Production line and factory setup overview
A dry line for size grading Afghan walnuts, gap-matched cracking, vibration and air shell separation, inspection and kernel grading. Whole-half recovery depends on walnut variety, shell hardness, moisture and pre-grading; supplier claims must be proven with actual Afghan lots.
Recommended lowest-entry line configuration For the lowest credible entry, select a 300-400 kg/h line with cleaner, three-size grader, adjustable cracker, shell-kernel separator, inspection conveyor, kernel grader and semi-manual bulk packing.
Production process and implementation sequence
- Dry walnut receiving and sampling
- Cleaning, aspiration and magnetic protection
- Three-size shell grading
- Gap-matched cracking by size fraction
- Vibration and air shell separation
- Return of uncracked walnuts
- Illuminated kernel inspection and grading
- Metal detection, weighing and dry packing
Products, capacity and market fit
- Afghan walnuts gain value as clean graded kernels.
- Size grading protects half-kernel recovery.
- Broken kernels remain a marketable oil or butter grade.
- Compact dry equipment suits seasonal aggregation.
- Walnut halves and quarters - Buyer-approved size, moisture, color and shell fragments - Retail, bakery and confectionery buyers
- Broken walnut kernels - Clean declared fraction with controlled shell content - Oil, butter and bakery processors
Core production machinery and line specifications
| Machine / stage | Function / value | Production note |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-cleaner and magnet | Removes dust, stems, stones and metal | Enclosed dry aspiration |
| Three-size walnut grader | Creates fractions for cracker settings | Screens matched to local walnuts |
| Adjustable walnut cracker | Opens shells while protecting kernels | 300-400 kg/h reference |
| Vibratory separator | Separates large shell and kernel fractions | Interchangeable screens |
| Air shell separator | Removes light shell pieces | Variable airflow |
| Return elevator | Returns unopened walnuts for another pass | Low-drop kernel protection |
| Inspection and kernel grader | Removes defects and creates sale grades | Food-grade belt and screens |
| Detector and bag closer | Checks and packs released kernels | Lined bulk packs |
Raw materials, utilities and factory requirements
- Dry traceable Afghan walnuts
- Food-grade lined bags or cartons
- Labels and lot records
- Laboratory sampling materials
- Stable three-phase electricity
- Food-grade heat source where required
- Clean compressed air where specified
- Ventilated washable processing room
- Dry allergen-controlled packing and storage
Indicative low-entry investment and implementation plan
These planning ranges prioritize economical machinery, local labor and local civil works. Final pricing follows confirmed capacity, product specification, delivery terms and site conditions.
| Scope | Indicative range | Entry-plan note |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning and size grading | US$4k-9k | 300-400 kg/h dry intake |
| Cracking and shell separation | US$6k-14k | Adjustable staged route |
| Inspection and kernel grading | US$4k-9k | Manual final quality gate |
| Packing and quality tools | US$3k-7k | Semi-manual bulk launch |
| Freight, installation and spares | US$4k-9k | Confirm conveyor nesting |
| Indicative low-entry total | US$21k-48k | Building, walnuts and working capital excluded |
Detailed proposal and next step
The proposal contains the complete line flow, machinery scope, raw-material and utility requirements, implementation stages and indicative entry planning. Final configuration follows confirmed products, capacity, site and budget.