Dry Fertilizer Automation
Dry Fertilizer Operation With A Multi-Hopper Automation Blend System
PROJECT: Frenchman Valley Farmers Coop, Chappell, Nebraska
OVERVIEW
Frenchman Valley Farmers Coop expanded their dry fertilizer operation with a new facility at their Chappell, Nebr., location using a Doyle Autobatch legal-for-trade multi-hopper automated blend system.
WHAT THEY NEEDED
Frenchman Valley needed to upgrade to a larger system to fulfill the intercompany demand within their agronomy division for five other locations. The company had outgrown their old 1,500-ton facility and needed to expand to a more efficient system without the use of scaling trucks. At the same time they wanted to have the same operation as another location to provide flexibility of operation between their sites.
WHAT WE DESIGNED
System to accurately weigh and efficiently blend product
Eliminated need for truck scales and streamlined the prior process bottlenecks
Consistent operational interface across multiple locations
Opportunity for flexible staffing with more internal knowledge and easy product training
Streamlined business management & billing system
Removed need for paper tickets by having tickets sent within software
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY
Interview with BJ Franken, Operation Manager, Frenchman Valley Farmers Coop, Chappell, NE
Q: How does Kahler Automation help you achieve your business goals?
“It’s really improved our efficiencies and our accuracy in mixing up dry, especially micro blends for VRT. ... We’re achieving high accuracy.”
Q: What was the reason you got Kahler Automation involved in this project?
“I believe it is fairly easy to train, easy to run, and it’s a very good programmable system.”
Q: How has productivity improved with your Kahler system?
“Our productivity is probably increased tenfold. When a truck pulls up, we’re ready to go... where our old barn was probably 30-40 minutes to get that prepped, get that loaded, get it mixed, and get it up in the air to get it ready for the truck driver.”
