A palm kernel crushing and solvent extraction line installed at a Sumatra-based palm oil mill, designed to recover residual oil from kernels produced by the client's existing fresh fruit bunch (FFB) processing line.
The client operates a 30 TPH palm oil mill in Sumatra and wanted to add value to the kernels generated as a by-product of their FFB processing. Palm kernels typically arrive with 4-7% residual oil when separated from the fiber and shell — left in the kernel meal, this oil is lost revenue.
We designed a 60 TPD line combining mechanical pressing (screw press) and solvent extraction. The press handles 70% of the oil recovery; the extractor polishes the remaining residual to below 1.5% oil in meal. The two stages share the same solvent recovery circuit (DTDC + mineral oil absorption).
The plant was shipped in 14 containers over a 3-month window. Installation was completed in 8 weeks thanks to modular skid-mounting on the major process sections. Cold commissioning and operator training took 6 weeks. The line has been running at 105-110% of nameplate capacity since handover.
The CPKO produced is sold into the Indonesian oleochemical market; the PKM is sold as high-protein (≥18%) animal feed. The line generates a payback of 2.5 years at current kernel prices, based on a throughput of 60 TPD.