Project Overview
Córdoba Province is Argentina's premier high-oleic sunflower growing region, where specialised HOSO varieties (oleic acid >80%) are cultivated by an organic cooperative in Villa María. This client — an Argentine health food entrepreneur — recognised that Argentina's organic HOSO was being exported as bulk commodity seed while premium European and US buyers were paying 3–4× commodity price for certified organic cold-pressed HOSO in glass bottles.
The plant converts 20 TPD of certified organic HOSO seed into two premium product grades: Grade A — cold-pressed extra-virgin HOSO in 500 ml and 1 L glass bottles for Argentine organic food retail and Buenos Aires gastronomy; Grade B — lightly deodorized HOSO for food manufacturing clients (Argentine snack and bakery companies). Both grades carry SENASA organic certification.
Challenge
The core challenge was preserving the natural qualities that make HOSO valuable — tocopherol content, oleic acid integrity, natural flavour — while meeting organic certification requirements that prohibit chemical processing aids, synthetic antioxidants, and hexane solvent extraction. Cold-press temperatures must remain below 50°C throughout: the press barrel, press cake, and oil all measured continuously.
Organic chain of custody documentation — from certified farm seed through processing to bottled product — had to satisfy SENASA's annual auditor inspection. The client also required EU organic regulation 2018/848 compatible documentation for potential Netherlands export inquiry.
Solution
SinoOil configured three 6YL-160 presses at low RPM (cold-press mode: 40–45 RPM vs standard 55–60 RPM), reducing friction heat to keep press barrel below 45°C. Oil flows to SS316 settling tanks (72 hours natural settling), then SS316 plate filter. Grade A oil goes directly to 4°C cold storage before glass bottle filling. Grade B oil undergoes optional light deodorizing at 150°C for 2 hours — below the temperature that degrades tocopherols significantly (degradation accelerates above 180°C).
The oleic acid NIR analyzer enables rapid inline oil quality testing without laboratory delay. The peroxide value test kit confirms freshness before each bottling run. SENASA organic documentation — chain of custody from farm to bottle — was included in project scope with audit-ready format.