Mr. Nguyễn Văn Liền (38 years old) has developed an improved cashew shelling machine with direct drive, eliminating the need for chains, achieving a productivity of 9-10 tons in 8 hours of operation.
Currently, many cashew shelling machines operate using chain drives. After just over a year of use, the durability of these machines decreases due to the stretching of the drive system, forcing owners to replace the chain or tighten it. This affects the machine’s performance, leading farmers to replace their machines after just over a year, resulting in increased costs. Recognizing this issue, Mr. Nguyễn Văn Liền (Phước Long Town) applied his expertise from studying mechanical engineering at Lilama 2 Technology College (Đồng Nai) to find a solution to the machine’s shortcomings.
Over two years, Mr. Liền and his colleagues at Gia Bảo Mechanical Company conducted multiple experiments with a direct drive gear system for the cashew shelling machine at their workshop in Long Phước Ward, Phước Long Town. The results showed that improving the operation of the cashew shelling machine completely eliminated the chain drive system found in older machines, significantly increasing durability and doubling productivity compared to chain-driven machines.
Testing the improved cashew shelling machine designed by Mr. Nguyễn Văn Liền. (Video: Provided by the author)
The machine designed by the team measures 0.9 m in length, 0.8 m in width, and 1.1 m in height, made of steel and weighing nearly 1.5 tons. It features a body equipped with 16 rotating knives within a steel cage driven by gears, using an alternating current motor. The knife system operates with a mechanism that splits along the curved shape of the cashew, providing a longer cut compared to chain-driven machines, which reduces breakage and keeps the loss rate below 0.5%.
During testing, the system with two heads for shelling type A cashews (the largest size) achieved a productivity of 9-10 tons in 8 hours, with a breakage rate of less than 3% and a loss rate of only 1-3%. Smaller cashew sizes yielded lower productivity.
Mr. Liền stated that similar machines on the market are priced around 800 million VND. His team’s machine, which boasts higher productivity and durability compared to older models, is sold for about 980 million VND, including the machine head and the production line system comprising feeders, conveyors, and sorting machines. “In addition to the domestic market, we plan to export the product to India and some African countries…” he mentioned.
Mr. Nguyễn Minh Thi, owner of a cashew processing facility in Bù Đăng District, Bình Phước, noted that previous cashew shelling machines using chain drives often experienced frequent minor breakdowns, leading to high repair costs. “This improved shelling machine not only increases productivity but also has greater durability, addressing the shortcomings of chain-driven machines,” Mr. Thi stated.
Two improved cashew shelling heads designed by Mr. Liền. (Photo: Hà An)
Evaluating the product, Mr. Chu Bá Long, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Science and Technology Business Club, highlighted that the machine’s key difference is its direct drive mechanism, making the design more compact compared to chain-driven machines. The shelling mechanism uses 16 knives with longer splitting lengths for higher productivity and lower loss rates.
“This product has the potential to transform the current cashew shelling processing systems with its advantages, indicating a significant market potential,” Mr. Long said, adding that the Association will introduce the product to member enterprises and expand outreach to other businesses to integrate the product into everyday use.
The cashew shelling machine design was accepted for industrial design protection by the Intellectual Property Office in September 2021.
Bình Phước is considered the “cashew capital” of Vietnam, with over 141,000 hectares and an annual raw cashew production exceeding 200,000 tons, the largest in the country. It is also the only locality recognized for geographical indication protection for cashew trees.
According to the provincial statistics office, cashew is a key crop in the districts of Bù Đăng, Bù Gia Mập, Phú Riềng, and Bù Đốp. The province has 280 enterprises and over 400 cashew trading and processing facilities, with about 30 companies involved in exports. Bình Phước has established over 40 cooperatives and production groups for cashew cultivation with more than 500 members, aiming to achieve an export turnover of 1 billion USD annually.
