500 kg/h Pasta Production Line
A turnkey 500 kg/h pasta production line produces roughly 12 tonnes of dry pasta per day in continuous operation. It is the entry capacity of our range and, by some distance, the step most often chosen by investors building their first pasta factory. Since 2008 Talia Makina has installed 13 lines at exactly this capacity in 7 countries — short-cut and spaghetti — and every one of them is listed with its year and country on this page.
13Lines installed at 500 kg/h
12 in operation · 1 under installation
12 in operation · 1 under installation
7Countries with a 500 kg/h Talia line
2008Our first 500 kg/h line — still in production
12 tTheoretical output per 24 hours
What 500 kg/h means in practice
A pasta line is a continuous process. After extrusion the dough travels through the drying tunnel for hours; stopping the line at the end of a shift would leave the product inside the tunnel half dried. That is why the line runs on a 24-hour basis and the planning unit is not the shift but the production day.
| Production time | Output | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 500 kg | Nominal line capacity |
| 1 production day (24 h) | 12 tonnes | The line's normal operating unit |
| 1 week (7 days) | 84 tonnes | A week of continuous running |
| 1 month (25 production days) | 300 tonnes | Monthly figure with maintenance and cleaning allowed for |
| 1 year (300 production days) | 3,600 tonnes | Typical annual planning figure |
| 1 year (330 production days) | 3,960 tonnes | High-utilisation operation |
A shift is the operator's working time, not the line's. The 24-hour cycle is covered by successive operator shifts; the line does not stop at handover. In other words, "how many shifts will I run" is a staffing question, not an output question.
Read these as ceilings, not promises. Real annual output depends on how many days a year you produce, planned maintenance and cleaning stops, die-change frequency, product mix and above all the speed of your packaging section. Stops come from that planned work, not from the end of a shift. We build this calculation with you at the offer stage — the investment guide and capacity calculator is a good place to sanity-check your own numbers first.
Two line types at 500 kg/h
Short-cut and long-cut are separate lines; spreading, drying and cutting work differently for the two product groups. We have installed both at 500 kg/h. If you want both product groups, two lines are planned side by side — in Cameroon a 500 kg/h short-cut line and a 750 kg/h spaghetti line were commissioned together.
Short-cut line — 10 installationsPenne, fusilli, elbow macaroni, shells, square cut and more than 30 shapes via circular die changes. Kyrgyzstan (2008), Syria (2011), Uzbekistan (2014, 2016, 2021, 2026), Afghanistan (2015), Cameroon (2023), Ethiopia (2024, 2025). Most of our 500 kg/h references are of this type.
Long-cut — spaghetti line — 3 installationsSpaghetti and linguine; cutting length 23–26 cm in the final package. Bangladesh (2017, 1.7 mm diameter), Afghanistan (2018), Uzbekistan (2018). Because the product is dried hanging on sticks, the line is built around a stick circuit rather than a conveyor.
Technical specification — 500 kg/h line
| Capacity | 500 kg/h finished dry pasta — the entry step of a range reaching 6,000 kg/h in short-cut and 4,000 kg/h in long-cut |
|---|---|
| Line types at this capacity | Short-cut line or long-cut (spaghetti) line — supplied as separate lines |
| Short-cut products | Penne, fusilli, elbow macaroni, shells, square cut and more than 30 short-cut shapes via circular die changes |
| Long-cut products | Spaghetti and linguine; cutting length 23–26 cm in the final package, set to your product requirement |
| Automation | Siemens PLC-based fully automatic production and drying control; Schneider or Yaskawa panel components |
| Material | Food-grade AISI 304 stainless steel on all product-contact surfaces |
| Raw material | Semolina or flour-based recipes |
| Operation | 24/7 continuous industrial production |
| Warranty | 24-month standard warranty; remote support and spare parts continue beyond it |
| Delivery | Turnkey — line design, manufacturing, shipment, installation, commissioning and operator training from a single source |
Every 500 kg/h line we have installed
Most suppliers describe a capacity. These are the plants where our 500 kg/h line is actually running. Each row links to that country's reference page, with the customer's story, the automation brand and photographs where the customer allowed us to publish them.
| Country | Year | Line type | Status | Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrgyzstan | 2008 | Short-cut | In operation | Built from scratch by an investor with no pasta experience — our earliest turnkey reference, in production for 18 years. |
| Syria | 2011 | Short-cut | In operation | A first-time investor entering the industry from scratch; one of our earliest installations. |
| Uzbekistan | 2014 | Short-cut | In operation | First line of a three-line factory; demand growth brought a second line two years later. |
| Afghanistan | 2015 | Short-cut | In operation | Market entry from scratch; the same customer ordered a 1,000 kg/h spaghetti line in 2019. |
| Uzbekistan | 2016 | Short-cut | In operation | Second short-cut line in the same factory — a repeat investment by the same customer. |
| Bangladesh | 2017 | Spaghetti (1.7 mm) | In operation | A complete spaghetti line for one of the country's largest food groups, in a second factory. |
| Afghanistan | 2018 | Spaghetti | In operation | The start of domestic spaghetti production; a compact layout engineered for a limited building. |
| Uzbekistan | 2018 | Spaghetti | In operation | Third line of the same factory, adding long-cut pasta to the product range. |
| Uzbekistan | 2021 | Short-cut | In operation | A third producer in a different region; a second line was ordered to grow its export share. |
| Cameroon | 2023 | Short-cut | In operation | Installed together with a 750 kg/h spaghetti line; a 2,000 kg/h line followed in the second phase. |
| Ethiopia | 2024 | Short-cut | In operation | First of four independent Ethiopian investments; the investor entered pasta production from scratch. |
| Ethiopia | 2025 | Short-cut | In operation | A second, entirely independent investor in the same market one year later. |
| Uzbekistan | 2026 | Short-cut | Under installation | Second line for the third factory; commissioning planned for September 2026. |
Ten short-cut and three spaghetti lines, in Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon and Ethiopia. Since 2007 we have carried out turnkey pasta plant installations in 18 countries — see all Talia Makina references.
Who chooses a 500 kg/h line
First-time investorsThe most common profile in our 500 kg/h references. In Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Afghanistan, Cameroon and Ethiopia the investor had no prior pasta production experience and needed a partner that builds the plant and brings it to production readiness, not just a machinery supplier.
Import substitutionMarkets where shelves are dominated by imported pasta. A single 500 kg/h line is enough to establish a local brand — this is how domestic spaghetti production began in Afghanistan in 2018.
Flour mills adding valueMillers who want to turn their own flour and semolina into a finished, branded product. The pattern repeats across our references from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan; 500 kg/h is a low-risk way to enter.
Producers testing a new product groupAn existing short-cut producer adding spaghetti — or the reverse — without committing to a large second line. Uzbekistan added a 500 kg/h spaghetti line to an existing short-cut factory in 2018.
What a turnkey 500 kg/h line includes
The units that make up the line
The line is turnkey: raw material goes in at the front and pasta ready for packaging comes out at the back — in the resting silos on a short-cut line, in the stick holding area on a long-cut line. Every unit except packaging is included in the delivery. The list below follows the production sequence; short-cut and long-cut are separate lines, so the relevant column depends on which line you build.
| # | Short-cut line — 500 kg/h | Long-cut (spaghetti) line — 500 kg/h |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raw material feeding and storage above the press Raw material is taken from your store into the storage unit above the press, which keeps the line continuously fed. | Raw material feeding and storage above the press Raw material is taken from your store into the storage unit above the press, which keeps the line continuously fed. |
| 2 | Dosing and mixing unit Precision flour–water dosing; homogeneous dough to the stored recipe. | Dosing and mixing unit Precision flour–water dosing; homogeneous dough to the stored recipe. |
| 3 | Vacuum extrusion press Three-stage screw press; bubble-free dough at stable pressure. | Vacuum extrusion press Stable pressure in an air-free environment; bubble-free, homogeneous structure. |
| 4 | Cutting system Rotary blade; automatic, synchronised, dimensionally precise cutting. | Spreading (hanging) unit Product is spread onto the drying sticks evenly and at equal length. |
| 5 | Pre-drying — shaker Surface moisture is removed fast so the product does not stick together. | Pre-cutting unit A synchronised automatic knife system cuts the product to stick length. |
| 6 | Elevator Carries product from the shaker to the multi-tier dryer without damage. | Pre-drying Surface moisture is removed so the product holds its form. |
| 7 | Multi-tier dryer Advanced airflow and humidity control for homogeneous, crack-free drying. | Main drying tunnel Multi-stage tunnel with zonal climate control for homogeneous drying. |
| 8 | Cooling section Brings the product down to a temperature suitable for storage. | Stabilisation section Internal moisture and stresses are balanced; glassy brittleness is prevented. |
| 9 | Elevator Transfers the cooled product to the product silos. | Cooling section Product temperature is lowered gradually. |
| 10 | Product (resting) silos Product ready for packaging rests and is stocked here; production and packaging run at independent speeds. | Stick holding area / silo Stocking before packaging; production and packaging become independent. |
| 11 | Packaging (optional) Integration with fully automatic weighing and packaging systems. | Final cutting unit A synchronised final cutting unit sets the finished product length. |
| 12 | Packaging (optional) Fully automatic integration with horizontal flow-pack systems. |
The electrical panel, Siemens PLC and operator terminal are integral parts of the line, and the auxiliary equipment needed to run it is included in the delivery as well. Dies are defined by the shapes you intend to produce and are itemised in the quotation. Silo volumes, elevator count and layout are engineered around your building.
Services included in the delivery
- Line design engineered around your existing or planned building, including layout drawings
- Manufacturing in our own facility in Gaziantep, Türkiye
- Siemens PLC automation with a recipe-based operator interface
- Shipment, on-site mechanical and electrical installation and commissioning
- Dry-run tests, production trials and process adjustment against agreed acceptance criteria
- Operator training on operation, recipe use, cleaning and basic maintenance
- 24-month warranty, a recommended critical spare-parts list, and remote support that continues after the warranty ends
Packaging, silos, laboratory and utility equipment can be included in the same scope or left out. This choice is one of the biggest factors in the final budget, so it is agreed explicitly rather than assumed.
Frequently asked questions about the 500 kg/h line
How much does a 500 kg/h pasta production line produce per day?
Because the line runs on a 24-hour basis, theoretical daily output is 12 tonnes (500 kg × 24 hours). A pasta line is a continuous process: the product spends hours travelling through the dryer, so the line is not stopped at the end of a shift. Here, a shift describes operator planning, not the line's running time. Your real annual output depends on how many days a year you produce, planned maintenance and cleaning stops, die-change frequency and the speed of your packaging section.
Is 500 kg/h enough to start a pasta factory?
For most first investments, yes. 500 kg/h is the entry step of our range and the capacity most often chosen by investors entering pasta production for the first time — it was the starting capacity in Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Afghanistan, Cameroon and Ethiopia. A single line covers a regional or national market while keeping the initial investment, building requirement and operator headcount manageable.
Can a 500 kg/h line produce both short-cut pasta and spaghetti?
Short-cut and long-cut pasta are produced on separate lines, because spreading, drying and cutting work differently for the two product groups. At 500 kg/h we have installed both: short-cut lines in Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Cameroon and Ethiopia, and spaghetti lines in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. If you want both product groups from day one, two lines are planned side by side — as in Cameroon, where a 500 kg/h short-cut line and a 750 kg/h spaghetti line were commissioned together.
What does a 500 kg/h pasta production line cost?
There is no single price for a capacity. Two 500 kg/h projects can reach very different budgets: whether silos, packaging, laboratory or utility equipment are included, whether the building already exists, and which energy sources are available on site. Rather than quoting an estimate, we prefer to build the production scenario with you first and then give a firm figure. The six factors that drive the budget are set out in our pasta production line cost & investment guide.
How much space does a 500 kg/h line need?
The layout is engineered around your building, not the other way round. We work from your building dimensions, ceiling height and column positions — in Afghanistan, for example, a compact layout was engineered for a limited factory space. Send your building drawings or measurements with your enquiry and we will prepare a layout proposal.
Can we increase capacity later, after starting at 500 kg/h?
Yes, and most of our customers do. In Uzbekistan the first factory added a second 500 kg/h short-cut line in 2016 and a spaghetti line in 2018; in Afghanistan the producer that started with 500 kg/h in 2015 ordered a 1,000 kg/h spaghetti line in 2019; in Cameroon the 2023 investment was followed by a 2,000 kg/h spaghetti line. Planning the building, utilities and material flow for a possible second line from the start makes that expansion considerably cheaper.
Can a team with no pasta experience operate the line?
Yes. Recipe-based PLC automation is what makes this possible: process parameters are stored as recipes rather than left to operator judgement. In both Kyrgyzstan (2008) and Syria (2011) the investor had no prior production experience; on-site operator training covering operation, recipe use, cleaning and basic maintenance was given during commissioning, and our team accompanied the first production period.
How long do these lines stay in production?
Our 500 kg/h reference in Kyrgyzstan was commissioned in 2008 and has been in production for 18 years. The 2011 line in Syria and the 2014 line in Uzbekistan are from the same generation. The standard warranty is 24 months; remote support and spare-parts supply continue well beyond it — several of these plants are supported years after their warranty expired.
What automation and materials are used?
The line runs on Siemens PLC-based automation, with Schneider or Yaskawa components in the panels depending on the project. All product-contact surfaces are food-grade AISI 304 stainless steel. The PLC controls dosing, extrusion, cutting, conveying and drying in a coordinated way; temperature, relative humidity, airflow, motor status and process alarms are monitored from the operator screen.
What information do you need to prepare a quote for a 500 kg/h line?
Which products you plan to make (short-cut, spaghetti or both), your raw material (semolina or flour), the number of production days you target per year, your building dimensions, the energy sources available on site, the automation level you want and the delivery scope — including whether packaging, silos or laboratory equipment should be part of it. With that we can prepare a technical offer rather than a placeholder number.
Related pages
Short-Cut Pasta Production LineFull technical detail, the 12-step production process and the complete 500–6,000 kg/h range.Long-Cut (Spaghetti) Production LineSpreading, stick drying and final cutting; the 500–4,000 kg/h range.1,000 kg/h Pasta Production LineThe next capacity step; 8 projects in 6 countries, short-cut and spaghetti.Cost & Investment GuideThe six factors that determine a pasta line budget, plus a capacity calculator.How to Start a Pasta FactoryFrom market study to commissioning — the full sequence for a first investment.All ReferencesTurnkey pasta plant installations in 18 countries since 2007.
Planning a 500 kg/h pasta plant?
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