Sitaram Saraf

Machine Made Shellac is a refined form of shellac produced through mechanized processes that offer consistency, scalability, and uniform quality. Unlike the traditional hand made method, machine made shellac utilizes either a heat process or a solvent extraction process to isolate the pure resin from Seedlac.

In the heat process, Seedlac is melted using steam heat and then filtered through fine mesh or cloth using hydraulic presses. This removes most of the impurities and wax content. The purified, molten shellac is then stretched into thin continuous sheets using rollers, and once cooled, these sheets are broken into flakes or pieces. This method typically yields shellac with 0.5% to 1% impurity, making it suitable for demanding industrial applications.

In the solvent process, a chemical solvent is used to dissolve the lac, and filtration is carried out at a molecular level to ensure a high level of purity. The solvent is then evaporated, and the shellac is recovered in a solid form.

Machine made shellac is known for its uniformity in color, flow, and film formation. Popular machine made grades include TN, Lemon, Orange, SS Orange, and Sona, each designed for different end-use requirements.

This type of shellac finds widespread applications in wood coatings, printing inks, electrical insulation, pharmaceutical coatings, confectionery, leather finishes, and more. The efficiency and consistency of the machine process make it ideal for large-scale industrial use where reliability, reproducibility, and quality control are critical.