GENERATE EXTRA INCOME BY MAKING YOUR OWN QUALITY OIL
THE PROCESS
Here is how it's done:1) Get your seed to the press:
If you have the headroom then an overhead hopper can keep the press filled using gravity, if not then an auger can be employed to the side of the press.
2) Press the seed:
The oil press takes in seed and expels oil from the barrel of the press and cake (or meal) from the end. The cake can fall into a bin or trailer (if the press is high enough) or conveyed - usually by a belt conveyor. The oil can also employ gravity to drain into the collection tank below the press or can be pumped to a remote tank.
3) Allow the oil to settle (batch processing):
This takes about 5 to 10 days depending on ambient temperature and seed condition. More settling tanks means more total system capacity. After settling the oil must be filtered through a polishing filter to give crystal clear oil.
OR
3) Filter the oil straight off the press (continuous processing):
To produce oil continuously we need to remove the solids from the oil as soon as it comes from the press. This can be done using a special type of filter called a frame filter that has a high solids holding capacity. With this method the settling tanks are not required and the oil can be bottled straight away. See the 'Oil Filters' page.
4) Storage in a holding tank.
This tank holds your clean oil ready for bottling.
5) Fill your bottles (or any other container):
A volumetric or vacuum filler can be used.
6) Fit the cap:
If you want to use tamper evident aluminium caps then an ROPP capping machine is used to push on the cap and form the threads.
7) Apply the label:
The cheapest way is to stick them on by hand. Next level up is a simple manual machine (gets them on nice and straight and at the same level - about 300 per hour). For higher volumes a semi-automatic machine that can apply front and back labels and a best before date all in one operation (about 600+ per hour).
Various automatic machines are available to fill, cap and label using a conveyor belt system. Details available on request.
MARKETS FOR OILSo far… Culinary Oils, Cosmetics, Green fuels, Green lubrication oils, Animal supplements/conditioners, paints, candles.CULINARY OILSThe market for cold pressed oils is growing all the time, supermarkets used to stock a single brand on the bottom shelf, now most of them have rapeseed oil (and other oils) from 2 or 3 producers prominently displayed. Stand aside olive oil - your time is up.
COSMETICSSoaps, lotions, shampoos, massage oils, all that sort of stuff. Here is a link to a company that uses our cold pressed rapeseed oil: www.naturalempathy.com
CANDLESWe have a process to solidify oil, all natural and makes great candles. Let me know if you want to make candles (works with all types of vegetable oils)
FUEL FROM VEGETABLE OILYou can make 2,500 litres of biofuel per year in the UK for your own use and you won't have to inform HMRC or pay any duty at all.
It is possible to grow your own fuel (or make it from bought seed).
There are basically three types of fuel that can be made from Rapeseed oil:
1) Biodiesel - the oil is chemically reacted with methanol to release its glycerine resulting in a lower viscosity fuel (this process is called transestrification). If it is well made you can use it just as you would normal diesel, no engine modifications will be necessary and it will mix with with normal diesel.
2) Straight Vegetable oil or SVO (sometimes known as Pure Plant Oil or PPO). Here the oil is not chemically modified but is usually heated before reaching the engine's injector pump (again to reduce its viscosity). A diesel engine will run very well on pure rapeseed oil, some will take to it better than others (my Toyota runs fine on 100% rapeseed oil) but if you fit a good quality conversion kit to your engine then you should have no problems (except for a whiff of deep fried chips when you stop at the traffic lights). SVO is the greenest of the options and renewable (and fairly green if grown sustainably).
SVO doesn't need to be processed (just filter it) so the cost is lower than biodiesel. Here are a couple of links to engine conversion kits.
www.dieselveg.com
www.vegoilmotoring.com/eng
3) Blends of vegetable oil and other fuels or solvents
A bit of a black art. Some folk claim great success.
GREEN LUBRICATION OILSBiolubricants are oils designed for rapid biodegradability and low environmental toxicity.
Probably one of the most promising markets for small producers to break into would be total loss lubricants such as chain saw oils, bicycle oils and other lost oils such as release oils for concrete shuttering etc.
We have recently found a supplier of biodegradable tackifier for rapeseed oil. This is a product that will make the oil tacky or stringy so that it sticks well to bicycle and other chains and the bar of chainsaws rather than flinging off as the chain. If anyone is interested in trying out their oil mixed with tackifier then please get in touch.
SOME OTHERS to think about:
Here is how it's done:1) Get your seed to the press:
If you have the headroom then an overhead hopper can keep the press filled using gravity, if not then an auger can be employed to the side of the press.
2) Press the seed:
The oil press takes in seed and expels oil from the barrel of the press and cake (or meal) from the end. The cake can fall into a bin or trailer (if the press is high enough) or conveyed - usually by a belt conveyor. The oil can also employ gravity to drain into the collection tank below the press or can be pumped to a remote tank.
3) Allow the oil to settle (batch processing):
This takes about 5 to 10 days depending on ambient temperature and seed condition. More settling tanks means more total system capacity. After settling the oil must be filtered through a polishing filter to give crystal clear oil.
OR
3) Filter the oil straight off the press (continuous processing):
To produce oil continuously we need to remove the solids from the oil as soon as it comes from the press. This can be done using a special type of filter called a frame filter that has a high solids holding capacity. With this method the settling tanks are not required and the oil can be bottled straight away. See the 'Oil Filters' page.
4) Storage in a holding tank.
This tank holds your clean oil ready for bottling.
5) Fill your bottles (or any other container):
A volumetric or vacuum filler can be used.
6) Fit the cap:
If you want to use tamper evident aluminium caps then an ROPP capping machine is used to push on the cap and form the threads.
7) Apply the label:
The cheapest way is to stick them on by hand. Next level up is a simple manual machine (gets them on nice and straight and at the same level - about 300 per hour). For higher volumes a semi-automatic machine that can apply front and back labels and a best before date all in one operation (about 600+ per hour).
Various automatic machines are available to fill, cap and label using a conveyor belt system. Details available on request.
MARKETS FOR OILSo far… Culinary Oils, Cosmetics, Green fuels, Green lubrication oils, Animal supplements/conditioners, paints, candles.CULINARY OILSThe market for cold pressed oils is growing all the time, supermarkets used to stock a single brand on the bottom shelf, now most of them have rapeseed oil (and other oils) from 2 or 3 producers prominently displayed. Stand aside olive oil - your time is up.
COSMETICSSoaps, lotions, shampoos, massage oils, all that sort of stuff. Here is a link to a company that uses our cold pressed rapeseed oil: www.naturalempathy.com
CANDLESWe have a process to solidify oil, all natural and makes great candles. Let me know if you want to make candles (works with all types of vegetable oils)
FUEL FROM VEGETABLE OILYou can make 2,500 litres of biofuel per year in the UK for your own use and you won't have to inform HMRC or pay any duty at all.
It is possible to grow your own fuel (or make it from bought seed).
There are basically three types of fuel that can be made from Rapeseed oil:
1) Biodiesel - the oil is chemically reacted with methanol to release its glycerine resulting in a lower viscosity fuel (this process is called transestrification). If it is well made you can use it just as you would normal diesel, no engine modifications will be necessary and it will mix with with normal diesel.
2) Straight Vegetable oil or SVO (sometimes known as Pure Plant Oil or PPO). Here the oil is not chemically modified but is usually heated before reaching the engine's injector pump (again to reduce its viscosity). A diesel engine will run very well on pure rapeseed oil, some will take to it better than others (my Toyota runs fine on 100% rapeseed oil) but if you fit a good quality conversion kit to your engine then you should have no problems (except for a whiff of deep fried chips when you stop at the traffic lights). SVO is the greenest of the options and renewable (and fairly green if grown sustainably).
SVO doesn't need to be processed (just filter it) so the cost is lower than biodiesel. Here are a couple of links to engine conversion kits.
www.dieselveg.com
www.vegoilmotoring.com/eng
3) Blends of vegetable oil and other fuels or solvents
A bit of a black art. Some folk claim great success.
GREEN LUBRICATION OILSBiolubricants are oils designed for rapid biodegradability and low environmental toxicity.
Probably one of the most promising markets for small producers to break into would be total loss lubricants such as chain saw oils, bicycle oils and other lost oils such as release oils for concrete shuttering etc.
We have recently found a supplier of biodegradable tackifier for rapeseed oil. This is a product that will make the oil tacky or stringy so that it sticks well to bicycle and other chains and the bar of chainsaws rather than flinging off as the chain. If anyone is interested in trying out their oil mixed with tackifier then please get in touch.
SOME OTHERS to think about:
- Sunflower cake is a high value high protein chicken feed
- Did you know linoleum (the flooring) is made from linseed oil (hence the name Linoleum. It's also used as a base for paints, varnishes and putty.
- We pressed some hazel nuts and walnuts, loads of oil and very nice too.
- Flax seed oil
- Does anyone fancy growing Camelina - low inputs and growing in popularity in USA
- Jatropha
- Baobab
- Avocado
- Pumpkin seed
- Grape seed
- and so on and so on ................
KERN KRAFT KK40
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'KITCHEN' PRESS
Here is a little domestic oil press, ideal as a demonstrator to show how the process of oil extraction works, running taste tests or some oil now and again for yourself and friends. It is based on a juicer and is a heavy duty solid feeling unit. 700ml of rapeseed oil in an hour - not fast by any means but whirs away nicely. Works fine for most small seeds like rape, linseed, hemp etc. Can not be used for large seeds like sunflower or nuts since the screw is very small. You'll get all the fruit and vegetable juicer parts too with this oil press |
KERN KRAFT KK20
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KERN KRAFT KK80
- High quality German machine can be left running 24/7
- 80kg per hour (2 tons per day)
- Cake as flakes OR pellets
- Very adjustable and great for 'difficult seeds'