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Based at the top of Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, Daniel Seed specialises in seed cleaning and grading for a variety of crops, primarily lentils but also wheat, barley, vetch, oats, peas and beans.

Seed cleaning and grading has become one of the most important farming practices ensuring that weed seeds, chaff, dirt and other non-seed contaminants are removed allowing for the best seeds to be sown whilst maximising seeding productivity.

The grading process removes only unwanted weeds and poor-quality seed from each load ensuring the heavier, better quality seed remains. Larger seeds generally have better vigour and are the best start to greater yield, thereby ensuring maximum returns for the farmer.

Owner Peter Daniel was facing an issue with his production line that was operating two gravity cleaning tables fed by two individual surge hoppers. The issue related specifically to the imported vibratory feeders that were not performing to the level required both in terms of throughput per hour and flow control – both crucial factors to ensure the productivity and smooth running of the lines.

“We were hoping to get 7TPH (tonnes per hour) out of the imported feeders and they were barely managing 4TPH – they didn’t even perform to the factory specs,” Peter said.

It was a simple Google search that led Peter to Enmin. For over 40 years, Victorian based Enmin has been a market leader in Materials Handling and Vibratory Equipment for a diverse range of applications with particular expertise in the food and allied industries.

“As soon as I spoke to the people at Enmin I could tell they were very professional and specialised in this area. That gave me the confidence to deal with them and ultimately purchase two vibratory feeders,” Peter said. The feeders came with Enmin’s LD4 electromagnetic drive (the only drives manufactured in Australia) and a CV6 controller.

“Easy fine tuning to regulate grain flow is critical and this is where Enmin’s controller, with its pinpoint accuracy, comes into its own,” he said.

“Enmin’s product knowledge was excellent; they listened carefully to our needs to ensure we received the right solution. The quality of the product was also excellent and we found their equipment had a very good reputation in the marketplace. Being an Australian manufacturer was also an important factor for us in our purchase decision as we knew that back-up and support was just a quick phone call away,” said Peter.

“The units were installed in late January and we’re very happy with the performance so far – they’re operating 12-14 hours per day and their output seems well suited to our requirements, having tested them with lentils, wheat and beans to date. The Enmin units will ensure we achieve an 8TPH per feeder throughput, which is higher than we were originally looking for,” he said.

“Enmin’s customer service across both sales, design and manufacturing was outstanding. They delivered on time and did everything they said they would – we’ve been very impressed,” Peter added.

“Whilst lower cost equipment from overseas may initially seem an attractive proposition, it is ultimately false economy. In the long-term product quality and performance, quick delivery turnaround and the ability to work closely with us during every phase of the project far outweighs any price difference. In terms of return on investment, there is simply no comparison,” Enmin’s Sales Manager, Paul Leahy summed up.

In addition to its vibratory and materials handling products, Enmin also has an extensive range of Industrial vibrators to suit any industry that handles bulk material. The ‘Flow-Easy’ range is specifically designed to suit Australia’s environment and covers a multitude of applications such as mining, quarrying and agriculture.

Goolwa Quarries Pty Ltd is a family-run business operating two quarries in South Australia: one at Currency Creek and another located at Hartley.

The company supplies an extensive range of high-quality quarry products to the building, construction and road building industries including aggregates, screenings, crushed rocks and sands. The company handles its own deliveries through operating a modern fleet of truck and dog trailers.

Limestone is the key base material used for country road building in South Australia and the product that was causing Goolwa’s Maintenance Manager, Ash Gibson, some issues.

“Due to its composition limestone gets particularly sticky especially when wet and as a consequence gets hung up in the trailer and becomes difficult to unload. The material doesn’t always flow smoothly often resulting in a single large load discharge which causes an uneven spreading depth. This in turn means more time and effort is spent smoothing this out,” Ash said.

“Often the only way to empty the tray was to increase the tipper elevation angle even higher and shunt back and forth, putting more wear and tear on the truck and trailer and ultimately affecting their longevity,” he added.

Any remaining residual that was left in the tray was brought back to the quarry and required to be manually emptied and cleaned – a time consuming, unproductive and obviously unpopular activity which drivers had to carry out.

The solution to Ash’s issue came via a proactive colleague who was always on the lookout for ways to boost productivity and safety. He had carefully researched the market and available products and concluded that Enmin’s Flow-Easy truck vibrators were the answer.

Flow-Easy vibrators are distributed by Melbourne based Enmin, an Australian market leader in the areas of materials handling systems and vibratory equipment. The vibrators were previously marketed under the Enmin brand but were recently re-branded to Flow-Easy.

The Flow-Easy range includes 12- and 24-volt electric vibrators along with hydraulic and pneumatically powered options. Some transport applications require vibration to be applied for an extended amount of time, a scenario where the design characteristics of the hydraulic and pneumatic models come into their own. If required, they can be run continuously, rather than the more generally utilised intermittent operation of the electric models.

Ash put the proposal to management and approval was obtained to trial one of the electric units which was delivered in early August this year.

Once delivered, the vibrator was put through something akin to a trial by fire. Ash deliberately looked for the wettest, most sticky limestone he could find and loaded it into the trailer. He and his driver then did a series of experiments in the quarry’s own driveway.

“The result was incredible. With the vibrator turned on the material exited the tray quickly in a safe, smooth and controlled discharge; the tray was completely emptied with no residual at all.

We kept lowering the elevation height and it still worked superbly; tipping at a lower elevation height is always welcome as it minimises the risk of roll-over,” Ash went on to say.

The great results were replicated on actual job sites and as a result the company has just ordered six more with more purchases likely in the future.

“The Flow-Easy vibrator has worked even better than we anticipated – it’s far exceeded our expectations. Considering the relatively low purchase cost, the ROI takes no time at all. I’d certainly recommend them to anyone who’s experiencing similar tipping problems,” Ash concluded.

The Sunshine Coast is well known as the ginger capital of Australia. Its climate is perfect for growing the popular vegetable used as a key flavourer and ingredient in food dishes, confectionery, snacks and drinks.

For over twenty years, Yandina-based Lance Bishop Engineering has been designing and fabricating agricultural machinery for Australia’s leading grower and processor of ginger: A Templeton & Son Pty Ltd. This includes a range of diggers, pullers, spreaders and other one-off specialised equipment.

Lance is an engineer by trade and started his career with a company that manufactured peanut harvesters. It was this knowledge and insight that saw him move into supplying machinery to the ginger industry.

“There’s not much machinery you can buy off the shelf that is suited to the needs of a ginger grower, so everything has to be designed and fabricated from scratch,” Lance said.

Lance’s extensive engineering capabilities and problem-solving skills were recently called upon in relation to a spreader that was in use.

The key issue with the spreader was that the mulch/compost was sticking to the sides of the storage bin – the operators had to continually stop the machine and bang and bash on the sides to free the material.

“50% of their time each day was being wasted by having to stop and start the machine. Also, the mulch/compost that did come out often came out in clumps which was yet another problem and looked terrible,” Lance said.

Lance had some experience and understanding of vibrators after seeing them being used in the concrete industry. He concluded that this may well provide a solution to the issues the company were experiencing. After some online searching he came across Enmin Vibratory Equipment in Braeside, Victoria and viewed their range of Flow-Easy vibrators.

After chatting and receiving advice from Enmin’s Sales Manager Paul Leahy, a THD 2500 Hydraulic Vibrator was deemed most suitable.

Lance’s fabrication skills had the vibrator fitted to the spreader in no time and the result was instantaneous.

“The Flow-Easy vibrator immediately transformed the spreading process and solved the problem; the mulch/compost flowed easily and in a completely controlled discharge. It was hard to believe that one device could have such a huge impact – productivity has gone through the roof and the operators are thrilled,” said Lance.

“I’m really impressed with the quality and overall construction of the Flow-East vibrator – it’s performing faultlessly and appears to be bullet proof. We look forward to many years of use from it,” Lance summed up.

Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with mines in Australia (Costerfield) and Sweden (Björkdal).

The Costerfield operation is located within the Costerfield mining district, approximately 10 km northeast of the town of Heathcote, Victoria and is involved with extracting gold and antimony (the only mine in Australia to do so). Antimony is a semi-metal that is used in the electronics industry and alloyed with lead or other metals to improve their hardness and strength. Current annual production is approximately 50,000 gold ounces and 4,000 antimony tonnes.

The mining method employed is long-hole stoping with cemented rock fill. The stopes are subsequently backfilled with cemented rock fill to supply stability, reduce dilution, and allow for mining above and below developed levels.

The cemented rock fill is produced by mixing the cement powder with water which creates a paste to which waste rock from the mine is added – a great example of a waste product being recycled and reused for another use. The whole process takes place underground in the mine.

It was an issue with tipping the cement prior to mixing that was the catalyst for Site Foreman Tony Gready to look at and ultimately purchase a Flow-Easy vibrator from Melbourne-based vibration equipment specialists Enmin.

“Concrete powder when placed in the spreader body tends to flow in – it levels in much the same way as water. Because of the angled side of the fertiliser spreader body we found that a lot of the powder would get stuck up on the sides when we were extracting,” Mr Gready said.

“The only solution was to bang on the side or use shovels – an absolute pain of a process and time consuming. Each load is around 5 tonnes and we were finding that around 700kg was left in the tub. This residue would then be transported back up which was obviously very wasteful and unproductive,” he added.

The manufacturer of the spreader body suggested that a solution could be the

installation of a vibrator and recommended contacting Enmin.

The Flow-Easy vibrator range includes 12- and 24-volt electric models along with hydraulic and pneumatically powered options that are ideal for transport applications that require vibration to be applied for an extended amount of time. If required, they can be run continuously, rather than the more generally utilised intermittent operation of the electric models.

After discussion with Enmin Sales Manager Paul Leahy, a suitable electric vibrator was selected. Armed with operating and installation instructions from Paul, the vibrator was fitted on the side of the spreader body by Mr Gready’s boiler maker.

The result was something of a Eureka moment.

“The electric vibrator quickly cleared all the powder out of the tub in just a matter of seconds. We don’t need the vibrator working for an extended period of time so we had a button fitted which allows for intermittent short bursts. That’s all that is needed to get the tub completely emptied. Our tipping problems were solved immediately,” Mr Gready said.

“The vibrator has minimised wastage, reduced operator workload and ultimately improved our productivity. It’s worth its weight in gold,” Mr Gready summed up.

The issue of bulk material clinging to the inside of a tipper and slowing down the unloading process is something common to many operators carting bulk products like soil, fertiliser, stock feed, grains and sands.

In many cases the only way to get material moving is by ‘shunting’ the vehicle or manually digging out compacted product at the end of a shift – both risky and time consuming for the operator and leading to excessive wear and tear on the vehicle.

Flow-Easy vibrators are designed to speed up the unloading of bulk products, providing an efficient, safe and controlled load discharge. The vibration loosens compacted material, effectively eliminating compacted, residual build up – a costly and common issue.

West Australian based Tierney’s Transport faced a specific problem; the issue was with the back trailer which had a large setback to accommodate a hoist which in turn caused materials including lime, sand and fertiliser to build up in front of the hoist.

“We had continual issues with the material getting stuck on the inside of the trailer – the only way to get the material moving again was to physically climb into the trailer with a shovel and free it manually; both risky and time consuming,” owner Craig Tierney said.

Craig had seen the Flow-Easy vibrators advertised in a trucking publication and decided to investigate further. He discussed his issues with Enmin and after finding out how simple the vibrator was to install, duly purchased one.

“We’ve had it fitted for a few months now and it’s working really well. It’s significantly sped up the unloading process saving us time and hassle whilst ensuring the safety of my driver.

In addition to assisting with unloading our usual bulk loads, we’ve also found it very helpful when unloading pellets and grain out the back of the trailer. You simply hit the button occasionally and that way the pellets come out evenly and not in one big rush,” Craig added.

“The vibrator has proven particularly useful when we have to tip under low sheds where our elevation height is limited. The vibrator enables us to get the product as close to the top of the shed as possible whilst discharging the load in a safe and controlled manner,” Craig went on to say.

Another benefit of the vibrators is that they’re a simple, cost-effective alternative to body liners, significantly reducing the risk of cross-contamination, particularly where grains and fertiliser are being transported.

The range includes 12- and 24-volt electric vibrators along with hydraulic and pneumatically powered options. Some transport applications require vibration to be applied for an extended amount of time, a scenario where the design characteristics of the hydraulic and pneumatic models come into their own. If required, they can be run continuously, rather than the more generally utilised intermittent operation of the electric models.

As companies update their truck and trailer fleets the vibrators can be removed easily and quickly from existing trailers and installed on the new units.

Flow-Easy vibrators are distributed by Melbourne-based Enmin, an Australian market leader in the areas of materials handling systems and vibratory equipment.

In addition to the truck vibrators, Enmin also has an extensive range of Industrial vibrators to suit any industry that handles bulk material. The range is specifically designed to suit Australia’s harsh environment and covers a multitude of industries such as agriculture, mining, quarrying, recycling, ports and terminals.

The issue of bulk material clinging to the inside of a tipper and slowing down the unloading process is something common to many operators carting bulk products.

In many cases the only way to get material moving is by ‘shunting’ the vehicle or manually digging out compact product at the end of a shift – both risky and time consuming for the operator and leading to excessive wear and tear on the vehicle.

Flow-Easy vibrators are designed to speed up the unloading of bulk products, providing an efficient, safe and controlled load discharge. The vibration loosens compacted material, effectively eliminating residual build up – a costly and common issue.

Many operators are seeing the value of fitting a vibrator to their trailers; one of whom is Australian Tartaric Products (ATP), who manufacture and supply natural tartaric acid, natural cream of tartar and grape spirit to the Australian wine industry.

ATP commenced operations from a former fruit packing shed in the town of Colignan, 50kms from Mildura in North-West Victoria. Rapid expansion followed with the construction of a factory and installation of production lines within the first 12 months. Today ATP is a major contributor to the wine industry employing around forty staff.

ATP has a unique symbiotic relationship with many of the largest wine companies in the country. The end-to-end process starts when ATP collects the grape marc, grape lees and centrifuge sludge from the partner wineries. This is then processed to produce Natural Tartaric Acid and Food Grade Spirit which in turn is supplied back to the wine companies.

The company is known for its innovation and in 2014 designed and built a cutting- edge renewable energy plant. After the grape marc has been processed, it is then used to provide energy for the ATP plant via a biomass boiler, which burns the spent marc to produce saturated steam. The steam produced then drives an Organic Rankine Cycle system which is able to generate electricity for internal use.

Gypsum is used extensively during the tartaric manufacturing process. The gypsum acts as a filter and after it has been processed the end product is stockpiled for further use within the agricultural industry.

ATP Mechanic, Murray Allomes, faced a problem with the processed gypsum as the product becomes particularly sticky and compacted making it a challenge to discharge fully.

“To remove all the gypsum from our trailer was both time consuming and an absolute pain for me. It frequently required banging on the side of the trailer to dislodge all the material,” Mr Allomes said.

“I figured there had to be a better way. I’d seen vibrators fitted to truck tippers that came to our depot and that motivated me to get on the web which is where I came across Enmin and their vibrator range,” he added.

After discussing his requirements with Enmin a suitable vibrator was selected and duly fitted to ATP’s trailer.

“Since we’ve had it I’ve been totally happy with the vibrator – it’s vastly improved our productivity and made my job so much easier and quicker. It’s such a relief not to have to bang on the sides or shunt the trailer back and forward,” Mr Allomes went on to say.

“We’re in the process of building another trailer and I’ll certainly be fitting a vibrator to that too. Given the hassle of trying to remove compacted material and the small investment required, I can’t understand why more people don’t invest in a vibrator for their trailers,” Mr Allomes concluded.

In addition to the wine industry the tartaric acid and cream of tartar is also used by the pharmaceutical and food manufacturing industries. ATP continues to grow with the development of a high-quality grape seed oil due to be launched into the market later this year.