Last year, our cooperative took timely advantage of the opportunity offered by the PNRR call for proposals dedicated to oil mills.
The funding, aimed at energy efficiency and improving product quality, provided a concrete opportunity to intervene on the plant with a targeted renovation.
Thanks to the commitment of the board and the contribution of the members, the submitted project was approved and funded, kicking off a strategic intervention for the future of our cooperative.
The real change: from three to two steps
The main element of innovation introduced concerns the shift from three-stage processing to two-stage, with the adoption of a new centrifugal extractor latest generation. This change allows for more efficient and sustainable processing, with a significant reduction in water consumption and simplification in by-product management.
The pomace produced is of the biphasic, that is, wetter and more fluid than traditional dry pomace, and can be considered a “liquid pomace” in some respects, with benefits also in terms of logistics and valorization.
A more efficient and technological plant
The plant upgrade included the introduction of thePieralisi SPI 42.2 D centrifugal extractor, the true centerpiece of the modernization project. This machinery offers high performance and automatic control of the extraction process, ensuring excellent yields and quality consistency. The new system is complemented by a 30 HP crusher with a refrigeration chamber, which allows for more accurate temperature control during crushing, better preserving the organoleptic properties of the oil.
A new discharge line was also built to improve pomace management and reduce the overall environmental impact.
Production capacity and needs analysis
The sizing of the new plant was carefully studied based on the analysis of historical production data. According to SIAN data, our Guardea oil mill processes an average of 3,884.82 quintals of olives per year, with production peaks of 7,107.7 quintals in peak years.
Annual average 3885 q
Quantity of olives processed in a standard year
Peak production 7108 q
In charge years, harvest of 2020
Daily capacity 142 q
Peak daily processing rate detected
Considering about 50 working days during the oil campaign, the peak daily processing recorded in 2020 was about 142 quintals. With the new 30-quintal/hour extractor, this amount can be processed in just 4-6 hours, drastically optimizing processing time.
Faster processing and higher quality
One of the most obvious advantages of the new plant is the significant reduction in processing time. With a capacity of 30 quintals/hour, it is now possible to handle even the highest production peaks-up to 140 quintals/day-in less than half a day. This allows milling to be concentrated at the peak of olive maturity, avoiding prolonged storage and late processing. The result is a higher quality oil with higher polyphenol content, better shelf life and a richer flavor profile.
Water, energy and environmental conservation
The switch to two-stage processing also brings significant environmental benefits. The new technology requires less water during the extraction process and produces only one vegetable waste, wet pom ace-also called biphasic pomace-simplifying disposal and reducing environmental impact.
Energy consumption has also been optimized, with greater overall efficiency in the production cycle.
A strategic investment for the cooperative
The intervention carried out with NRP funds enabled our cooperative to take a significant step forward while maintaining continuity with the existing facility. This is not a total revolution, but a targeted renovation that strengthens our production capacity, improving the quality of service we offer to members and making the entire processing cycle more sustainable.
The investment in two-stage technology represents a forward-looking choice in line with the needs of modern, quality-, cost- and environment-conscious olive growing.
“Goodbye Pieralisi Jumbo, welcome Pieralisi SPI 42.2 D”: this symbolic passage marks the beginning of a new phase for our crusher under the banner of responsible innovation and production efficiency.
