Six years ago, SOBY was presented with a special need from a customer who was experiencing problems transporting grass pellets in a bucket elevator. The sediment at the bottom of the bucket elevator's foot became extremely hard, causing downtime and damage to the equipment. The customer wanted a solution that did not require the purchase of a completely new transport system. The solution was a specially developed module for mounting at the bottom of the bucket elevator - a wrap that is now offered as a solution from SOBY.
Developed a wrap to prevent crop residue
"The customer's challenge arose when the grass cuttings gathered at the bottom of the foot. The amount of crop residue became larger and eventually very hard. At one point, it became so large that the cups grabbed onto it and couldn't handle the load. This resulted in deformation of the cups," says Niels Bundgaard, Chief Engineer at SØBY.
"We addressed the challenge by developing a solution that could be mounted on the customer's existing system. It's called a wrap because it literally wraps around the path of the cups at the bottom of the lift. The wrap minimises sedimentation, making it a solution that both protects the equipment and optimises operations. After that, the wrap became a solution we offer as standard because we could see a general need," says Niels Bundgaard.
What is a wrap - and how does it work?
SOBY's solution is called a wrap because it literally wraps around the path of the cups at the bottom of the lift. The wrap is positioned with a minimum distance to the cups, which is adjustable depending on the crops the lift is to run with. Depending on the size of the crop, it can damage or stop the equipment if crops get trapped between the cups and the wrap.
"In practice, the wrap prevents the accumulation of large amounts of grain at the bottom of the elevator. It also reduces the need for cleaning and minimises wear and tear on the bucket elevator parts. The swath ensures a smooth movement of the crops through the elevator, and therefore it also helps to maintain a stable and efficient operation," Niels Bundgaard goes on to explain the benefits of the solution that the customer's challenge led to.
Get help choosing the right equipment
Not sure if wraps can have a beneficial effect in your transport system? Our dealers work closely with the users of our systems. That's why they specialise in identifying your challenges and finding solutions for your operating environment. Get the right guidance on product selection, installation and adjustment - we're here to make sure your grain transport system performs optimally and runs reliably.
The challenge:
Sediment in connection with the transport of grass pellets in a bucket elevator.
The solution:
A specially developed solution from SOBY, called a wrap.
About wraps:
Prevents accumulation of large quantities of grain at the bottom of a bucket elevator.
Other benefits:
Wrap ensures a smooth movement of the crops through the elevator, and therefore also helps to maintain a stable and efficient operation.