine agitates the rice and stones, which have different densities and thus tend to move apart as the vibrations continue, until the silicon can be disposed of altogether.
     
  Polishing

The purpose of a polishing machine is to make the rice grains look better and cleaner than before. A spray of water under high pressure is directed onto the grains, which are heated with the friction produced by constant jostling.

This spray has the effect of inducing a kind of glaze on the grains' surface, making them smooth, shiny, and more appetizing. During this process dust from the brown outer part of the rice grains is suctioned off as well. Polished rice creates a positive impression on consumers, convincing them that the rice is clean and fit to eat.
     
Removal of Broken Grains

The various processing stages described above tend to cause some of the rice grains to break. The removal of broken grains can be done in either of two ways, each using its own particular type of sifter, the angular sifter and the circular sifter.


Circular Sifter

  


Angular Sifter

These two kinds of sifter can be adjusted to separate out varying proportions of broken grains, according to the grade of rice desired.
     

When the correct weight is attained, the flow of rice stops. This automatic allotment of the correct quantity per bag ensures accurate and consistent packing.

The use of modern machinery for accurately controlling rice production at every stage of the process offers many advantages:

   Packing

A packaing machine handles the final stage of the production process. The rice is conveyed to a container for weighing by a load cell.


Shipment

     

(1) clean and attractive products.

(2) consistent product quality.

(3) definite and reliable unit weights, benefiting producer, retailers, and consumers alike.

The net effect of these advantages is to provide Thai Maparn a considerable competitive edge in the world market, enhancing thereby the success of its marketing operations and boosting Thai exports.