| Design Capacity |
Processing capacity per hour or per day (tons/hour or tons/day), depending on raw materials such as palm fruits, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, etc. |
Core driver. Higher capacity requires larger equipment, more building space, and higher energy consumption, with costs increasing non-linearly |
| Raw material type |
Different oil crops (palm, rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, peanut, etc.) require specific pretreatment, pressing or solvent extraction, and refining processes |
Critical differentiator. For example, a palm oil plant requires sterilization, fruit stripping, and pressing equipment; a solvent extraction plant needs solvent recovery systems; refining depth varies by oil type |
| Process Technology |
Pressing: Physical extraction, suitable for high-oil-content materials (peanut, rapeseed), relatively simple equipment. Solvent Extraction: Using solvents to extract oil, suitable for low-oil-content materials (soybean), high yield but complex and requires solvent safety measures. Refining Level: From crude to refined oil, includes degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization; deeper refining increases equipment complexity and cost |
Determinant. Solvent extraction generally costs more than pressing; deeper refining requires advanced equipment and technology |
| Automation Level |
From manual/semi-automatic to fully integrated DCS systems, reducing labor and improving efficiency and stability |
Significant. High automation increases control system and instrumentation costs but reduces long-term labor costs |
| Civil Works & Infrastructure |
Factory buildings, raw material and finished product storage, press/extraction and refining workshops, offices, boiler house, wastewater treatment, roads, utilities |
Important component. Costs vary depending on local materials, building codes, and site conditions |
| Geographical Location & Logistics |
Land cost, labor rates, energy prices, environmental regulations, and proximity to raw materials and markets |
Regional variations are significant. Urban areas may have high land and labor costs; remote areas may have higher infrastructure and logistics costs |
| Environmental & Safety Standards |
Wastewater and exhaust treatment, noise control, solvent safety, dust explosion prevention |
Compliance requirement. Higher standards require more investment but reduce fines and operational risks |