I'm looking for a press that will allow me to crush 20 or 30 tons of seed per week. I actually have one of the Chinese-import heated crushers that I've used on soybeans and canola with moderate success. But I'd really like to buy a nicer, safer, more reliable North American or European press. If anyone has some good leads for these slightly larger, community type presses I would be greatful for the information.

If you're in North Carolina, have you talked to Matt Rudolf at Piedmont Biofuels? He's gotten really, really into oilseed crushing info (I say 'info' because we don't really grow anythign to be crushed here, but he's researched the living daylights out of the subject). He spent a month in Canada with canola growers last winter, has gone to a week-long professional seminar on oil extraction, and really knows his stuff.

He's repping one of the European presses. I know everything we deal with is tiny, but perhaps the company he distributes for does the larger systems. I know Matt at least knows a lot about larger systems like you're talking about , from his experiences in Canada and from visiting a variety of farmers in the Northeast who press their own oil.


I can't recall which one we're repping at Piedmont Biofuels- we got one at Piedmont for the biodiesel educational trailer, then switched to the other brand when they were more willing to work with us. I can't recall if it's tabypress or the other model that's commonly talked about (I'm obviously not up on these things).

See more about Piedmont, and get in touch with Matt, at www.biofuels.coop

Mark

Insta-Pro used to make a model 750 expeller press that would process ~ 5 tons per day. A model 500 or 600 extruder could be placed in front of it to enhance the feed value of the meal and increase the oil yield somewhat. It is possible that they still make them, but they seem to be tailoring their offerings to large scale crushers now. A couple of years ago the 2 pieces cost around $50,000 new. Occasionally you could find used pieces for about half that. I have not seen a used 750 press in some time though. A used model 500 extruder can be seen here, but that does nothing for oil extraction on its own.