How Pasta is Made Download an illustrated PDF of this document. Pasta manufacturing is both science and art. Let's start our plant tour outside on the loading dock wehre truckes or railroad cars deliver the coarse semolina flour that has been milled from durum wheat. A special vacuum hose pulls the wheat flour inside the plant and places it in gigantic bins.
Small plant purchase the wheat flour in huge bags.
Let's step inside and follow the semolina to see how it becomes pasta. Under carefully controlled conditions, the wheat flour is mixed with water under vacuum in a huge industrial mixer to form a tough dough. For some products, eggs and natural flavorings, such as spinach and tomato powders, are added at this time. Once it has reached the perfect consistency, the dough is ready for shaping. Since these dies can weigh from 300 to 350 pounds each, special cranes or carts are needed to hoist them into position.