Camilo Ferrón Chile SpA is a leading manufacturer of vegetable oils and fats in the Chilean market. The company is committed to producing high-quality products at competitive prices while maintaining strict regulatory compliance and pursuing continuous, sustainable growth.

The edible oil manufacturer is at the forefront of developing functional, healthier and safer oils and fats for infant formula and complementary feeding programmes. Among its products are oils with a balanced lipid profile. These are free from trans fatty acids and cholesterol and low in saturated fats, making them an excellent nutritional choice that supports cardiovascular health.

The company's production facility therefore applies advanced refining processes to minimise the presence of contaminants such as 3-MCPD, glycidyl esters, and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH), thereby complying with the most stringent international regulations.

The process requires flow measurement at numerous points throughout the production facility for a variety of oils and fats, including frying oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil and high-oleic sunflower oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil.

The production process includes three main temperature zones:

• Process 1 is run at +90°C / +194°F and includes the batch to FP5 oil grades, the batch to FP6 oil grades as well as the input and output from hydrogenation units.
• Process 2 is run at +70°C / +158°F for batches 1 and 2, while also serving as the winterisation (dewaxing) step for FP7 and FP8 oil grades.
• Process 3 is run at +50°C / +122°F and includes the input to the winterisation unit for the sunflower oils 1 and 2 and the input to the winterisation unit 3 for high-oleic sunflower.

Process conditions

Flow rate	0…50 t/h (nominal: 20 t/h)
Pressure	4 bar / 58 psi
Viscosity	25 mPa·s (on average)
Density	920 kg/m3
Temperature	+50°C, 70°C, 90°C / 122°F, 158°F, 194°F

KROHNE supplied more than 20 units of the OPTIMASS 1400 flowmeter for use throughout the entire production process – from raw material reception to blending to final dispatch. The twin straight-tube Coriolis flowmeter is well suited for edible oil applications, particularly where accurate mass balancing is essential, as it provides direct measurement of mass flow, density, and temperature. This enables improved process control and product verification at various measuring points.

The flowmeter’s straight-tube design ensures smooth flow with minimal obstruction. This makes the OPTIMASS 1400 particularly suitable for viscous edible oils and applications where the medium may contain suspended particles or where deposit formation needs to be minimised.

All devices were factory calibrated and required only standard zero-point adjustment for improved density readings, allowing for quick installation and seamless integration into the control system. The majority of the flowmeters were supplied with remote field housings, providing improved local visibility of measured values, especially for devices installed in hard-to-reach locations.

The OPTIMASS 1400 comes with a wide range of diagnostics for 24/7 monitoring of meter health and process conditions (OPTICHECK technology built-in). Optionally, the KROHNE flowmeters can also be monitored and parameterised conveniently from a safe distance via Bluetooth^® using the free-of-charge OPTICHECK Flow Mobile app on a mobile device. A verification report can be generated at any time at the touch of a button.

Thanks to the OPTIMASS 1400, the measurement of different oil grades and batches has been automated. The implementation of KROHNE Coriolis flowmeters enables precise control of batching, blending, winterisation and hydrogenation processes, supporting consistent product quality across all oil types. Direct mass flow measurement eliminates uncertainties associated with volumetric measurement and helps reduce product rejects, improving overall process efficiency.

The integrated density measurement provides additional process information for quality assurance and product consistency. Additionally, Entrained Gas Management (EGM^™) allows the OPTIMASS 1400 to maintain operation across a wide range of gas fractions, such as those encountered during loading and unloading processes, thereby improving mass balance accuracy.

The OPTIMASS 1400 has established itself as an economical solution for edible oil measurements. Its robust and low-maintenance design ensures high availability and reduced operational costs. The optimised flow splitter and straight-tube design minimise pressure loss, which is particularly beneficial for vegetable oils with higher viscosities. The design also supports self-draining installation and reduces areas where deposits can accumulate, contributing to reliable long-term operation.