Manual sheller
Hand-operated shelling station: robust, repairable and duplicable at will.
What this machine does
The manual sheller is the entry machine of the cashew sector. A pair of profiled blades, operated by a lever or a pedal, opens the shell along its plane of symmetry. Its simplicity is its strength: few parts, no electronics, repair possible in a local workshop, and a cost that allows stations to be multiplied rather than concentrating the investment in a single machine whose breakdown would stop all production.
In the hands of a trained operator it reaches whole-kernel rates comparable to those of automatic lines, provided — the condition is always the same — that the nuts have been correctly sized, humidified, steamed and rested. It remains the most relevant solution for a unit that is starting up, that processes a few hundred tonnes a year, or that wants to secure its production against the failure of a central machine.
See the sector CashewAt a glance
- ReferenceCAJ-DEM
- SectorCashew
- PurposeHand-operated shelling station: robust, repairable and duplicable at will.
A detailed PDF data sheet will be available in the document centre once produced.
The parts that do the work
Paired profiled blades
Opening by parting, matching the section of the nut for each size class.
Manual control
Lever or pedal giving the operator direct control of the force applied.
Clearance adjustment
Set per size class by the operator at the start of the shift.
Collection tray
Collects kernels, shells and balm drips separately.
Technical data and configurations
| Characteristic | Indicative value |
|---|---|
| Cadence | according to operator and size class |
| Whole-kernel rate | target above 85 % with a trained operator |
| Energy | none, purely mechanical operation |
| Adjustment | blade clearance per class |
| Materials | treated steel, re-sharpenable blades |
| Footprint | small, stations multipliable |
| Servicing | can be done in a local workshop |
| Station | individual, ergonomic working height |
These are usual design ranges for this type of machine, intended to guide early thinking. The contractual characteristics of the equipment actually manufactured — throughputs measured at acceptance, absorbed power, real footprint and weight — are established by the SOTIC design office and stated in the technical offer.
Available configurations
- Individual stations or benches grouping several operators.
- Blade sets per size class.
- Version with seat and footrest for full working days.
Installation requirements
- Well-lit, ventilated workshop, CNSL vapours having to be extracted.
- Station layout allowing supply and shell removal without crossing.
- Washable, chemically resistant floor.
- Water point nearby for immediate rinsing in case of skin contact.
Maintenance and safety at the workstation
A machine lasts as long as its maintenance does. The points below appear in the preventive maintenance plan handed over at acceptance and are covered during operator training.
Preventive maintenance
- Regular blade sharpening, dulling reducing the whole-kernel rate.
- Daily cleaning of hardened balm on the moving joints.
- Light greasing of the pins.
- Check the clearance setting at every shift start.
Safety
- Gloves and skin protection are mandatory against CNSL.
- Training in the gesture before taking a station.
- Job rotation recommended to limit repetitive strain.
Before ordering this machine
Yes, in two very common situations. First when a unit is starting up, where it allows the process to be validated, teams to be trained and the market to be built before committing to heavy investment. Second as a complement to an automatic line, to handle marginal size classes and to keep residual capacity when the main line is down.
Essentially blade sharpening and cleaning. That is precisely the point of this equipment: it can be maintained and repaired on site, with ordinary workshop means, without depending on imported spare parts.
Request a quote: Manual sheller
Tell us the throughput you are aiming for, the material to be processed and the energy available on your site: we come back with a reasoned configuration and a price, rather than a catalogue rate.
- Technical answer: we first check that this machine genuinely matches your need.
- Tailored configuration: size, drive, options and wear parts defined with you.
- Complete pricing: equipment, transport, erection, commissioning and training.
- Next steps: civil works, connections and maintenance where required.
First reply target: 48 working hours.
Other machines in the Cashew
Automatic sizer
Sorts raw nuts into four to six size classes: the first condition of a high whole-kernel rate.
Automatic shelling line
Mechanised shelling line with paired blades, fed by size class.
Semi-automatic sheller
Assisted shelling station: measured investment, flexibility and a high whole-kernel rate.
Optical colour sorter
Sorting by colorimetric analysis with pneumatic ejection of non-conforming kernels.