A honey extractor is a centrifugal machine that spins uncapped honeycomb frames to fling honey from the cells into a collection drum while leaving the wax comb intact for reuse.
In trade practice
Extractors are classified as tangential, where one side of the frame faces outward, or radial, where frames are arranged like spokes and both sides extract simultaneously; radial machines are standard in commercial Ukrainian apiaries. Extraction speed must be controlled to avoid comb collapse, which introduces wax fragments that require additional filtration before the honey meets the clarity standards in Directive 2001/110/EC. After extraction, honey passes through coarse and fine filters before settling tanks remove air bubbles. Hygiene of the extractor drum and fittings is checked during BRC or IFS food safety audits.
In a specification
Purchase specifications do not normally reference extractor type, but may require that honey is cold-extracted below a stated temperature threshold to protect enzyme activity and diastase number.