Fully Automatic Cashew Processing Machine Price in India
In India, a fully automatic cashew processing line is quoted per configuration for a small-to-mid plant, varying with capacity, automation and import duties.
For buyers in India, a fully automatic cashew processing line is budgeted per configuration rather than off a price list. What sets the figure: the target tonnes per 8-hour shift, the automation level, and the import duties and logistics that apply to machinery landed in India. Individual machines cost far less than a complete line, and a plant is normally built up stage by stage rather than bought at once. TTQ supplies and installs in India and quotes landed, project-specific pricing — contact us for price.
Indian equipment is sold machine by machine, and the spread between suppliers for nominally identical capacity runs 30–50%. This page sets out each stage of a fully automatic line, then the complete plant at three scales, and explains what actually accounts for the spread. TTQ builds in Vietnam and quotes landed, per configuration — the capacity figures below are the Indian market for comparison, not our specification.
What makes a line "fully automatic"
- Integrated material flow — raw nuts enter at one end and finished kernels leave at the other, with conveyors, elevators and pneumatic transport handling every transfer. No manual carrying between stages.
- Sensor-driven process control — temperature, moisture and level sensors adjust the process instead of an operator watching a gauge.
- Centralised control — a PLC with an HMI touchscreen runs the line and holds recipes for different nut sizes.
- Automatic feed and discharge at each machine, which is what actually removes the operator headcount.
- The honest limit — even a fully automatic line needs people on quality inspection, grading verification and maintenance. Automation moves labour, it does not eliminate it.
The equipment, machine by machine
The capacities below are Indian market claims for automatic-grade equipment. Verify them against a reference customer running your nut size — real throughput is typically 70–85% of the rated figure.
| Machine | Function | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic raw cashew grader | Separates raw nuts into uniform size categories before processing. Look for 3–5 grading decks and variable speed control. | 500–2,000 kg/h |
| Steaming boiler system | Conditions shells with high-pressure steam. Stainless pressure vessel, safety certification, automatic pressure control. | 200–800 kg/batch |
| Kernel drying chamber (borma) | Reduces moisture from 9–12% post-shelling to 3–4% so the testa turns brittle. 13–14 hours per batch, forced air with temperature control. | 2,000–5,000 kg/batch |
| Kernel humidification system | Re-moisturises kernels after borma drying, in a separate chamber, for optimal peeling. Precise moisture application control is the critical feature. | 1,000–3,000 kg/h |
| Kernel grading equipment | Sorts peeled kernels into W180, W210, W240, W320, W450 and broken grades on vibrating screen decks. | 300–1,000 kg/h |
| Colour sorter | Optical sensors reject spotted and discoloured kernels. Cuts manual sorting labour by about 80%. | 500–1,500 kg/h |
| Roasting machine | Salt-medium drum roasting for flavour development. 10–15 minutes per batch. Optional value-addition stage. | 50–150 kg/batch |
| Vacuum packing line | Vacuum-sealed export bags, typically 5, 10 or 12.5 kg; 100–500 g for retail. Automated weighing and sealing. | 60–150 packs/h |
| Conveyors and material handling | Belt conveyors, bucket elevators, pneumatic transport and storage hoppers. Price varies entirely with facility layout. | — |
Indian market capacity claims, reproduced for comparison. TTQ quotes landed, per configuration — contact us for price.
Cutting (shelling) capacity by head count
| Configuration | Capacity |
|---|---|
| 1-head | 60–80 kg/h |
| 2-head | 120–160 kg/h |
| 3-head | 180–240 kg/h |
| 4-head | 240–320 kg/h |
Head count is the main cost driver on shelling equipment. Note these Indian market figures (60–80 kg/h for a single head) sit above the TTQ standard of about 35 kg/h per head on Size A — see the note at the foot of this page.
Peeling capacity by head count
| Configuration | Capacity |
|---|---|
| 1-head | 120–180 kg/h |
| 2-head | 240–300 kg/h |
| 3-head | 360–420 kg/h |
| 4 head | 420–480 kg/h |
Peeling is where whole-kernel grades are won or lost, so this is the least sensible place to buy the cheapest option.
Complete plant scale and output
Individual machine costs add up quickly. Total investment depends on daily raw-nut throughput and how much of the handling is automated.
| Scale | RCN per day | Kernel output per day | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 200–500 kg | 50–125 kg | 8–12 |
| Medium | 500–1,500 kg | 125–375 kg | 15–25 |
| Large industrial | 2,000–5,000+ kg | 500–1,250+ kg | 35–60 |
Kernel output runs about 25% of raw-nut input, which is the ratio to plan working capital against.
Small (200–500 kg/day)
raw grader, steam boiler, single or dual-head cutter, drying chamber, humidifier, one peeling head, kernel grader, basic packing. No colour sorter.
Medium (500–1,500 kg/day)
automatic grading line, multiple steaming units, multi-head cutting, larger dryers, 2–3 peeling heads, colour sorter, automated packing, partial conveyor integration.
Large (2,000–5,000+ kg/day)
fully integrated control system, 4-head cutting and peeling, high-capacity colour sorting, complete conveyor and pneumatic transport, redundant boiler capacity, data logging and traceability.
Why quotes vary 30–50% for the same capacity
This is the question buyers actually have. Five things explain nearly all of it.
Steel and components
food-grade 304 or 316 stainless throughout food-contact surfaces costs meaningfully more than mild steel with thin stainless cladding, and the difference shows up in longevity and hygiene compliance. Branded motors, bearings and controls cost more and fail less.
Control sophistication
simple on/off control against PLC automation with HMI touchscreens, real-time monitoring, data logging and remote diagnostics. The gap is easily 20–30% of line cost.
Honest capacity rating
manufacturers rate optimistically. A machine rated 100 kg/h may hit that only on perfectly prepared material. Real throughput runs 70–85% of rated. A supplier quoting conservatively looks expensive on paper and is not.
After-sales infrastructure
spare parts held in India, rapid technical response and proper operator training all cost money to maintain, and they are exactly what you need when a line stops in peak season.
What the quote covers
most quotes are equipment only. Installation, commissioning, electrical work and civil works are separate and substantial.
Regional variation within India
- Gujarat and Maharashtra — competitive pricing from a dense manufacturer base and strong industrial infrastructure. Typically 5–10% below the national average.
- Tamil Nadu and Karnataka — major processing hubs, so suppliers are close to their customers and service response is fast; pricing is around the national average.
- Kerala and Andhra Pradesh — long-established cashew regions with deep operating knowledge, though fewer equipment builders locally.
- Freight and installation travel add to any of the above once the plant site is far from the builder.
Installation and commissioning — budget separately
- Civil works and foundations — machine bases, drainage, and a floor that can be cleaned properly.
- Electrical installation — panels, cabling, earthing and adequate supply capacity for the connected load.
- Steam piping and insulation from the boiler to steaming, drying and humidification.
- Commissioning and trial runs with your own raw material, which is when capacity claims get tested.
- Operator training — plan for it as a line item, not an afterthought.
The Indian per-head shelling figures reproduced above (60–80 kg/h for a single head, scaling to 240–320 kg/h on four heads) are market claims from Indian suppliers and sit above the TTQ standard, which averages about 35 kg/h per cutting head on Size A — so a 10-head line runs about 350 kg/h and a 16-head line about 560 kg/h. Manufacturers rate capacity optimistically and real throughput commonly runs 70–85% of the rated figure, which accounts for much of the gap. The figures are reproduced as published rather than adjusted. See cashew nut shelling machine for the TTQ specification. All capacities are quoted per 8-hour shift.
| Scope | How it is quoted |
|---|---|
| Single shelling machine | Per configuration |
| Small automatic line | Per configuration, landed |
| Mid / full auto line | Per configuration, by capacity |
TTQ quotes landed prices for India — FX, duties and logistics apply at the time of order.
Prices depend on FX rates and import duties at time of order. Request a landed quote for your location — see the turnkey plant page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of an automatic cashew line in India?
Does TTQ supply to India?
Related reading & machines
Fully Automatic Cashew Processing Plant
From raw nut to sealed kernel — one automated line
Open →
Cashew Processing Machine Price Guide
What drives the cost, machine by machine
Open →
Cashew Nut Processing Project Report (PDF)
A bankable report to finance your plant
Open →Panruti Cashew Factory & Processing
Panruti in Tamil Nadu, India is a famous cashew hub. Its many small factories illustrate both the tradition of cashew processing and the case for modern automation.
Open →Talk to a cashew engineer
Tell us your target capacity, grades and location — we’ll come back with a costed proposal.