Alfa Laval

Iberia round malaxers

Round overflow malaxers provide continuous heating of olive paste, releasing the oil so that it starts to form larger droplets that are then separated out in a vertical decanter centrifuge.

IBERIA overflow malaxer front 640x360

Key equipment for crucial processes

Malaxing is a very important phase in olive oil extraction because it has a big influence on the final quality and quantity of the product obtained.
Alfa Laval RM malaxers are normally used in high-volume, industrial olive oil extraction lines in which robustness and continuous operation are also crucial.

Cylindrical advantage

The RM malaxer design is a continuous, overflow malaxer characterized by the innovative cylindrical shape of the vessel holding the olive paste. This shape makes the malaxing process more efficient by eliminating dead spaces, and provides a 25% increase in the heat transfer surface compared with traditional “U”-shaped malaxers.

The round shape of the robust RM6000 and RM9000 overflow malaxers results in quicker heating of the paste as well as effective mixing of the olive oil, and the special design of the heating jacket provides very high heat transfer efficiency.

Benefits

  • The benefits of Alfa Laval RM malaxers include:
  • Quicker heating of the paste, with a heat transfer configuration that protects oil quality
  • Faster malaxing processes because of quicker heating and better mixing
  • Reduced energy consumption
  • Robust design and mechanical reliability keep operating costs down
  • Easy cleaning that ensures better hygiene
  • Greater safety 

How it works

Overflow malaxers provide continuous heating of olive paste, so that the oil is released and starts to form larger droplets, which can then be separated in the vertical decanter centrifuge.

Each RM overflow malaxer has a shaft fitted with a specially designed agitator that constantly blends the paste, while also continuously removing the paste from the wall to prevent overheating. Hot water is circulated through the jacket of the malaxing vessel to heat the paste to the desired temperature. Paste from the final malaxer is pumped to a vertical decanter centrifuge for oil recovery.

These malaxers are normally arranged so that the paste continuously overflows from one to the other, by gravity. Paste can also be transferred from one malaxer to another by conveyor.

Two or three malaxers are normally used in series on top of each other, although single malaxers can be used to upgrade existing extraction lines.