Mechanical drive air seeder revamp

Revamps to mechanical drive air seeders bring extra benefits at no extra cost

At the LAMMA Show, OPICO is launching new and improved versions of its mechanical drive Variocast 8 seeder and Air 8 seeder. They now benefit from a larger hopper (180litres), and a new control box which receives feedback from three new sensors on the hopper. These alert the operator when seed level is low, if there is a fault with the metering drive, or an airflow problem. These improvements come at no extra cost: the price of the mechanical drive Variocast 8 seeder remains at £4456, and the Air 8 seeder at £4776.

The new features of the mechanical drive seeders are already present on the electric drive versions. However, the hopper on both these models has also been re-designed, giving them a greater capacity and a more modern look.

The costs of the electric drive seeders also remain the same: the Variocast 8 is £6664 and Air 8 seeder, £7072.  For more information, contact OPICO on 01778 421111 or visit the website www.opico.co.uk. 

Oldest Working OPICO GT Dryer Winner!

35*: The age of the oldest OPICO dryer in the UK...

The search for the oldest working OPICO batch dryer in the UK is over: the Viner family of Smokedown Farm, near Faringdon in Oxfordshire have revealed they own a PTO-driven, gas-powered 370 GT which was built in 1977. 

Mark says: “We rang up to order a replacement flame detector during the summer and the service engineer couldn’t believe it when my brother, Adam, gave him the serial number,” It was at this stage he was encouraged to submit a picture of the machine working, along with another picture of the serial plate for a chance to win a service including parts to the value of £500.

“Clearly we were pleased to win, but frustratingly we probably won’t need the full £500 of parts, just a new base plate which has worn thin over the years, a new intake hopper which has received the odd knock, and maybe a few new dials,” he adds.

Adam is responsible for keeping the dryer in good working order and puts its longevity down to regular maintenance and storing it in the dry. “It’s fairly robust and easy to service which is probably why it has lasted so long, but it certainly helps to store it under cover,” says Adam. 

He does however, have one small complaint. “Climbing inside can be a squeeze. We’re a broad family and the hatch feels like it was designed at a time when children were still being sent up chimneys,” he says.
With 121ha (300 ac) of arable land, typically consisting of three and sometimes four crops across three holdings the dryer’s workload is unlikely to win any boasting competitions, but since it was purchased second-hand in 1981 it has played its part in ensuring crops meet contract specification.

The GT grain dryer may be 35 years old, but David Viner and his sons Mark and Adam have no plans to change it.
 
“We’ve looked at the new models with the extending top section which would help us when moving between our three farms, and the increased throughput would be a boon for dad, but it would be more than we need,” says Mark.

“Our grain dryer is cheap to run. The tractor used to power it burns very little diesel and it’s still quite efficient. And as Opico have a seven day-a-week service centre during harvest, we can be assured of obtaining the parts we need, as we need them,” he adds.

Batch Grain Dryers - Improved dryer efficiency and grain throughput with new programming and messaging systems




4810QF Automatic (48 ton holding capacity)

OPICO has introduced a series of new programming options for its automatic batch dryers which will give operators greater control and flexibility, and allow more efficient drying and higher grain throughputs. In addition, for automatic, electric and PTO-driven dryers, a new SMS text messaging system – which can be retro-fitted -  alerts operators when drying is nearing completion or the dryer needs attention.

All new automated OPICO grain dryers now come fitted with a touchscreen control panel built to withstand heavy duty use, together with a new menu-driven control programme which gives the operator several new options to speed throughput.

OPICO’s Angus Steven explains: “In the past, the times allowed for the loading and discharging of grain were set by the factory. The new programming system gives the operator the flexibility to adjust the times, according to the particular farm set-up and/or the moisture content of the crop. For instance, where wet crops are slowing intakes, the ability to increase the loading time prevents the dryer from shutting down.”




Touchscreen Controls

Another new feature is a third sensor within the dryer: this triggers pre-heating as soon as the wet grain covers the plenum chamber but before loading finishes. “In trials with a 20t dryer on a typical two hour programme, it reduced overall drying time by around 10 minutes per batch,” says Mr Steven.

“Very wet crops will have considerable shrinkage in the first half hour of drying. The dryer can now be programmed to top up with more grain every 10 minutes for the first 30 minutes of the cycle. This slows down the drying cycle to some extent, but in a 20t batch dryer it will allow an extra one or two tonnes of grain to be dried, thereby increasing grain throughput. It’s an option that can be switched on or off by the operator.”

For OPICO’s automatic, electric and PTO-driven grain dryers, a new SMS text messaging system is now available. It sends a message from the dryer to several mobile phone numbers to forewarn when the drying cycle is nearing completion, or in the event of any electrical or burner faults. For this service, the dryer needs to be sited where there is good mobile signal coverage, and operates using a pay-as-you-go SIM card.

For automatic dryers, texts can be sent to three mobile numbers – these can be set by the operator using the touchscreen panel. A text message is sent when the dryer has finished the cooling phase.

For electric and PTO-driven dryers, a control unit is installed and up to five mobile phone numbers can receive messages. To allow more time for operators to return to the dryer, a text message is sent as soon as the burner switches off, ie at the start of the cooling phase. Retro-fitting of this service is also available.

These new modifications which improve dryer throughput efficiency are included without extra cost on all new automatic grain dryers. The SMS text messaging service is available on all new dryers and can be retro-fitted on electric and PTO-driven dryers.

For more information contact OPICO on 01778 421111 or visit the website www.opico.co.uk