BULKEX: Harvestore to release XL series silo unloaders

Bottom unloading semi-free flowing materials from vertical silos is a challenging task, as is illustrated by the symptomatic “hammer-rash” found on powder, meal and wood by-product silos. This has been inflicted over the years by frustrated silo operators wielding hammers on cone bases and tank walls.
    Australian Harvestore Products says the newly released XL unloader adds the latest automation to a technology that has been used throughout Australia for over 30 years in the shape of Goliath and Alliance unloaders from Engineered Storage Products of the USA.
    First developed for the unloading of high dry matter haylage from vertical silos on dairy and beef operations, the XL unloaders have become most popular for unloading from flat bottomed silos many products that are best avoided by augers and cone bottoms.
    “Sawdust and shavings, oil seed meal including soybean meal, meat meal, pvc powder, fly ash, cereal hulls and bran present no challenge to this range of rugged unloaders that were originally designed to cut packed, 50% moisture, fermented grass and legumes and deliver it from the bottom of agricultural silos,” said Chris Russell, director, Australian Harvestore Products.
    Long term users include several major wood-milling companies in southern Australia as well as Cargills (both in the USA and Australia), Allied Mills, Arnotts, and a number of abattoirs.
    The proven chain drive technology, with custom-patterned cutters for each application, uses sheer brute strength to cut through most tough, bridge-prone materials.
    What has changed with the XL unloader is the power and its management. In place of the belt drive and ratchet system to drive the chain and rotating cutter arm independently are two new gearboxes and direct electric drives. One drives the chain via the drive chain which also doubles as a conveyor for side unloading, and the other drives the arm.
    “The management system is simple and customisable with load sensors and timers,” said Mr Russell. “These automatically control arm pressure, speed and forward and reverse operations to allow continuous, remotely-controlled, even, unloading of silos up to eight metres in diameter.”
    Unloading rates have allowed B-doubles to be fully loaded with many meals, brans or hulls in as little as 20 minutes using elevated central unloading.
    “Constant feeding of sawdust either from existing silos or, ideally, glass-fused-to-steel Harvestore silos, into kilns is no problem with the constant bridge breaking action and either central or side delivery providing a reliable and constant flow,” explained Mr Russell.
    The unloaders are sold and serviced locally by Australian Harvestore Products which has over 25 years experience and a wide range of parts.
    “Australian Harvestore will have the XL unloader on display for its Australian release at BULKEX 2009 and one lucky customer will have the opportunity to buy the display model at a freight free, duty free price just as if it was made in Australia,” said Mr Russell.
Contact: tel - 1800 25 30 40