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Oil Mills in Nepal: How to Choose one for your Needs?

22 Nov
Oil Mills in Nepal: How to Choose one for your Needs?

Oil Mill: The Journey from Seed to Table

Oil mills are generally equipment that is part of the food industry and also the industrial facility that processes oil seeds, such as soybeans, sunflowers, peanuts, and canola. This machine is used to produce palatable oils. Oil Mills are the important machines used in the food industry globally, which provide a trustworthy source of edible oils for human consumption. 
Oil mills are paramount as they help to crush oil seeds, and animal products to get the edible oil. The oil mill is essential in nourishing and feeding the population worldwide and providing food security along with economic growth and environmental sustainability. Oil mills have played a significant role in shaping global cuisines and developing a healthy culinary culture across the world. 

Oil extraction process by Oil mills

Oil mills are designed to process the oil seeds and plants. Here, the oil mills extract the oil in such a way that there is less unusable residue and a high amount of oil and other edible material. For extracting the oil from the oil seeds using the oil mills, there are two types of processing techniques that are widely used. 
 

1. Mechanical oil extraction process 

Before the advancement of machinery, the mechanical oil extraction method was used to extract the oil with an initial oil cost and investment. Here, the seeds are arranged between two barriers and the oil is produced by applying pressure upon it. The oil produced is of good quality. Also, the residue and non-edible cake components are used for another purpose.
 In the beginning, the dried seeds are cleaned and then cracked to minimize the size. The seeds are heated and soaked to manage their moisture content. After this, the seed is pressed by using mechanical force. The oil is filtered and refined to achieve the final product and improve the quality. 

2. Solvent extraction process

The solvent extraction process is the process through which the oil is produced by using a solvent or chemical such as Hexane. This is an efficient technique through which the oil seeds of low oil content are processed. The solvent extraction process is comparatively efficient and reliable and is helpful in extracting edible oil with a minimum amount of residual oil. The solvent used for the processing is determined by using the solubility of the oil and the safety. 

The first and foremost step in any oil extraction process involves the preparation of the oil seeds and raw materials by cleaning and washing them. In the solvent extraction process, the solvent is added to oil seed flakes and then extracted. Once the mixture of the oil and the seed is heated, the vaporization of the solvent leads the oil to being left. After this, the oil undergoes the removal of unwanted materials and refining to improve the quality.  

Types of Oil Mills 

The technically advanced machine, oil mill has come in a wide range from small, medium, and large depending upon the production amount. These machines are widely used on an industrial scale for a large amount of oil production. Moreover, oil mills consist of various sections which include the Seed processing section, Oil extraction section, and oil filtration section which makes the production process easy.


1. Oil Expeller Mills

Oil Expeller mills are oil extraction machines that use motorized pressure to squeeze oil from oil seeds and plants that contain high amounts of oil content such as soybeans and sunflowers. This machine works by forcing the nuts through a series of chambers that separate them from the solid matter without any use of chemicals. 
Expeller mills are the traditional oil extraction machines that are not only used in the food industry but also in the pharmaceutical industry and the makeup industry. Some of the major pros of expeller mills include high oil extraction, fast processing speed, and production of a variety of oil rates. 

2. Solvent Extraction Mills 

Solvent extraction is a process of oil extraction whereas, solvent extraction mills are the machinery that operates solvents and chemicals such as hexane to extract oil from oil seeds. This machine is one of the upscale industrial facilities. The process of extraction through this machine involves saturating the seeds and nuts, separating them from the miscellany, and vaporizing the material that leaves the oil behind. 

Solvent extraction mills are comparatively much more efficient than expeller mills as these machines extract a higher percentage of oil. The solvent extraction mill machine is automated and less labor-intensive. However, the solvent used for the process can be harmful to health and the environment. 
 

How to Choose an Oil Mill?

Getting an Oil Mill among a variety available in the market can be an exhausting job. However, there are several factors that you should consider when you choose an oil mill. Some of these aspects to consider while buying an oil mil are mentioned below: 

1. The capacity of the Oil Mill

Oil mills come with different production capacities.  Therefore, it is essential to analyze the amount of production you need. The oil mill you purchase should have the capacity to meet your production needs. 

2. Type of Oil seed 

Oil seeds are of different types. The oil mill should be equipped to produce the specific oil seeds you want to produce. The size and amount of oil content are significant factors for an Oil Mill to purchase.

3. Budget 

While buying any product, it is important to determine what amount are you willing to spend over it which will help you from overspending. Therefore, while purchasing an oil mill, do set a realistic budget that includes the total cost, the setup cost, maintenance, and upgrades in the future. 

4. Power requirements 

The oil press is an electronic machine, hence, it seeks power consumption. Before getting an oil mill, you should ensure that the supply of electricity is sufficient for the machine. Also, you can check the machine’s voltage and watt requirement which will help you manage the electric requirements. 

5. Labor 

Oil mills is not necessarily fully-automatic. It requires some amount of human effort. So, before getting the oil mill, determine what manual control is necessary. This additional human labor can add a higher cost. It is recommended to buy a more automated machine which will reduce the manpower cost. 

6. Features 

While getting an oil mill, you can ask for the available features from the vendor or the shopkeeper. Also, ensure that the machine has safety features such as emergency switches for turning off, protective covers, and others. 

7. Brand reputation 

Getting any machinery from a reputed vendor will help you get a better warranty, technical support, and maintenance in the future. Thus, get an oil mill from a reliable brand or supplier that will give you a good after-sale service. 

Conclusion 

Oil mills are indispensable machinery in the realm of food production. Conversion of the oil seeds and raw materials into edible oil and this oil is used in various cooking and industrial applications.  From large-scale industry to small-scale house applications, oil mills have a huge contribution to the daily life of human beings. Apart from the oil, the byproducts of the oil extraction process are also very useful for livestock and dairy products. Hence, oil mills have contributed to our lives thoroughly and are an important part of the food industry.