Inside APM: The Final Stage of Macadamia Processing
APM is the last step in the macadamia supply chain, where nuts arrive from sorting facilities like BundySort and Wide Bay Sort for final preparation before export. The office team recently toured the facility, with Andrew providing insight into how macadamias transition from bulk loads to export-ready products.
For those who couldn’t attend or missed key details, here’s an overview of APM’s processing operations.
Receiving & Initial Batch Processing
Unlike the earlier sorting facilities, APM receives macadamias that are already relatively clean, having undergone initial processing at sorting sheds. When trucks arrive, the nuts are:
- Batch weighed and sampled immediately upon arrival.
- The sample is tested to ensure quality and moisture levels before further processing.
- The facility is undergoing upgrades, with a new roof structure expected to provide full cover for the receiving area soon.
Once samples are taken and initial checks are complete, the nuts move into the curing room for further drying.
Curing & Final Moisture Adjustment
The curing process at APM is similar to earlier facilities but operates at higher temperatures to achieve export moisture standards:
- Nuts are dried down to 4% moisture content, compared to 10% at the sorting sheds.
- This ensures they meet the strict requirements for export markets.
- The drying room operates with controlled air circulation and heat management to maintain efficiency.
Final Cleaning & Foreign Material Removal
Before bagging, nuts undergo a final cleaning phase to remove any remaining foreign materials. The process includes:
- Air blowers and dehusking units to eliminate any light debris.
- X-ray scanning (twice) to detect any unwanted materials inside the nuts.
- Additional manual quality control checks to ensure compliance with export regulations.
Foreign material removal is crucial, as regulations differ by market:
- China requires shipments with no foreign materials and a reject rate below 2%.
- Vietnam, which cracks the nuts after import, has slightly more lenient standards.
Bagging & Export Logistics
Once the nuts pass quality control, they move into the bagging line, where:
- Every batch is sealed in bags rather than transported in bulk.
- Bags are loaded onto tarp-lined trucks for shipment to Brisbane.
- In Brisbane, shipments are containerised and dispatched to international customers.
Quality Control & Lab Testing
APM has a rigorous Quality Assurance (QA) system, including:
- Testing on arrival – each batch is sampled and sent to an independent lab for assessment.
- Kernel moisture checks – macadamia kernel moisture must be below 2.5% before bagging.
- Oven-drying and cracking tests – batches undergo controlled drying before a final kernel recovery check.
- Market suitability testing – only nuts with low reject rates qualify for China shipments, while others may be directed to Vietnam for further processing.
The entire QA process ensures that APM delivers high-quality macadamias that meet international standards.
Ongoing Expansion & Future Plans
The APM facility continues to expand, with:
- Additional X-ray machines being installed for enhanced quality control.
- Plans to extend the warehouse and bagging areas to increase processing capacity.
- Future developments aimed at improving efficiency and sustainability.
Watch the Tour
For a closer look at APM’s operations, check out the video below.
APM plays a vital role in the macadamia supply chain, ensuring that nuts leave Australia in optimal condition for global markets. By integrating advanced sorting, strict quality control, and efficient logistics, the facility guarantees that each batch meets the highest standards before export.
Australian Premium Macadamias Build
The Australian Premium Macadamias (APM) Build marks a significant milestone in the macadamia industry, driven by the need for greater control, efficiency, and higher returns for growers. Founded in response to the 2023 market downturn, APM has rapidly evolved over the past 24 months into a cutting-edge facility designed for nut-in-shell receival, drying, and export…
From Orchard to Processor: Inside Wide Bay Sort
Every macadamia harvested from an orchard begins another important stage of its journey long before it reaches a processor, exporter or customer. Freshly harvested nuts cannot simply be stored or transported. They must first be cleaned, dehusked, dried and sorted to protect quality and prepare them for the next stage of the supply chain. These…
Beyond the Orchard: Protecting Quality from Processing to Export with Australian Premium Macadamias (APM)
Every premium macadamia begins its journey in the orchard, but producing a high-quality kernel requires far more than successful growing. Once harvested, the crop enters a carefully managed supply chain where moisture, temperature, handling and quality assurance all influence the final product. For orchard managers, these stages are a continuation of the work that begins…
Inside Wide Bay Sort: The Office Team’s Tour of Macadamia Processing
The office team recently had the opportunity to visit Wide Bay Sort, where Andrew provided an in-depth tour of the facility. This state-of-the-art processing centre plays a crucial role in receiving, cleaning, drying, and sorting macadamia nuts before they move further along the supply chain. For those who couldn’t attend or hear everything clearly on…
Behind the Scenes at BundySort: An In-Depth Look at Macadamia Processing
Recently, Andrew took the office team on a visit to BundySort, providing an inside look at how macadamias are processed from arrival to sorting. This facility, designed and built by Dave Anderson, is a key part of the supply chain, ensuring that only the highest-quality macadamias make it to market. For those who couldn’t hear…
