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<pre>I agree about 1 tonne per hour as the minimum pressing rate for a
frantoio. Less than that are toys and cost almost as much. New machinery is
going to cost serious money and in the case of Australians with new groves
I have suggested in our book that they buy second hand equipment from Italy
until their groves reach full production. After that it would be useful as
a standby. The cost is a small fraction of new plant and while the quality
of the oil may be less it would be better than having a lot of capital tied
up in equipment that is being used at a small fraction of its capacity.

There are more than 10,000 frantoio in Italy and a constant
turnover of equipment.

Two other makers to put on your list are Pierilisi and Rapinelli.
Both are excellent.

I'm sorry I cannot vote in your survey for Italy as my browser is down.

Cheers Brian Chatterton.
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