Raw Cashew Sorting & Grading

Raw Cashew Grading Machines

LOCUS raw cashew nut (RCN) grading machines size-sort cashews by calibrated cylinder screens before cooking, separating each batch into precise size grades. Bigger, more uniform grades cook and shell more predictably — cutting down on broken kernels and uncut nuts further down the line.

500–2000 kg/hr Capacity
Up to 9 Size Grades
1–5 HP Motor Power
<3% Broken Ratio
LOCUS raw cashew grading machine with overhead storage silo
LOCUS raw cashew grader 1500 kg/hr multi-outlet size sorting unit
1,500 kg/hr multi-outlet grading unit with calibrated cylinder screens
LOCUS raw cashew grading machine installed on a factory floor
RCN grading line installed and running at a processing plant
Why Grade Before Cooking

Uniform sizing pays off through the entire line

Ungraded RCN cooks and shells unevenly — small nuts overcook while large ones undercook in the same batch. Sorting into precise size grades before cooking is what makes downstream shelling and peeling efficiency possible.

  • Calibrated cylinder screens with 18–24 mm hole sizes sort nuts into consistent size bands
  • 5-grade output (A+, A, B, C, D) on lines under 800 kg/hr; 9-grade output (A+, A, A1, B, B1, C, C1, D, D1) above 800 kg/hr
  • Optimised sizing keeps broken kernels under 3% and uncut kernels under 10% through cooking and shelling
  • 1–5 HP, 3-phase 415V motors sized per model, running on continuous duty
  • Multiple graders interconnect on a shared frame for installations processing above 20 MT/day
  • Overhead storage silo option feeds graded RCN directly into the cooking system, cutting manual handling

Grading, by the numbers

9 Size grades on high-capacity lines
18–24mm Calibrator hole range
<3% Broken kernel ratio
<10% Uncut kernel ratio
Machine Architecture

What's inside a LOCUS grading line?

Every grading line is built around the same calibrated cylinder sorting principle, scaled and configured to match your daily intake volume.

Calibrated cylinder screens

Perforated cylinder sections with 18–24 mm holes rotate to separate RCN by size, feeding each grade to its own discharge outlet.

Multi-outlet grade separation

Configured for either 5-grade (A+ to D) or 9-grade (A+ to D1) output depending on line capacity and buyer specification.

Overhead storage silo

An optional silo buffers graded RCN above the cooker infeed, keeping the cooking system fed without manual transfer.

1–5 HP drive motors

3-phase 415V motors sized to the cylinder diameter and length, rated for continuous duty in dusty intake environments.

Interconnectable units

For intake above 20 MT/day, multiple graders share a common feed and discharge structure, scaling capacity without duplicating floor space.

Optimised for low breakage

Screen speed and cylinder geometry are tuned to keep broken kernels under 3% and uncut kernels under 10% after grading.

Intake sizing for cooking

Grading before cooking ensures each batch entering the cooker is uniform in size, so steam cooking time is consistent across the whole batch.

High-volume processing plants

Capacities from 500 to 2,000 kg/hr, with interconnected multi-unit setups for plants processing 4 MT to 50 MT of RCN per project.

Process

How raw cashew grading works

  • 1

    Raw cashew nuts are fed via bucket elevator into the grading machine's intake hopper.

  • 2

    Rotating calibrated cylinder screens, sized 18–24 mm, separate nuts by size as they tumble along the cylinder length.

  • 3

    Each size band exits through its own discharge chute — 5 grades on standard lines, up to 9 grades on high-capacity lines.

  • 4

    Graded RCN is collected into the overhead storage silo or bins, ready to feed the cooking system in uniform, size-matched batches.

Labeled diagram of LOCUS raw cashew grading system showing feed hopper, calibrated cylinder screens and multi-grade discharge outlets
Model Range

Grading model range & specifications

Four capacity tiers, each configurable for 5-grade or 9-grade output, sharing the same calibrated cylinder sorting principle.

Specification 500 kg/hr 1,000 kg/hr 1,500 kg/hr 2,000 kg/hr
Rated capacity 500 kg/hr 1,000 kg/hr 1,500 kg/hr 2,000 kg/hr
Motor power 1 HP 2 HP 3 HP 5 HP
Power supply 3-phase, 415V
Calibrator hole size 18–24 mm
Grade output (<800 kg/hr) 5 grades: A+, A, B, C, D
Grade output (>800 kg/hr) 9 grades: A+, A, A1, B, B1, C, C1, D, D1
Broken ratio after grading Under 3%
Uncut ratio after grading Under 10%
Multi-unit interconnection Recommended above 20 MT/day intake

Grading lines can be supplied with an overhead storage silo, bucket elevator infeed and interconnecting frame — configured to feed directly into a LOCUS raw cashew cooking system.

Real Installations

Grading lines running in the field

From single-unit graders to multi-line factory installations processing tonnes of RCN per day.

Raw cashew nut bag intake feeding bucket elevators into grading units

Bag Intake & Elevation

Bulk RCN bags feed bucket elevators that lift raw nuts directly into the grading line hoppers.

LOCUS engineering and service team
Support

24/7 Service & Support

From installation and commissioning to spare parts and troubleshooting, our engineering team supports your grading line throughout its working life — so your intake keeps flowing at its rated capacity.

Talk To Our Engineers