Continuous solvent extraction is the most efficient method for producing high-quality vegetable oil and meal from a wide variety of oilseeds. As such, it has become almost universal in the modern oilseed industry. With this growth in popularity and application has come an extensive evolution in solvent extraction techniques and equipment design, an evolution toward every greater economic efficiency, safety and ease of operation.

Energy costs have also caused a significant change in oilseed processing techniques. The rapid rise in fuel costs necessitated new methods and new equipment to reduce energy usage. Increase in solvent cost made solvent conservation a high priority.

Crown Iron Works Company is a pioneer in this evolution. Crown, a company with more than 135 years of experience in metal fabrication, entered the solvent extraction area in 1946 with several bold new concepts in truly continuous extraction.