CENTRAL PILOT PLANT SERVICES UNIT (AFPTD)

• Food & Beverage Industry
• Nutraceuticals & Herbal Formulations
• Startups & MSMEs
• Export‑Oriented Food Units

• Ready‑to‑Eat (RTE) foods
• Packaging innovation testing
• Waste‑free packaging solutions

Charges per batch - Rs. 1180/-

Retort processing is a thermal sterilization method widely used in the food and nutraceutical industry to extend shelf life and ensure microbiological safety of packaged products. It involves subjecting sealed containers—such as pouches, cans, or trays—to high-pressure, high-temperature steam or water in a retort chamber, effectively inactivating spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. Maintains product safety and quality without refrigeration for 6–12 months.

• Spice & Herb Processing Industry
• Nutraceutical & Ayurveda Industry
• Food & Beverage Sector
• Agro‑waste Utilization & Bio-based Product Industry
• Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Industry
• Research Institutes & Startups

• Fine grinding/size reduction of spices, herbs, plant-based materials, dried agro-waste

Charges per batch - Rs. 743/-

A micro pulveriser is a high-speed mechanical grinding unit used for reducing solid materials into fine powders. It is especially suited for processing spices, herbs, grains, agro-waste, and nutraceutical ingredients into uniform particle sizes required for product formulation and standardization.

• Bakery and Confectionery Industry
• Nutraceutical and Functional Food Industry
• Millet and Cereal-Based Product Manufacturers
• Gluten-Free and Specialty Food Brands
• R&D Institutions and Food Startups

• Development of functional and fortified bakery items using millets, plant-based ingredients, or nutraceuticals
• Formulation of low-sugar, high-fiber, or gluten-free products

Charges per batch - Rs. 449/-

The bakery unit at CSIR-NIIST is a pilot-scale facility designed for the development, testing, and scale-up of baked food products using conventional and innovative ingredients. It supports research in functional foods, fortified bakery products, and gluten-free or health-oriented formulations. The unit is equipped with mixers, ovens, proofers, and packaging tools suitable for pilot-scale batches and product standardization.

• Nutraceutical and Ayurveda Industry
• Spice and Food Processing Industry
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Cosmetic and Personal Care Industry
• Startups and R&D Units

• Drying of starchy vegetables, pulses, herbs, spice, and nutraceutical ingredients, Moisture removal from granulated food and pharma materials and Preparation of free-flowing powders for capsules, tablets, or blends

Charges per batch - Rs. 1010/-

A fluid bed dryer is an advanced drying system that uses hot air to fluidize solid particles, enabling uniform, efficient, and rapid drying of powders, granules, and small particulate materials. It is ideal for heat-sensitive materials and ensures controlled moisture reduction without compromising product quality.

• Food and Beverage Industry
• Nutraceutical and Ayurveda Industry
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Cosmetic and Personal Care Sector
• Startups and Contract R&D Clients

• Conversion of fruit, vegetable, and spice extracts, herbal decoctions and functional drinks into shelf-stable powders and Production of flavoring agents, milk powders, and plant-based protein powders
• Microencapsulation of bioactives, probiotics, or essential oils

Charges per batch - Rs. 1089/-

A spray dryer is a highly efficient drying system used to convert liquid or slurry feed into fine, dry powder through rapid drying with hot air. It is ideal for producing powders with controlled particle size, high solubility, and long shelf life, making it a preferred method in food, pharma, and nutraceutical industries

• Food and Beverage Industry.
• Research and Development (R&D) Units

• Food Processing – For the production of snack foods, texturized proteins, and extruded products

Charges per batch - Rs. 1140/-

Extruder is a versatile, high-shear processing machine used for continuous mixing, compounding, and extrusion of a wide range of materials, especially in food, pharmaceutical, and polymer industries. The two intermeshing screws allow for precise control over product consistency, homogeneity, and processing conditions, making it ideal for producing uniform blends of powders, granules, or pastes

• Food Processing Industry

• Fortification of Rice Kernels

Charges per batch - Rs. 2275/-

A Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) line is a specialized processing system designed to produce synthetic or reconstituted rice kernels fortified with essential micronutrients. These kernels are blended with regular rice (typically at 1:100 ratio) to address nutritional deficiencies at scale, especially in public health programs.

• Food and Spices Industry
• Research and Development (R&D) Units

• Drying of the fruits/vegetables/spices and any other heat-sensitive food ingredients

Charges per batch - Rs. 4688/-

Refrigeration Adsorption Dehumidification Dryer (RADD) for the drying of fruits/vegetables and heat-sensitive food ingredients such as spices. The working principle of this dryer is based on reducing the humidity in the drying chamber to facilitate enhanced moisture diffusion rates during the drying process.