Hulling Right After Harvest: How to Pick a 90 Lt or 190 Lt Walnut Peeling Machine

Once walnuts are harvested, the green outer husk should not be treated as something that can simply remain in place until later processing. Delayed hulling can contribute to darkening and staining on the shell surface, while prolonged contact with moist plant material can also increase the risk of mold and spoilage. That matters commercially because appearance, storage quality, export value and shelf life can all be affected when post-harvest handling is delayed.

For growers planning this step mechanically, the walnut peeling machine decision is less about choosing the largest unit automatically and more about matching chamber size and motor configuration to the expected processing scale. FeedMech lists two relevant capacities for this comparison: 90 Lt and 190 Lt. Both are electric machines intended to remove the outer husk while preserving the integrity of the hard walnut shell.

Why does immediate hulling matter?

The green pericarp holds moisture and pigments, so leaving it around the nut after harvest can work against clean post-harvest handling. Prompt removal helps separate the nut from a material that can darken as it deteriorates and stain the shell. Agricultural extension guidance also supports hulling soon after harvest because delayed handling can lead to discoloration and quality loss.

Timing is therefore part of the equipment decision. A machine that fits the harvest volume should help the operator move harvested walnuts into hulling without creating an avoidable backlog. However, the FeedMech product pages do not publish hourly kilogram output or cycle time for the two models, so chamber volume should not be interpreted as a direct measure of hourly throughput.

What changes between 90 Lt and 190 Lt?

The clearest difference is scale. The 90 Lt model uses a 0.75Hp electric motor, while the 190 Lt model uses a 1.5Hp electric motor and adds a variable speed driver. Both product pages list 220V and 380V electrical options, automatic motor protection and stainless steel construction. Both also describe peeling that maintains hard shell integrity.

How should scale drive the choice?

The 90 Lt version fits an operation that values a smaller chamber and lower motor rating while still needing the same listed voltage flexibility and automatic motor protection. FeedMech describes this model for small and medium-scale walnut processing settings. For farms that process more fruit at once, the 190 Lt chamber provides more loading volume per cycle and the 1.5Hp motor is paired with variable speed control.

The variable speed driver is the most meaningful functional difference beyond size and motor power. It allows the 190 Lt model to adjust peeling speed rather than operating at one fixed setting. That can be useful when an operation handles walnuts with different conditions and wants more control over the peeling action. The product information does not justify assuming that the 190 Lt model always processes exactly twice as much product in the same time, so the choice should remain tied to batch scale rather than a calculated production rate.

What should operators compare before harvest?

Start with the amount of walnuts likely to reach the hulling area within a working period. If the harvest arrives in smaller lots, a 90 Lt chamber may be easier to match to the workflow. If larger lots are expected and reducing the number of loading cycles is more important, the 190 Lt chamber may be the more suitable size. Electrical availability also needs to match the selected 220V or 380V configuration.

Next, decide whether variable speed control is important to the operation. It is listed for the 190 Lt model but not for the 90 Lt model. Automatic motor protection is listed for both, so that feature does not separate the two options. Stainless steel construction is also common to both models.

FeedMech is based in Bursa, Türkiye and manufactures agricultural machinery for European markets. Its wider portfolio includes Feed Mixing Machines, Feed Mixer equipment, walnut peeling equipment and walnut shaking machines. For the hulling decision specifically, the practical distinction is straightforward: choose the 90 Lt model when a smaller chamber and 0.75Hp motor match the intended batch scale, or move to the 190 Lt model when the larger chamber, 1.5Hp motor and variable speed driver better fit the post-harvest workflow.