To understand CPM’s impact on sustainable oilseed processing, it’s helpful to start with a simple fact: in the world of 24/7 industrial operations, efficiency is everything. For Ian Hall, Technical Sales Manager for the oilseed division at CPM Industrial Solutions, this observation has driven a career dedicated to helping oilseed processing plants maximize their output while minimizing their environmental footprint, and the resources they consume.

“Our biggest selling point is that we supply equipment with the lowest cost per ton in the industry,” says Hall. “We can put the most soybeans, or canola or sunflower seeds through our equipment using the least amount of energy to process the material.”

Continuous Innovation for Efficient Operation

Oilseed processing plants typically aim to run as close to 24/7/365 as possible. This relentless pace presents unique challenges for equipment durability and efficiency. CPM has worked to meet these challenges with durable equipment, and reliable maintenance and support services. 

“Because these plants don’t like to shut down – they run 24/7 – the equipment really starts to lose its [efficiency],” Hall explains. “My team goes out to these facilities and we do equipment audits. We look at their process, their end results, and we work with our customers to help them bring the equipment back to run with the efficiency it had when it was brand new.”

This commitment to maintaining peak efficiency throughout the equipment’s life cycle is a cornerstone of CPM’s sustainability approach. By ensuring that machines operate at optimal levels for longer periods, CPM helps reduce energy consumption and minimize waste in the oilseed processing industry.

Bigger, Better, More Sustainable

One of the most significant innovations CPM has brought to the industry is the development of larger, more efficient machines. Hall provides a striking comparison:

“A decade ago, at an average 3,000 ton per day Soybean Plant, we would expect to go through 48 rolls in a 5-year period. That’s 48 large casted steel rolls that have to be forged, milled, transported and installed.” 

“Today, with larger rolls, larger machines and technologies like our Blue Rolls coating, we would expect that our customers would go through about 16 rolls in that same 5-year period.”

This advancement not only reduces the frequency of maintenance and associated downtime but also significantly decreases the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and transporting replacement parts.

“Again, back in 2014 at a typical 3,000 ton per day oilseed processing plant, you’d be running about six mills with 12-inch by 72-inch rollers, and they might have a total of about 450 connected horsepower.”

“Today, in 2024, we’d be running four machines to get that same capacity, with bigger rollers, drawing a total of about 400 horsepower.”  

While electricity costs vary by region, a dollar per-day-per-horsepower is a safe rule of thumb, so CPM’s innovation would save the average 3,000 ton per day plant over $18,000 in electricity costs alone over the course of a year.  

The Power of Temperature Control

At the heart of CPM’s efficiency improvements is a deep understanding of the oilseed preparation process. “Temperature is a very big factor in processing any oilseed,” Hall emphasizes. “You really want to make sure that you have the material at a certain temperature to maintain an efficient process throughout preparation and even into extraction.”

By helping plants maintain consistent temperature and moisture levels, CPM’s equipment ensures that every stage of the process operates at peak efficiency. This not only improves the quality of the end product but also reduces energy consumption throughout the entire operation.

A Holistic Approach to Sustainability

CPM’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond just the equipment itself. The company takes a holistic view of the entire oilseed processing operation, looking for ways to optimize every step of the journey.

“Where do we play in optimizing energy and resource use? By having larger equipment with the lowest cost per ton,” Hall states. This philosophy drives CPM to continually innovate, creating machines that not only process more material with more uniform quality, but do so with less energy and fewer resources.

Looking to the Future

As the demand for sustainable practices in industrial processes continues to grow, CPM is well-positioned to lead the way in the oilseed processing industry. By focusing on equipment that lasts longer, operates more efficiently, and processes more material with less energy, CPM is helping to create a more sustainable future for oilseed processing.

For plants looking to improve their sustainability profiles while maintaining or even increasing their output, CPM’s oilseed preparation equipment offers a compelling solution. It’s not just about processing more with less – it’s about reimagining what’s possible in sustainable industrial operations.

Learn about CPM’s Blue Roll Technology that last 2-4 times longer than the competition, delivering less downtime,  improved safety and higher performance.