Discontinuous totalizers for olive oil production with SysTec controller

SysTec Systemtechnik und Industrieautomation GmbH (Germany) – W&M aprroved IT6000E SysTec controller and BULK E software in use

The Portuguese olive oil producer SAOV uses W&M approved discontinuous totalizers for weighing and filling processes. When the harvested olives arrive at the oil mill, the weight of the unprocessed goods is determined on legal-for-trade receiving scales.

In the following processing stage, a W&M approved discontinuous totalizer captures the weight of the processed olive oil. The SysTec partner Barcelbal has many years of expertise in the integration of automated weighing systems into the production process of oil mills. Barcelbal uses the W&M approved and robust IT6000E SysTec controllers with BULK software to ensure an efficient weighing process.

Key facts:

• Powerful discontinuous totalizers with high performance (6 t/h with 60 kg weighing hopper capacity)
• Automated process control (no staff required)
• The modular and robust system design in stainless steel (IP69K) enables easy cleaning and maintenance procedures

The process:

After harvesting, the olives are transported to the mill, where they are cleaned of deposits and washed. In the next step, a conveyor belt transports the olives to the pre-hopper of the MCA-TG receiving scale. A SysTec weighing controller, such as IT6000E, captures the total weight of the olives discontinuously via a weighing hopper equipped with four load cells. Then, the olives are transported to the next processing step via another conveyor belt. The robust SysTec controller is ideally suited to the hygienic requirements of the food industry. The stainless steel housing complies with protection class IP69K.

A high throughput rate is achieved due to the fast signal processing of the weighing controller with integrated digital filters. Recording of all batch data with target and actual quantities is guaranteed with the IT6000E. After the initial weighing, the olives are fed from the container via an emptying flap into a cutting and grinding unit, which processes them into a pulpy mass (mash). This is stirred and kneaded evenly for about an hour at a low temperature. This causes the oil microparticles to combine, resulting in a homogeneous mass.

This is followed by centrifugation to separate the oil from impurities and water. The entire process takes place in a closed system to prevent essential substances, such as polyphenols and aromas, from evaporating.

The oil is then filtered to remove any remaining impurities. In a final step, the olive oil is stored in a steel tank for decanting. The suspended matter settles at the bottom and is finally filtered out.

After decanting, the olive oil is filled into a storage container using the MCA-DP discontinuous totalizer specially developed for this process. Due to the unknown total quantity resulting from the extraction process, filling into the storage container is carried out discontinuously via the SysTec IT6000E BULK controller, which is running in throughput mode. The valve, controlled by the SysTec IT6000E BULK, pumps olive oil into a vessel where the liquid is weighed. It is then emptied into a storage container. The SysTec weighing controller logs and documents the data in accordance with legal-for-trade food industry standards.