It was a pleasant morning for the students of the final year, Mechatronics department. The
department had organised an industrial visit to the “Amul Chocolate Unit-Food Complex”,
situated at Mogar, Anand.
Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi inaugurated a new chocolate plant of the Gujarat Cooperative
Milk
Marketing
Federation
(GCMMF),
owner
of
the dairy
giant
Amul
in
Gujarat.
On reaching the plant we were welcomed graciously by their delegates. Soon, we were
directed to their chocolate manufacturing unit. Students were divided into two batches and
learning started from there onwards. The pleasant and salubrious aroma of chocolates followed
us throughout the visit. Firstly, we were preliminary briefing about the entire plant. The plant
comprised of 5 core departments: Amul chocolate plant, Bread spread plant, ready to use
Therapeutic food, Malted milk products and finally Bakery department.
After this, we proceeded towards the main manufacturing unit. At the beginning we
observed the range of ingredients involved in the making of chocolate. Moving ahead, we went
through the processing of cocoa nibs into fine liquid form. This liquid was further processed and
other ingredients were added depending upon the flavour requirement followed by the churning
process which was by ball mills. The made batch was later stored in CONCH where it was
heated at 65 °C temperature. With the help of pipes this mixture was transferred to rotary
depositors to inject mixture into mould plates to produce bars of chocolate. The moulds are then
stored at 7 °C to 8 °C temperature to let it solidify. Then with the help of twisting and
hammering equipment the bars were removed from the mould plates and were ready for
packaging. They moved on conveyors to the packaging department where robotic arms are being
utilised. The entire plant was completely automated. Being the only fully automatic chocolate
manufacturing plant in India it was worth a visit for the students. At last the visit was ended with
delicious chocolates given by representative as a token of love and some group photographs.
Surely the visit was fruitful in terms of knowledge and we are thankful to “AMUL” that they
have allowed us to visit their Unit.
