11 August 2026
Setting Up a High-Speed Apple Line for a CA Store
A CA store handles a lot more apples than a normal packhouse. If you are setting one up, your grading line needs to keep up with that volume. Here is what changes.
Why a normal line is not enough
A standard grading machine is built for half a ton to five tons an hour. That works fine for a seasonal packhouse. A CA store often needs to move apples in and out fast, all year round, so the line has to handle more.
Single lane, two lane, or four lane
One way to scale up is to add more lanes running side by side. A single lane can handle around 2.5 tons an hour. Two lanes handle around 5 tons an hour. Four lanes get you close to 10 tons an hour. More lanes means more space and more cost, so pick based on what your store actually moves in a day, not what sounds impressive.
Other parts of the line to plan for
Grading is only one step. Most CA store lines also need a wash and transfer stage before grading, usually a water tank with an elevator, belt, and sponges to clean the apples gently. After grading, some buyers want a waxing stage before packing, for shine and shelf life. Plan for these as part of the full line, not as afterthoughts.
Staffing a high-speed line
More lanes does not always mean more staff. A well-set-up four-lane line can often run with close to the same number of operators as a two-lane one, since most of the sorting work is automatic. Where you do need more hands is at the inspection and packing end, where fruit still needs a human check before it goes into crates.
Power supply is worth checking early
A four-lane setup pulls a lot more power than a single standard grading machine. Before you commit to a lane count, confirm your CA store's electrical supply can actually handle it. This is one of those things that is far cheaper to fix on paper than after the line is already installed.
What to tell us before we quote
Tell us your daily throughput target, whether you want single, two, or four lane, and whether you need washing and waxing stages too. That is enough for us to put together a full line, not just a grading machine.
