With more people becoming aware of the benefits of using cold-pressed oil, there has been a need to popularise this method of oil extraction from oil seeds, not just in the urban centres where it’s hip, but all over the country.
According to one study, the Indian cold-pressed oil market could exhibit a growth-rate (CAGR) of 5.94 percent between 2024 and 2032. With greater consumer awareness, more use of cold-pressed oils in Indian cuisines and the implementation of various measures by the government, cold-pressed oils are here to stay.
Alongside, there is a focus on developing and disseminating low-cost technologies to benefit rural populations, enhancing their livelihood options and self-sufficiency.
Encouraging innovation and creativity among students in technical institutions and engaging them in socially relevant projects are also high on the list. So an ecosystem is being created to foster product and service innovation by connecting technology and engineering talent with grassroots institutions, end users, processors and fabricators.
Successful technologies are being commercialised and supported by an effective outreach program. Another program is also being developed to promote rural entrepreneurship and employment. Market studies are being conducted to identify technological gaps and available resources in various sectors. This is why the RuTAG (Rural Technology Action Group) IIT Kanpur chapter started in the region.
The invention of an affordable oil-pressing machine
Pure and high-quality oil cannot be produced by a standard oil extraction technique.
Enter the Cold Pressed Oil Extraction Machine – a compact and efficient device used to extract oil from various oilseeds like groundnut, peanuts, coconut, sesame, soybean and more.
This manual cold-press oil extraction device is lightweight, efficient, and has quality retention. It also reduces harvesting time and waste. Best of all, the press preserves the all-natural flavours and ingredients of the seeds in the extracted oil. It consists of a main body, hydraulic jack and plunger system.
How does the Cold Pressed Oil Extraction Machine work?
The oilseeds are fed into the chamber and crushed by the downward force of the plunger rod. The oil then flows out through holes in a stainless-steel cylinder. The machine offers high-quality oil extraction with minimal energy cost. Additionally, there is a screw oil press setup designed for extracting edible oil from peanuts.
Both setups are user-friendly and suitable for daily wage employees and households, preserving the natural flavors and ingredients of the extracted oil.
The oil, which has a shelf-life of nine months, is conventionally extracted from a hot press oil expeller and for this, the machine runs on electricity. The press extracts oil from harmful sources, which would otherwise pose a significant health risk and increase the likelihood of disease.
Similar technologies, higher costs
While there are other efficient technologies for cold pressing oil in the market, these types of equipment cost significantly more.
For instance, the Organic Oil Master is an electric-powered oil extracting machine, which uses a screw press mechanism to extract oil from oil-bearing parts of a plant. The oil bearer seeds are loaded in a funnel, located at one end of the machine and oil is collected at the other end of the machine.
A dry cake is obtained as a side product. Made from stainless steel, it can work for 5 hours in a single go. With all these features it comes at a price of about Rs 15,000.
Easy Oil, on the other hand, is a multipurpose industry-level machine. It uses a three-phase supply as input to a press. A wooden chamber is used to avoid high temperatures which can ruin the oil. It costs Rs 1,77,000.
The D-IV Enterprises’ Cold Pressed Oil Extracting Machine, incubated by RuTAG, IIT Kanpur, costs Rs 10,980. A total of 22 models have been sold to date.
This machine has also been sent to Africa through the Asia Africa Rural Development Organisation (AARDO).
What is RuTAG?
RuTAG is an initiative of the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the government of India that started in 2004. RuTag was conceptualised as a mechanism to provide a higher level of Science and Technology interventions and support for rural areas. Under this initiative the interventions are designed to be primarily demand-driven, focussing on bridging technology gaps at the grassroots level, upgrading technology and providing training and demonstrations through innovative projects.
The Rutag Smart Village Centre (RSVC) Program, initiated under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), GoI, aims to drive scientific and technological interventions in rural development. It focuses on enhancing livelihoods, sustainable agriculture, and innovation-driven solutions for rural communities.
The lead image on top depicts groundnuts being prepared for cold-pressing in the Cold Pressed Oil Extracting Machine. (Screengrab from a YouTube video of Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Govt. of India)
