Automatic Cashew Shelling Machine
Fully automatic, minimal hands
The fully automatic configuration of the TTQ shelling machine — auto-fed, multi-head cutting with minimal operator involvement for high-volume lines.
The Automatic Cashew Shelling Machine is the fully automated configuration of TTQ’s shelling / cutting system: nuts are auto-fed to multi-head cutting stations, shelled and separated with minimal manual handling. Capacity works at two levels: an individual machine gives a maximum of 560 kg/h on Size A, and running multiple cutters on one automatic shelling line takes that up to 1,200 kg/h — the top of the TTQ range for a single line, with larger plants running several lines in parallel. Between those two points, a 16 Head line runs 560 kg/h and a 2 × 10 Head or 16-knife line 700 kg/h. For the full range of configurations, capacities and specifications, see the main cashew nut shelling machine page.
Technical specifications
| Function | Fully automatic shelling |
|---|---|
| Capacity | One machine max 560 kg/h; multiple cutters on an automatic line up to 1,200 kg/h (Size A) |
| Line throughput | 560 kg/h (Size A) on a 16 Head line; 700 kg/h on a 2 × 10 Head line |
| Line throughput | Up to 1,000–1,200 kg/h (Size A) on a 4 × 10-knife line |
| Feed | Automatic nut feed & separation |
| Heads | 4, 10 or 16 Head; two 10 Head units may be paired |
| Control | Standard machine-mounted control panel |
| Build | Steel frame, hardened blades |
Figures are typical and configurable — we confirm exact specifications against your capacity and grade targets.
What full automation buys, and what it does not
One machine 560, a multi-cutter line 1,200
An individual machine reaches a maximum of 560 kg/h on Size A. Going higher means running multiple cutters on one automatic line: 700 kg/h from a 2 × 10 Head or 16-knife line, and up to 1,000–1,200 kg/h from a 4 × 10-knife line.
Automatic feed
Nuts are fed, shelled and separated automatically — minimal operator involvement.
Low labour
Designed for high-volume plants that need throughput without added headcount.
Built to run for years
Hardened blades and a heavy steel frame stand up to continuous multi-shift duty at the shelling stage.
Model & capacity comparison
Every model TTQ builds for this stage, side by side. Pick by throughput and footprint — each links straight to a quote.
Head-machine lines — models
Compact automatic head lines on a common 9.0 × 2.2 × 2.2 m frame, 3-phase 380V, two operators. All capacities are input kg/h on Size A; capacity varies with raw-nut size.
| Model | Capacity | Power | Footprint (L×W×H) | Crew | Ref | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Head line | ~140 kg/h (Size A) | To confirm | — | 1–2 | TTQ-SHL-04H | Quote → |
| 16 Head machine | 560 kg/h (Size A) | 1 HP (0.75 kW), 1-phase 220V | 1.1 × 0.85 × 1.55 m | — | TTQ-SHL-05 | Quote → |
| 10 Head line | 350 kg/h (Size A) · 410 kg/h (Size A+) | 12.25 HP (9.2 kW) | 9.0 × 2.2 × 2.2 m | 2 | TTQ-SHL-15 | Quote → |
| 16 Head line | 560 kg/h (Size A) | 13.25 HP (9.94 kW) | 9.0 × 2.2 × 2.2 m | 2 | TTQ-SHL-16 | Quote → |
| 2 × 10 Head line | 700 kg/h (Size A) | To confirm | — | 2–3 | TTQ-SHL-2x10H | Quote → |
Specifications are indicative and configurable; TTQ confirms exact figures against your capacity, grade targets and factory layout. Model codes shown are TTQ quotation references.
A fully automatic shelling line does the same job as a manual one, but it changes where the labour goes and how consistent the output is. The machine cuts the shell, separates kernel from shell, and sends unshelled nuts back round without anyone touching them. What you are buying is consistency and a smaller crew, not a different cutting principle.
How an automatic shelling machine works
The cutting itself is unchanged: calibrated blades cut the shell at a depth deep enough to open it and shallow enough to miss the kernel. Automation surrounds that step with feeding, separating and recirculating so the cutter never waits and no one carries anything.
Feeding
graded nuts go into a hopper and a bucket elevator lifts them to the cutter. Because the nuts are pre-graded, every nut arriving at a head is within the size band the blades are set for.
Cutting
each head makes a dual cut so the shell splits open in two halves rather than being crushed. Whole-cutting rates run 85–90%.
Separation
a vibration sieve and a blower split kernels, shell fragments and dust into separate streams. The blower is what gets you a clean shell output rather than shell mixed with kernel dust.
Recirculation
nuts that came through unshelled are detected and returned to the cutter automatically instead of being hand-picked off a table.
Inspection
a stainless table at the end of the line, where the remaining human work sits.
The components that make it automatic
- Raw material cask and hopper — buffer storage so the line runs while the next batch is prepared.
- Bucket elevator and infeed conveyor — vertical and horizontal transport between stages; a belt-driven feed alone is worth roughly 30% in line speed against manual charging.
- Multi-head cutting unit — 4, 10 or 16 heads on a common frame and drive, or two 10-head units paired for 700 kg/h.
- Vibration sieve — multi-stage sorting; cuts re-work by around 40% compared with single-stage screening.
- Blower fan — ejects dust and empty shell, giving about 98% clean output.
- Recirculation return — closed loop for unshelled nuts.
- Stainless inspection table — final visual check before drying.
- Control panel — machine-mounted, with speed and feed rate adjustment per head group.
The line, photographed
Configurations
| Configuration | Input capacity (Size A) | Operators | Power | Footprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Head line | ~140 kg/h | 1–2 | 3-phase 380V | To confirm |
| 10 Head line | 350 kg/h (410 on Size A+) | 2 | 12.25 HP (9.2 kW) | 9.0 × 2.2 × 2.2 m |
| 16 Head line | 560 kg/h | 2 | 13.25 HP (9.94 kW) | 9.0 × 2.2 × 2.2 m |
| 2 × 10 Head line | 700 kg/h | 2–3 | To confirm | To confirm |
Head-machine lines only; capacities are input kg/h on Size A per 8-hour shift and vary with raw-nut size. For knife machines and knife lines — including the 4 × 10-knife line at 1,000–1,200 kg/h — see the <a href="/cashew-nut-cutting-machine/">cutting machine page</a>.
What automation actually buys
Labour
a 10-head automatic line runs with roughly a fifth of the crew a manual line of the same output needs. That is the single biggest operating change.
Consistency
whole-cutting rates hold 85–90% shift after shift, where manual output varies with operator fatigue and skill.
Throughput
an entry-level 4 Head line handles about 140 kg/h; a 16 Head line reaches 560 kg/h, and a pair of 10 Head units 700 kg/h, on the same floor discipline.
Cleaner separation
powered sieving and blowing beat hand sorting on both speed and consistency, and it keeps shell dust out of the kernel stream.
What it does not buy
automation does not raise the whole-kernel ceiling. That is set by nut preparation: grading, steaming and moisture. A poorly conditioned nut breaks in any machine.
Semi-automatic against fully automatic
Semi-automatic
the cutting is mechanised but feeding and transfer between stages are manual. Lower capital, more people, and throughput that depends on how fast the crew keeps up. Sensible where labour is cheap and capital is not.
Fully automatic
conveyors, elevators, powered separation and recirculation throughout. Higher capital, minimal crew, steadier output. Sensible where labour is expensive or hard to retain seasonally.
The middle path most plants take
automatic cutting and separation, manual inspection. It captures most of the labour saving without paying for full line integration.
Integration with the rest of the line
Upstream
automatic shelling only works properly on graded, correctly steamed nuts. A grader and a steaming unit sized to the shelling line are not optional extras.
Downstream
shelled kernels go to borma drying at 9–12% moisture and must reach 3–4% before humidification and peeling. Size the dryer to a day's shelling output, not to an hour's.
Shell handling
an automatic line produces shell continuously, so plan for conveying it to a burner or a press rather than accumulating it beside the machine.
Power
three-phase 380V. Add the connected load of the cutter, elevators, blower and sieve together before sizing the supply.
Choosing the configuration
Match capacity to your raw-nut supply, not your ambition
an undersized line bottlenecks the plant, an oversized one idles capital and still needs its crew.
Count the whole line
the shelling machine is one of eleven or so components. Quotes that cover only the cutter are not comparable to quotes that cover the line.
Ask what the capacity figure assumes
nut grade and shift length. A number quoted on Size A over 8 hours is not the same as one quoted on mixed nuts over 10.
Plan the floor before you buy
a head line needs 9.0 × 2.2 m plus access on both sides for blade changes.
All capacities on this page are input kg/h on Size A nuts, quoted per 8-hour shift. A shelling line can run three shifts; a complete plant cannot, because drying and humidification are batch steps that need turnaround time. See cashew nut shelling machine for the model table and processing machine prices for indicative budgeting.
The process, drawn
Two shelling families — compare within one, never across
Head machines and knife machines are separate ranges, not points on one scale. Reading a head-line capacity against a knife-line capacity is how "16 Head" ends up quoted at 700 kg/h.
- 4 Head line ~140 kg/h
- 10 Head line 350 kg/h
- 16 Head line 560 kg/h
- 2 × 10 Head line 700 kg/h
- 4-knife machine 230 kg/h
- 10-knife machine 400–500 kg/h
- 16-knife line 700 kg/h
- 4 × 10-knife line 1,000–1,200 kg/h
All capacities are Size A input, per 8-hour shift; capacity varies with raw-nut size. "16 Head" is 560 kg/h always. 700 kg/h belongs to the 16-knife line or the 2 × 10 Head line. 1,000–1,200 kg/h comes only from the 4 × 10-knife line.
Where PLC control belongs
"PLC-controlled" is applied loosely across the industry. On a TTQ plant it means one specific thing.
- RCN cleaning Debris and stone removal
- Calibration Size grading
- Steaming Pressure and cycle
- Cooling & feeding Into the shelling line
- Shelling machine Blade depth set per size band
- Peeling machine Drum speed and air
- Borma dryer Digital temperature + moisture display
- Humidifier Regulated RH and dwell
Buying a PLC layer for an individual machine buys very little. The automation that changes headcount is the integrated line that prepares and feeds the nuts.
Where it fits in the process
The automatic shelling machine occupies the same core cutting stage — graded, steamed nuts feed in; shelled kernels move on to drying and the shell to the burner.
Automatic Cashew Shelling Machine — FAQ
How is this different from the standard shelling machine?
What throughput does it reach?
Does it need compressed air?
Pairs well with
Cashew Nut Shelling Machine
Crack the shell, keep the kernel
Open →
Cashew Nut Cutting Machine
Clean, consistent kernel separation
Open →
Cashew Peeling Machine
High whole-kernel yield, dry-peeled
Open →
Cashew Nut Shelling Machine Price
Cashew shelling machine cost is set by head or knife count and throughput — from a 4-knife machine at 230 kg/h to a 4 × 10-knife line at 1,000–1,200 kg/h. Contact us for price.
Open →Get a quote on the Automatic Cashew Shelling Machine
Tell us your target capacity and grades. We'll come back with the right configuration, a layout and a costed proposal.