In this study, it is aimed to study the work process and to determine the work capacity, work effectiveness, energy consumption and labor force requirements of basic units such as washing, sorting, breaking and separating units in an apricot pit breaking and separating plant which has been mechanized in the last 2-3 years. As a result of this study, the work capacity in washing, sorting, breaking, drying, separating units was found to be 1.5, 1.5, 2, 1, 1.6 t/h, respectively. The work effectiveness in sorting and breaking units was found to be 95% and that of separating unit was 99%. The total energy consumption of the units was found to be 20.42 kW/h and the total labor force requirement was found to be five workers. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.