Screw Press vs. Hydraulic Press: Choosing the Best for Rapeseed Oil Production

For rapeseed oil pressing production lines, the choice of oil press equipment directly affects the oil yield and oil quality. Currently, the widely used oil press equipment in the market falls into two main categories: hydraulic oil presses and screw oil presses. These two types of equipment operate on different principles and each has its own characteristics, making them suitable for different oil mill scales and production needs. When selecting equipment, it is essential to make a decision based on the actual situation of the production facility.

Hydraulic oil presses extract oil through static pressure generated by a hydraulic system. The advantages of this type of equipment lie in its stable pressure, high oil quality, and suitability for small-batch, multi-variety production of high-quality edible oils, such as camellia seed oil, flaxseed oil, and walnut oil. Pressure adjustment in hydraulic oil presses is relatively simple, achieved by setting target values on the control panel, with automatic start and stop functions once the threshold is reached. However, since hydraulic oil presses operate intermittently, manual operations such as filling oilseeds and removing cakes are required, resulting in lower production efficiency. Therefore, they are more commonly used in oil workshops or small-scale oil mills.

Screw oil presses operate continuously, using rotating press screws to push rapeseed forward. The seeds are subjected to increasing pressure in a gradually narrowing pressing chamber, thereby squeezing out the oil. The advantages of screw oil presses include a high degree of automation, large processing capacity, and broad applicability. Whether for oil workshops or small to medium-sized edible oil mills, production lines with corresponding output capacities can be configured based on customer needs. Pressure adjustment in screw oil presses is primarily achieved by modifying the thickness of the cake outlet—the thicker the outlet, the greater the counter-pressure.

The selection of oil press equipment must consider the characteristics of the raw materials and the product positioning. For the production of high-value-added fragrant rapeseed oil, screw oil presses enable automated processing and high production efficiency. Although hydraulic oil presses can produce high-quality oil, their low production efficiency makes them unsuitable for batch production. They are generally used for small-variety edible oils or scenarios where high product quality is required.

In summary, both types of oil press equipment have their own characteristics in production. However, for practical production, regardless of which equipment is chosen, the principle of "what is suitable is best" should be followed to determine the type and model of the equipment. For equipment selection, large-scale oil mills prioritize processing capacity and automation, while small oil workshops focus more on flexibility and oil characteristics. Only by fully understanding customer needs and equipment features, combined with product and market positioning, can the appropriate pressing solution be matched.