Kollergang

Grinding the Seeds

The Kollergang, a traditional edge-runner mill, was used to crush and grind oil-bearing seeds and nuts before pressing.

It consists of two vertical cylindrical millstones, each weighing about 1,650 pounds (750 kg), which rotated over a solid base. The mill was driven by a crown gear.

The seeds and nuts were crushed and ground beneath the heavy stones, breaking down the material and preparing it for oil extraction.

Scrapers guided the ground material toward an outlet. This gentle but effective method prepared the material for the next stage of the process: pressing. Look at the wooden spindle in the center. It reveals just how much work these stones performed over the years: approximately 8 inches (20 cm) of stone were worn away through use.