La Salud Cooperative Boosts Olive Oil Production with OptiCEPT® PEF Technology

The olive oil producer cooperative Nuestra Señora de la Salud integrated an OptiCEPT® PEF system during the 2023-2024. Now, the prestigious company decided to add one more unit. Learn more about the success of La Salud utilizing the OptiCEPT® application.

The adoption of new technologies in olive oil production is rapidly becoming a crucial differentiator for companies. An increasing number of industrial olive mills are turning to OptiCEPT’s Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) technology as the preferred solution to boost both quality and efficiency. A prime example of this is Acesur, a world-leading olive oil producer, as well as Aceites Canoliva.

 

Another example is the cooperative Nuestra Señora de la Salud, based in Castro del Río, Cordoba, Spain.

 

La Salud operates under the prestigious Baena Denomination of Origin. It is a modern olive oil mill with a capacity to process 12 million kilograms of olives annually, producing around 2.5 million kilograms of high-quality olive oil. With an impressive daily intake and grinding capacity of 350,000 kilograms, the cooperative ensures that all olives brought in by its members are milled the same day, preserving the freshness and quality of the fruit.

 

La Salud currently employs about 400 workers who cultivate over 3,000 hectares of olive groves in Castro del Río, part of the Guadajoz-Campiña Este region.

 

In the 2023-2024 season, they implemented the OptiCEPT® LO6 PEF system, and due to its success, they introduced the LO7 model in a second production line for the 2024-2025 season.

 

We spoke with manager Rafael Doncel about the cooperative’s experience with OptiCEPT® and their decision to expand the technology.

After observing the OptiCEPT® system’s impact last season, we saw an increased extraction of quality olive oil

Rafael Doncel, Manager, Nuestra Señora de la Salud

Why did you choose the OptiCEPT® technology for your mill?

Our cooperative’s primary objective is to maximize the value of our members’ products. After observing the OptiCEPT® system’s impact last season, we managed to increase the extraction of quality oil, which is key to our mission.

Was it challenging for the Board of Directors to approve this investment?

It’s never easy to make decisions about new technology but improving the quality of our oils is a priority. The benefits outweighed the risks, making the decision clear.

What were the main advantages during the production process?

The primary benefit was the increase in oil extracted during the first malaxation process, leading to more high-quality oil overall.

The main advantage achieved with the OptiCEPT® technology is the increased extraction leading to more high-quality olive oil overall.

With the upcoming season looking promising, what advantages will OptiCEPT bring?

In favorable seasons, especially with good weather conditions, the benefits of the technology become even more apparent. Higher volumes mean shorter return-on-investment periods, maximizing our gains.



About the OptiCEPT® PEF system for olive oil extraction

PEF (Pulsed Electric Field) system for olive oil
The OptiCept LO7 PEF system designed for olive oil extraction

The OptiCEPT® LO7 system enables increased EVOO extraction, improved efficiency, maximum performance, and superior olive oil quality.

 

The olive crusher “breaks” the cell membrane to release the oil. However, a significant amount of oil is still left inside the cell. PEF ensures that the most possible oil is released from each cell.

 

The integration of the OptiCEPT® PEF system is made in the initial stage of the process, right after the crusher, enabling more of the valuable oil locked inside the olives cells to be accessible for processing.

 

The olive paste is treated with pulsed electric field within milli to microseconds making the process very efficient without applying any heat.

 

The effectiveness of PEF treatment is determined by the combination of pulse parameters, including electric field strength, pulse duration, and frequency.

 

The OptiCept LO7 PEF system is optimized for olive oil extraction and stands out as a versatile and innovative alternative to conventional methods, particularly for its non-thermal, energy-efficient, and quality-preserving characteristics.

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