Blog #2.15 Local Machinery Workshop

Last year’s UC Merced/USF team were interested in the mechanization process of argan oil production. This year, we had the opportunity to visit a company that provides machines for argan oil production. When I first introduced myself to the owner, I included the word “engineer”; the owner has a dislike for that word. He thinks that engineers are people that do complex designs through computers and sit in the office all day while not getting their hands dirty. On the other hand, he and his employees get their hands dirty to try and build machines. This is a workshop space and not a factory as he does trial and errors to make his products.

He first started the tour talking about the two designs he did for the argan oil production when he established his company in 2006. Later, we saw different machines he built by hand. The pressing machine both presses and filters out the oil. There is the crushing machine for almonds to make amlou (almond paste with argan oil and honey). There is a cracking machine for argan nuts, however, we learned that it was restricted by the ANDZOA as it removes women from their jobs and traditions. It also has an 80% efficiency of cracking the nuts properly.

Almond crushing machine

Pressing machine

Cracking machine

Roasting machine

The workshop owner then presented his workshop space, where four men were currently working. He showed us how he built the machines. The main raw material is stainless steel, where they buy it from Europe. His next goal is to make a filtering device that is less than 50 kg as the competitor from China is making a smaller device.

Overall, it was interesting to see how mechanization affects argan oil production. My main thoughts were drawn to the fact that everytime that the owner mentioned “engineer”, I was the one who was pointed toward. I think there was a different perspective of being an engineer, where there is some sort of a barrier of complexity. I have an engineering background and I do not mind getting my hands dirty as I did welding before in my undergraduate helping the Rose Float Club for the 2017 year.

By Joliette Li, UC Merced Environmental Systems Graduate Student