Different oilseeds have different moisture levels, shell hardness and oil content — and that affects which machine will give you the best yield and the least downtime. Here is a seed-by-seed breakdown to help you choose the right cold press oil machine.
Groundnut (peanut) — yield 35–45%
Groundnut is the most common seed processed in Indian oil mills. It is soft enough for both wooden chekku and rotary machines, and it produces a distinctive flavour that cold pressing preserves well. For a small business doing 50–200 kg/day, a 10 or 20 kg wooden chekku or rotary machine is a good starting point. For larger volumes, a 7.5 HP or 10 HP screw oil expeller handles 50–150 kg/hr.
Make sure seeds are properly dried (moisture below 7%) before pressing to get a clean, high-yield extraction.
Sesame (gingelly / til) — yield 35–45%
Sesame produces a light, aromatic oil that is popular in South Indian cooking. The seeds are small, so a wooden chekku or rotary machine with tight clearances works well. Screw expellers can also process sesame but require proper die adjustment. Cold pressing is especially valued for sesame because of the flavour it preserves.
Coconut (copra) — yield 50–65%
Dry copra has one of the highest oil yields of any seed. However, it is also hard and fibrous, which makes it unsuitable for most wooden chekku machines. For coconut, a 5-bolt oil expeller designed for coconut (30–50 kg/hr) or a 6-bolt expeller with steamer (up to 150 kg/hr) is the right choice. The copra cutter machine is also useful for cutting whole copra before pressing.
Mustard — yield 25–35%
Mustard is a small, round seed that is best processed in a screw oil expeller. Wooden chekku machines can process mustard but the output is slower. If you are running a combined groundnut and mustard operation, a screw expeller with a kettle and steamer gives better flexibility.
Niger seed (ramtil) — yield 30–35%
Niger seed is popular in Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is processed well in screw expellers. The seed is small but oily, and it benefits from gentle pressing to avoid burning the oil.
Moringa (drumstick seed) — yield 25–35%
Moringa oil (ben oil) is a premium product. Cold pressing in a wooden or rotary chekku machine is preferred to preserve the oil’s delicate properties. It is usually done in small batches.
Sunflower — yield 25–35%
Sunflower requires a screw expeller rather than a wooden chekku, because the seed hull is tough. A 7.5 HP to 15 HP screw expeller handles sunflower well at 50–200 kg/hr.
Quick reference table
| Seed | Yield | Recommended machine |
|---|---|---|
| Groundnut | 35–45% | Wooden chekku, rotary or screw expeller |
| Sesame | 35–45% | Wooden chekku or rotary chekku |
| Copra (coconut) | 50–65% | Bolt type expeller (5- or 6-bolt) |
| Mustard | 25–35% | Screw expeller (with steamer) |
| Niger seed | 30–35% | Screw expeller |
| Moringa | 25–35% | Wooden or rotary chekku |
| Sunflower | 25–35% | Screw expeller |
| Safflower | 20–25% | Screw expeller |
| Flax seed | 25–35% | Wooden or rotary chekku |
| Castor | 30–35% | Screw expeller |
Need help choosing?
Tell us your seed type, daily volume and power supply and we will recommend the right machine. Contact Devi Industries or see our oil machine FAQ for more information.