Garbuio

Garbuio S.p.A

Green Leaf Threshing – GLT

Garbuio develops, manufactures and supplies a wide range of green leaf processing machinery and equipment. Many of these machines are used in production lines around the world and are capable of processing up to twelve tons of leaf tobacco per hour. After tobacco plants have been harvested, the tobacco must be dried. Drying brings about certain chemical processes that make the leaves aromatic and pliable. Once the tobacco leaves have been cured, the farmers bring them into the factory, either tied in bundles or packed in bales, for further processing. There are around 150 green-leaf processing factories worldwide.

Pre-Classification – After the tobacco farmers have brought their pre-dried harvest to the factories by lorry, the tobacco bundles or bales are placed directly onto a conveyor belt. They are then roughly pre-classified there: the leaves are hand-sorted according to type and quality by a number of employees. The quality of a tobacco leaf is decided in particular by its position on the stalk of the plant. Virginia leaves, which have an optimum nicotine and sugar content, grow in the upper third area of the stalk, for example. At the end of the day, the quality of the tobacco decides what taste and flavour a cigarette has.