Introduction
On the back of most packaged foods, in the recipes you use to cook at home, or in the ingredient lists at restaurants, oils are a predictable feature. Edible oils and fats are everywhere. They are an important part of commodity markets globally. This is particularly so in Southeast Asia, a region known to be an important producer and exporter of edible plant- and animal-based oils and fats, including modified by-products like butter, cooking oil, margarine, ghee and more.
Edible oil extraction machines lie at the centre of oil processing operations. Consequently, they are also essential parts of the oils and fats value chain. In the process of investing in and using a cooking oil making machine, you have great scope to influence the cost, efficiency, and sustainability of oil extraction.
As you plan to set up a new plant, it would be wise to select an edible oil extraction machine based on not only upfront cost but also long-term sustainability, in terms of environment, economics, and society. Through this blog article, we hope to offer you some useful tips to ensure that your investment in an edible oil extraction machine is also an investment in the planet, people, and processes that help you to succeed.
Vegetable oils: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Vegetable oils have been in the news recently due to the adverse environmental impacts associated with the cultivation of feedstock and the oil production and refining processes. Think deforestation, loss of land area, a high carbon footprint, and waste generated by the edible oil industry.
These concerns aren't entirely new, but a renewed focus on ESG concerns i.e. environmental, social, and governance issues has thrown new light on the impacts of oilseed cultivation, edible oil extraction machines, food safety, and numerous other elements involved in the production and consumption of oils. ESG concerns influence capital expenditures, the need to improve operational efficiency (for instance, reducing the utility consumption of a cooking oil making machine), the prioritisation of food safety, and compliance with local and national regulations.
However, we would be remiss not to mention all the good that comes from vegetable oils - they aren't all bad, after all. In 2020, a report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Indonesia highlighted the important contribution that vegetable oils have made towards fulfilling the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). These contributions range from improving food and protein supply in service of SDGs 2 and 3 (zero hunger and good health and well-being) to contributing to job creation, smallholder farmers, and GDP (SDG 1: no poverty and SDG 8: decent work and economic growth).
Despite sustainability concerns, analyses agree that banning or boycotting specific oils or fats is an oversimplification of the problem. This is because no single feedstock crop is the lone problem or solution in itself. Instead, sustainable production and consumption of oils and fats should be prioritised over exclusion. The entire food system - including oilseed cultivation, processing equipment like edible oil extraction machines, and packaging materials - should keep its eyes on the goal of equitably feeding the growing global population nutritious food while remaining well within planetary boundaries.
Types of cooking oil making machines
In this blog, we're going to focus on the impact of your edible oil extraction machine on the overall sustainability of your oils and fats production operation. But before we dive into the sustainability of these cooking oil making machines, let us explore the types of machines you will encounter in your process of setting up a new plant.
Mechanical extraction machines.
The traditional method of oil extraction is mechanical extraction. This process is carried out using a machine that is alternatively called an oil expeller press, oil press machine, or expeller oil machine. Typically, you will have two types of expeller presses to choose from: hydraulic presses and screw presses.
Hydraulic press-based edible oil extraction machines use the principle of liquid pressure transmission to squeeze the oil-bearing material and expel oil from it. Such equipment is typically comprised of a hydraulic pump station, control valve, electrical cabinet, motor, oil cylinder, cylinder, frame, and other components.
On the other hand, screw presses use mechanical pressure to expel oil from oil-bearing materials by squeezing the feed through a screw shaft. Screw press-based cooking oil making machines generally comprise a screw shaft, control cabinet, pressing ring, frame, and slag outlet.
Solvent extraction machines.
Mechanical extraction is a fairly straightforward method to extract oil from plant-based oil-bearing materials. Mechanical extractors are particularly efficient edible oil extraction machines for making oil from groundnuts or other materials with high oil content.
However, when the oil content is lower, solvent extraction is a more effective method. Solvent extractors employ solvents (most commonly hexane) to extract oil from oilseeds, nuts, bran, or fruit. Solvent extraction plants usually comprise an extraction section, miscella evaporation and stripping section, and a solvent recovery section.
The process involves adding the solvent to the oil-bearing material. The solvent mixes with the oil and separates from the oil cake. The final step in this process then involves separating the solvent (which is often toxic) from the oil-solvent miscella and the residual oilcake. In most cases (other than rice bran oil extraction, for instance), solvent extraction is preceded by pre-pressing or a round of mechanical extraction.
Selecting a sustainable edible oil extraction machine
Choosing a sustainable edible oil extraction machine is a matter of balancing technology and process efficiency to reduce your carbon footprint and improve food safety.
For each of the above types of edible oil extraction machines, different features characterise their safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Once you've decided which type of cooking oil making machine(s) you need, you can begin to evaluate your options. Generally, you should prioritise an edible oil extraction machine that makes the most efficient use of resources.
When your oil extraction operation is a small one, it's harder to achieve economies of scale. This makes it even more important for your oil extraction machine for small business to be resource-efficient. Here are a few factors you can consider as you make a decision:
Oil yield.
When an oilseed or other oil-bearing material has a fairly low oil content, mechanical extraction may not effectively extract all of that oil. In such a scenario, investing in a solvent extraction setup will help you make efficient use of your available resources. An optimised solvent extraction plant will help you obtain the best edible oil yields.
Regardless, mechanical extraction or pre-pressing is usually the first step to extract some amount of oil. For this process, screw press edible oil extraction machines provide a higher oil yield, aiding the goal of efficient use of feedstock.
Energy consumption.
In mechanical extraction using a hydraulic press, no heat or much less heat is generated compared to when you use a screw press. This means that there is no energy loss in terms of heat, making the process fairly energy efficient.
Solvent consumption.
Reducing hexane consumption not only lowers the risk of environmental contamination via toxic substances but it also lowers your investment into the edible oil production process. You should always prioritise an edible oil extraction machine which makes the most of limited solvent quantities. For instance, Kumar achieves this by efficiently separating the solvent from the miscella and the oil cake and repurposing it for the next cycle of solvent extraction. Essentially, this is the waste-as-resource principle in practice.
Value addition.
The best cooking oil making machine will yield not only good quality oil but also top quality by-products like cake residue. Since no heat or chemicals are used in hydraulic presses, the cake residue left behind has a high secondary value. It may be sent to animal feed industries as a raw material, not only reducing your waste management needs but also increasing your revenue streams.
Longevity.
Screw presses are fairly simple machines which require a relatively small upfront investment. However, because of friction and heat generation and the mechanical design, screw presses wear out faster than hydraulic presses. The longevity of your equipment is an important factor in determining its sustainability. So even in cases when you need to use a screw press, you can enhance its long-term sustainability by investing in regular maintenance and repairs via an annual maintenance contract (AMC).
Your journey into sustainable edible oil production may begin with your choice of edible oil extraction machine, but it certainly doesn't stop here. Slowly and steadily, you should examine your overall plant design, sourcing strategies, and product quality, maintaining a balance between process efficiency and environmental impact.
As climate change transforms the world we live in, we cannot continue business as usual, with no regard for ESG issues. With profound attention to sustainable food, feed, and fuel production, Kumar is a frontrunner in the oilseeds EPCC industry. We hope that with our cutting-edge engineering and sophisticated innovation centre, we can not only keep up with evolving global needs but also stay ahead of the curve, delivering sustainable solutions to our partners as they navigate the dynamic oils and fats market.
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