Portuguese olive mill quadruples EVOO capacity

With the installation of a new decanter, Caminhos do Futuro has quadrupled its extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) processing capacity, increasing from 1500 to 6000 kg/h.

As the last remaining mill in Montemor-o-Novo, the cooperative group recognised the urgent need to evolve in order to continue serving a growing community of farmers seeking to process olives from their groves.

“We either modernised the process or lost competitiveness,” said José Ferreira, the retired operator who dedicated over two decades to the olive oil mill.

The company said Alfa Laval played a key role in the transformation.

“Caminhos do Futuro has always had a vision focused on innovation, and Alfa Laval has supported us every step of the way,” said Nelson Fialho, current general manager. “The decision to invest in a brand new first-extraction line followed months of careful evaluation and collaboration with their experts to identify the optimal solution for our needs.”

The mill had already had an Alfa Laval olive oil decanter in operation since 1998, along with two high-speed separators acquired in 1989 when the first line was installed — all of which remain mechanically efficient today. This reliability reinforced the decision to follow Alfa Laval’s recommendation to repurpose the original line for secondary processing. Since 2024, the old decanter has been used to process pomace, making use of previously discarded material.

With harvest seasons getting shorter due to changing climate conditions, Alfa Laval’s new two-phase decanter centrifuges are being hailed as an advancement for mills. Built on the Sigma design, the equipment provides improved oil extraction and consistent performance with a simplified, user-friendly interface.

The installed model at Caminhos do Futuro features Sigma’s latest conveyor design, which the company said boosts extraction efficiency in every production cycle.

“The new conveyor, being longer, increases yield by extending the product flow distance inside the unit, while the patented Active Baffle Disc ensures uninterrupted performance, even under varying feed or process conditions,” explained Rafael Ayuso, olive oil expert at Alfa Laval. “Its simplified set-up also reduces downtime and minimises the need for manual adjustments.”

The latest Sigma series decanters are manufactured using high-grade materials and protective components intended to withstand high mechanical wear, extend machinery lifespan and maximise performance.

Image caption: Alfa Laval’s Foodec Sigma decanter at Caminhos do Futuro. Image supplied.