Ag Growth International (AGI) has announced its new C-Line permanent handling grain system for farm use.

Made in North America, the C-line offers growers the convenience, efficiency, and speed of no-touch permanent grain handling as experienced by commercial grain operations. The system is on display, this week, at the 2023 National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) in Louisville, KY (Booth 8458).

Without a doubt, the agricultural work force continues to shrink. This is an issue for busy growers, who face increased pressure to do more with less. We are excited to launch the C-line permanent grain handling system for farm and light commercial use,” said David Wernsing, AGI Senior Director of Global Product Management for Permanent Handling Products.

“This system is engineered to meet AGI’s highest manufacturing standards, and, most importantly, delivers virtually hands-free efficient grain transfer against the farm’s high-capacity, seasonal harvest needs.”

The C-line for farms is the latest addition to AGI’s variety of permanent and portable grain handling offerings. The low-touch permanent grain handling system can move whole grains up to 10,000 bushels per hour (bph). The C-line’s simple plug-and-play, modular structure is engineered for speed. Its design enables quick assembly, reduces overall installation costs, and avoids costly grain delivery bottlenecks at harvest.

Visitors to AGI Booth 8458 at NFMS can learn more about the C-line’s system of components including bucket elevators and En-masse and Bulk-flo chain conveyors. The system components complement AGI grain storage solutions and accessories:

• The C-line bucket elevator handles whole grains up to 10,400 bph with discharge heights to 150 feet.
• The en-masse chain conveyor delivers up to 11,000 bph with lengths up to 150 feet in horizontal arrangements or at slight inclines.
• The bulk-flow chain conveyor moves whole grains up to 11,000 bph in inclines up to 45 degrees.

“AGI’s new C-Line delivers the perfect combination of cost-effective grain handling power, efficiency and versatility required by today’s modern grain operations. And, with a tight farm labor market, it gives growers an ideal solution,” said Wernsing.

With safety as AGI’s top priority, standard accessory options include integrated ladders and platforms to ensure safe access for inspection and maintenance. Growers can also add AGI’s hazard monitoring and grain bin conditioning technologies which include sensors, remote mobile monitoring, and automatic alerts for temperature and early detection of problems before damage or product waste can occur.

For decades, AGI has served as a premier provider of permanent and portable grain handling and storage equipment for both farm and commercial applications. AGI brands are amongst the most respected in the industry. To learn more about AGI’s C-line permanent grain handling systems, download a brochure, or find the nearest dealer, visit aggrowth.com.

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Sona Machinery gears up to fulfill the growing demand for ethanol in India

The Swedish agritech company BoMill AB unveils BoMill InSight™, the next generation of industrial grain sorting equipment able to sort grain lots, kernel by kernel, at industrial speed – up to 15mt/h, based on each single kernel’s internal properties.

Underlining its focus on using technology as a differentiator, Sona Machinery, the undisputed leader in the agro-processing equipment manufacturing industry, is now gearing up to revolutionize India’s enormous ethanol production market.

The company will serve as a full-service EPC solution provider, providing engineering, procurement, and commissioning services as well as cutting-edge turnkey solutions to grain-based distilleries across the country.

Sona Machinery’s expansion into a new business vertical comes at a time when India is aggressively pushing to more than double its ethanol production capacity from the current 684 crore litres to 1,500 crore litres.

This increased production will be integral to achieving the government’s ambitious target to have a 20% ethanol blend in petrol fuels by 2025. If achieved, this target is expected to save foreign exchange worth INR 30,000 crore every year while also improving India’s energy security and reducing pollution. It is this massive market opportunity that Sona Machinery aims to tap into.

Speaking on the development, Mr Vasu Naren, Managing Director & CEO, Sona Machinery, said, “Ethanol is one of the most important ingredients for a wide range of industrial applications such as drinks, drugs, plastics, lacquers, polishes, plasticizers, and cosmetics.

It is also increasingly finding adoption as a biofuel and is being used to blend conventional oil-based fuels such as petrol and diesel to reduce their environmental impact and cost. Some countries, such as Brazil, have already made the switch over to 100% ethanol fuel. India, as a grain-rich economy, has similar potential.

Given its impact on both the environment and economy, ethanol will be an important ingredient in the making of a future-ready nation. Sona Machinery is delighted to contribute to this growth story with full range of EPC services and turnkey solutions.”

“Sona Machinery will own the end-to-end process of establishing a grain-based ethanol manufacturing facility. Doing so will help us unlock deep synergies that will minimise waste, improve productivity and profitability, and ensure seamless scalability for our clients,” he added.

Sona Machinery’s key differentiation comes from the fact that we will manufacture 90% of the machinery required for milling and handling starch-rich grain such as rice, maize, millets, and wheat. These solutions will cover all key processes, from cleaning and destoning to grinding and weighing.

We will also provide a full range of engineering services, including designing, drawings, and structural blueprints, and be responsible for the procurement of material, electrical devices, and machinery required to set up grain processing facilities. The organization will also manage the commissioning, structural fitting and fabrication, and silo creation as well.

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Bühler unveils TAS LAAC grain cleaning system

AGI celebrates 2,000 of its flagship NECO grain dryer made in Omaha, Nebraska

Cleaning is one of the essential process steps for a wide range of businesses operating at intake points and milling and malting plants. Buhler has unveiled  the next generation of its TAS grain cleaning system, the TAS LAAC.

With the new TAS LAAC, operators have all the controls at their fingertips wherever they are in the mill and reception points, meaning adjustments can be made with ease to optimize settings at changeovers.

With the introduction of sensors, the machine is ready to connect to digital services offering condition monitoring for maximum uptime and deep analyses for improved yields.
The new generation is fitted with a package of sensors for a multitude of functions and a user-friendly display incorporated on the machine.

The main benefit of the new machine control is that operators can change settings digitally. Considering the amount of time spent on monitoring and adjusting machinery to maintain the optimum running of the plant, this is more than mere convenience – it’s a whole new level of efficiency.

The system is also ready to be connected to the optional Bühler Insights digital service,
which provides for tracking KPIs, such as the condition of the main bearings and the setting of aspiration flaps.

Advanced machine condition monitoring detects critical thresholds and reduces the risk of unplanned downtime significantly.

The TAS series is available in nine different installation sizes and can cover a very large capacity range, from 20 t/h up to a maximum of 250 t/h (for wheat cleaning). If you have specific construction requirements it’s also possible to split the aspiration and the screen box (TS+AS) creating a variety of possibilities.

Intake cleaning
The following four types of machine in the TAS series are especially recommended for an effective preliminary and main cleaning of grain and other bulk materials: TAS 152A-2, TAS 154A-4, TAS 204A-4 and TAS 206A-6.

The ratio of the preliminary and main sieve area is the same for all four types. The pre-screen area is particularly crucial for the use as a pre-cleaner as well as for rapeseed cleaning, whereas sufficient main-screen area is important for precise cleaning into 1st and 2nd grade.

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AGI celebrates 2,000 of its flagship NECO grain dryer made in Omaha, Nebraska

Nampo 2023 promises latest trends and technology in agriculture

Ag Growth International Inc. (“AGI”) marked a “milestone moment” at its Omaha, Neb., manufacturing facility on Friday, March 24, as it celebrates the delivery of its 2,000th AGI NECO mixed flow grain dryer since its 1000-dryer milestone in 2014.

Purchased by AGI in 2017, the facility – a steady contributor to the Greater Omaha business economy since 1959 – has earned global recognition as AGI’s sole manufacturer of its flagship NECO mixed flow dryers and other grain drying solutions distributed to dealers, farmers and commercial grain operators.

“The success in the engineering, production, marketing and distribution of AGI’s NECO dryer is due to the dedication of our employee team in meeting customer needs,” said Matt Schneider, AGI Senior Director, U.S. Farm. “That includes delivering on time, every time; hearing customer feedback; and making continuous product improvements.”

The AGI NECO mixed flow grain dryer is considered an industry leader in sophisticated drying technology. The dryer is designed to quietly and efficiently heat kernels evenly to avoid damage and can be used to effectively dry all type of grain, seeds, and nuts. The systems’ screen-free operation and computerized moisture control deliver consistently higher quality grain and heavier test weights per bushel with optimized value for customers.

Founded in 1959 by Bill Patterson as the Nebraska Engineering Company, the first NECO mixed flow dryer rolled off Omaha, Neb., production lines in 1990 and the first dryer was sold to Tom Condon, a farmer in Clara City, Minn.

Since AGI’s purchase in 2017, the NECO legacy of quality craftsmanship, engineering and innovative design has expanded into new product lines and technology enhancements focused on advancing in-unit grain circulation, conditioning and drying. Today, with over 120,000 square feet of manufacturing space, AGI’s Omaha facility and 85-employee team combine hands-on experience with state-of-the art-technology to build grain dryers for use by farms and commercial grain operations in North America, Europe and Mexico.

“I remember when the #1 NECO grain dryer rolled off the line,” said Ken Kohrt, AGI’s master scheduler and one of the facility’s longest-running 37-year employees. “At first American farmers did not understand the mixed flow dryer. But they learned through experience. They saw how much more efficient the dryer was. It used less propane. It had a dryer capacity that could keep up with harvest. There were no screens to unclog, and it was a much gentler drying method which improved value and quality.”

Kohrt says many great moments flag his career at the plant. “Basically, I was born here. I worked at the plant when I was in high school. I knew Bill Patterson when I was a kid. He had horses and a ranch… In the summer of 1986 my mom, who was the controller and office manager, asked me to help.” And that was it. Kohrt never left with a career ranging from computing and drafting to engineering, management and scheduling.

According to Schneider, it is that kind of work ethic that guides the Omaha team.

“From engineering and manufacturing to sales and delivery, I am immensely proud of our people. This milestone achievement is all about their hard work, commitment, experience and ability to really dig deep and listen to dealers and farmers,” said Schneider.

On March 24, AGI will officially honor the 2,000^th AGI NECO dryer milestone at a special luncheon with employees and members of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and business and civic community. AGI leaders – Matt Schneider; Abdallah Alkhaleel, Plant Manager; Harsha Bhojraj, Vice President of Manufacturing; and Subroto Pyne, Vice President, Global Product Management – will welcome guests, recognize team achievements; honor the longstanding, positive economic impact on the city; and announce AGI’s #3,000 Dryer Challenge.

“We are honored to celebrate this milestone with our employee family along with members of Omaha’s business and civic community,” said Schneider. “We thank the city under the leadership of Mayor Jean Stothert and the City Council for more than six decades of their support for agricultural equipment manufacturing.”

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