In mechanical oilseed processing plants, the goal of an expeller press is simple: to efficiently crush oilseeds and squeeze out as much oil as possible. But what happens when the machine stops crushing, the oil suddenly stops flowing, or the solids don’t separate completely from the liquids? Suddenly, you’ve hit a processing snag that impacts…
Gearbox FAQ: A Closer Look at Screw Press Gearboxes
Inside a mechanical oil press, the main worm shaft is known to compress seed material to squeeze out valuable oil while the motor powers the press. A critical component connects these two crucial machines: the gearbox. This blog will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about screw press gearboxes to explain their importance…
Exploring Oil Mill Automation Control Systems
Inside a mechanical oilseed crushing plant, soybeans pass through dozens of complex industrial operations and machines on their way through the extraction process. Whether the facility is running a few dozen tons of seeds per day or hundreds, each processing step and piece of equipment must be able to operate in unison to keep products…
The Important Role Thrust Bearings Play in Oilseed Processing
The famous physicist Sir Isaac Newton determined that every action has an equal reaction or opposing force. This law of physics applies to oilseed pressing because as the rotating worm shaft pushes seeds through the barrel, the seeds push back against the shaft, exerting a thrust force in the opposite direction. To absorb this force…
How To Calculate Cost Per Ton for Soybean Oil Production and Other Oilseeds
The day-to-day operating costs involved in crushing oilseeds can make or break the profitability of a mechanical processing plant. To combat tight margins and fluctuating market prices, processors must operate their facilities as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible—which requires a keen understanding of their operating expenses in terms of cost per ton for soybean oil…
Analyzing Oil Mill Machinery Wear to Lower the Total Cost of Ownership
In the process of crushing tons of soybeans and other tough oilseeds every day, mechanical oil mill machinery can take a serious beating. Even the highest-quality equipment made from the toughest steel will eventually erode from wear and tear due to the constant grinding motion of abrasive oilseed material. In these high-pressure, high-temperature, high-shear conditions,…
Assess Your Extraction Efficiency with an Oil Mill Process Audit
Process efficiency and product quality are the twin peaks of excellence in any production facility. In oilseed processing plants, the goal is twofold—to extract as much quality oil as possible while consuming as little energy as possible. However, when production managers get tied up running day-to-day operations, they can’t always see the forest for the…
Lowering Trypsin Inhibitor Levels in Soybean Meal
Soybean meal is the primary protein source in most animal feed formulations today. In fact, it makes up about a third of most U.S. poultry rations—supplying a unique combination of amino acids and other nutrients that broiler chickens depend on. Unfortunately, soy meal also contains several harmful anti-nutritional factors, like trypsin inhibitors, that compromise its…
Recognizing Manufacturing Safety Hazards that Threaten Mechanical Plant Safety
Between the heavy industrial equipment, the extreme temperatures, and the high electrical loads, manufacturing plants and processing facilities are filled with potential hazards. Without proper training, caution, and common sense, workers can quickly become devastating statistics in these dangerous environments. Recognizing the most menacing manufacturing safety risks in any facility is the first step to…