For food manufacturers, agricultural processors, and co-operative operations working with oilseeds, the choice of extraction method shapes the quality, value, and marketability of both outputs. Mechanical extraction, using an expeller press system, offers a chemical-free process suited to mid-scale and specialist producers, yielding premium oil alongside a high-protein meal co-product with direct applications in livestock feed.
Anderson International, represented in New Zealand by Advanced Packaging Systems, has been designing and manufacturing mechanical oilseed processing equipment for over 135 years. The company invented the continuous mechanical screw press and has since commissioned more than 12,000 pieces of processing equipment across over 100 countries.
Anderson 1910 Screw Press
Mechanical vs Chemical Extraction
Oilseed processing produces two primary outputs: extracted oil and meal — the solid residue remaining after extraction. The two principal extraction methods differ significantly in process, capital requirements, and product quality.
Chemical (solvent) extraction uses hexane to dissolve oil from the seed, achieving high recovery with minimal residual oil in the meal. However, it requires significant infrastructure for solvent handling and recovery, and subjects both products to chemical exposure. The resulting meal carries lower commercial value than mechanically extracted equivalents.
Mechanical extraction uses a screw press to apply progressive mechanical pressure to pre-conditioned seed, forcing oil through drainage ports in the press barrel without solvents. Residual oil in the meal typically ranges from 5 to 8% — slightly higher than chemical extraction — but the meal retains full nutritional integrity and commands a premium in feed and food ingredient markets. Mechanical extraction also carries lower infrastructure cost and operational complexity, making it well-suited to mid-scale operations and those supplying clean-label or non-GMO markets.
Anderson Dox (Dry Oilseed EXtruder).
The Anderson System: DOX™ Extruder and LION™ EXPELLER® Press
Anderson International’s core mechanical extraction system operates in two stages: pre-treatment using the DOX™ Dry Oilseed Extruder, followed by pressing with the LION™ EXPELLER® Press.
The DOX™ Extruder mechanically shears, cooks, and dries the oilseed before it enters the press. Its high-shear environment ruptures the oil-containing bodies within the seed, significantly improving oil release during subsequent pressing. The frictional heat generated during extrusion also deactivates anti-nutritional enzymes — including trypsin inhibitor and urease — which would otherwise reduce the nutritional value of the meal if left active. Operating the DOX ahead of the press approximately doubles press throughput, reduces wear on pressing components, and brings meal oil residuals down to under 6%. The DOX is available in two model sizes, handling capacities from 40 to 160 metric tonnes per day (MTPD).
For high-oil-content seeds (above 30% oil), the Dox-Hivex™ variant incorporates a drainage cage, recovering over 50% of available oil directly during the extrusion stage. This variant is specifically suited to canola and rapeseed.
The LION™ EXPELLER® Press is Anderson’s current-generation continuous mechanical screw press. It incorporates a helical gearbox with built-in thrust and reversing capability, an adjustable lens-type choke for controlling extraction intensity, and Anderson’s proprietary Diamonbar® barrel bar system with updated lining and clamping technology. The press handles a wide range of oilseeds, including canola/rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, palm kernel, and copra, and is available in three model sizes:
- Lion-600: 40–50 MTPD, 75–100 HP
- Lion-1200: 120–150 MTPD, 250–300 HP
- Lion-1600: 300–400 MTPD, 600–800 HP
With minimal modification, the press can switch between oilseed types, allowing processors to adapt to seasonal crop availability or shifts in market demand.
Anderson Lion Expeller Oil Press.
Applications in the New Zealand Context
New Zealand’s agricultural sector includes several oilseed types compatible with Anderson’s mechanical extraction systems.
Canola and rapeseed, grown predominantly in South Island arable regions, are well matched to the LION™/DOX-Hivex™ combination. Industrial hemp, now an established crop in New Zealand, produces seed suited to mechanical pressing — both the oil fraction and the resulting hemp seed cake carry premium positioning in food ingredient and animal feed markets, and mechanical extraction preserves the clean-label attributes central to hemp product value propositions.
Linseed (flaxseed) and sunflower seed are further oilseed crops with established food and industrial oil applications. The Super Duo™ EXPELLER® Series (see below) can also process specialty materials including grapeseed, corn germ, and copra, where smaller-scale cold-press extraction is required.
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The Dual Output Advantage
A defining characteristic of mechanical extraction with direct relevance to New Zealand operations is the dual-output model. Every tonne of oilseed processed yields two commercially realisable products: extracted oil and press meal.
The press meal from Anderson systems — having been heat-treated during extrusion to deactivate anti-nutritional enzymes — is suitable for incorporation into dairy, beef, sheep, and poultry feed rations as a high-protein ingredient. For New Zealand’s livestock sector, the ability to produce locally sourced, non-GMO, chemical-free protein meal on-site or at a local processing facility can reduce reliance on imported feed ingredients, while supporting supply chain transparency and clean-green credential requirements.
Cold Press Processing: Super Duo™ EXPELLER® Series
Where heat minimisation is a product requirement — typically for premium or specialty oils where cold-press labelling carries market value — Anderson’s Super Duo™ EXPELLER® Series operates without the extrusion pre-treatment stage.
The Super Duo™ uses an independent dual-pressing design: vertical and horizontal pressing sections operating in tandem on a single machine. This configuration achieves the lowest possible residual oil levels in a single pass, without the thermal exposure of extrusion pre-treatment. The Super Duo 600 is rated for 20–25 MTPD, suited to smaller-scale specialty processing operations. Earlier generations of the Super Duo have remained in continuous operation since the 1920s, reflecting the durability characteristics Anderson builds into its press designs.
Anderson International and Advanced Packaging Systems
Anderson International has manufactured mechanical oilseed processing equipment since 1888, is ISO certified, and maintains global installation, commissioning, and service support. The company has equipment installations across more than 100 countries, processing in excess of 100 different materials.
Advanced Packaging Systems represents Anderson International in New Zealand, providing local access to the full equipment range, process consultation, and technical support for oilseed processing applications.
Contact Advanced Packaging Systems to discuss oilseed processing requirements.
