Agriculture • Horticulture • Forestry • Environment • Amenity
LANDWARDSWinter 2002 www.iagre.org
FALKIRK WHEEL
Volume 57 No.6 57 No.6 Volume VEGETABLE OILS TOTAL Production MACHINE Reuse as fuel CONTROL IAgrE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S PAGE
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP Dr Dan Mitchell, President
ast autumn, as your given to the students and a total of 245 student mem- in many ways and, as your President Elect, I spoke staff at: bers, including existing stu- President, I have put two Lto students at Writtle • Writtle College dent members, by Christmas. posters up on key college College and Harper Adams • Harper Adams University These students will go on to notice boards in the last few University College. With the College key positions in engineering weeks! support of Malcolm Carr • Reaseheath College during their careers. I would A card to promote West and Chris Bishop at • The Royal Agricultural like to thank all the staff who membership to non mem- Writtle and Jim Loynes and College have supported my strategy bers is also available and a Geoffrey Wakeham at And before Christmas and the students who copy is included in this issue Harper Adams, we gained 75 plans are in hand to speak to attended the presentations. of Landwards. These can be student members for this students at: We also set a target of handed or sent to anyone Institution. The Douglas • Cranfield University at 20 new ‘Eminent’ members, a interested in joining us. Bomford Trust provided Silsoe figure which we have also So we have made some financial support and we all • Askham Bryan College achieved. Each new mem- progress this year and I hope agreed that this was well • Lackham College and ber in this category is a sen- you will support these initia- worth doing. • Walford College ior manager in a key organi- tives in 2003. If you are lec- In May 2002, during my As a result of the sup- sation within agricultural and turing on engineering or Presidential Address, I port of staff at these eight rural engineering. The sup- mechanisation and would stressed that student mem- Colleges, I am pleased to port of these members is like me to talk to your stu- bership is a key part of my inform you that we will have also much appreciated. dents then do not hesitate strategy to grow our mem- 170 new student members As part of the marketing to ask. I believe there is fur- bership. Today’s agricultural of our Institution. We have of your Institution, we have ther scope for this strategy. engineering and mechanisa- continuing support from The produced posters for com- With my best wishes to tion students are this Douglas Bomford Trust pany and college notice- you for a Happy Christmas Institution’s key members for which means that students boards. These are available and a successful 2003. the future. can now have free member- free of charge from the I am pleased to report that, ship throughout their cours- Secretariat. Dr Dan Mitchell this autumn, talks have been es. This means we will have We can raise our profile President Volume 57 No 6, 2002
The Journal for Professional Engineers in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Environment and Amenity Editor LANDWARDS Eur Ing Prof Brian D Witney PhD CEng FIMechE HonFIAgrE MemASAE FFCS CONTENTS LAND TECHNOLOGY LTD 33 South Barnton Ave, IFC PRESIDENT’S PAGE Edinburgh, EH4 6AN Student membership Tel/Fax:0131 336 3129 Dr Dan Mitchell E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.landtec.co.uk
Advertising Feature Articles All enquiries to the Institution of Agricultural Engineers 2 AMENITY ENGINEERING Tel:01525 861096 The Falkirk Wheel Fax: 01525 861660 Melissa K.Witney-Hunter
Origination: David King
Printing: Barr Printers Ltd 8 POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY
Publisher Lobe pumps for oil production Landwards is published bimonthly by: Steve Minett and Feld Kenwick Institution of Agricultural Engineers, West End Road, Silsoe, Bedford, MK45 4DU 11 RENEWABLE ENERGY Tel:01525 861096 Fax: 01525 861660 Recovered vegetable oil as a vehicle fuel E-mail: [email protected] Bernard Rice and Andreas Fröhlich Website: http://www.iagre.org
President Dr Dan Mitchell 18 ELECTRONIC CONTROLS CEng FIAgrE FRAgS ‘Total machine control’ for mobile off-highway equipment Chief Executive & Secretary Nick Pridham Christopher R Whetnall IEng MIAgrE MemASAE Membership Matters centrefold News and Comment 5 News scan 24 Company and product information
Front cover: The Massey Ferguson Agricultural Terrain Vehicle (AgTV) (Photo:AGCO Ltd)
The views and opinions expressed in individual contributions are not those necessarily of the Institution or the Editor. Landwards is compiled from information received by the Institution of Agricultural Engineers but no responsibility can be accepted by the governing Council, the Publishers or the Editor in respect of any errors or omissions. The Editor reserves the right to edit any material sent to the journal. Material from this publication may be quoted or reported on condition that full credit is given to Landwards and to the author, and that the date of publication and volume number are stated. In the interest of factual reporting, reference to trade names and proprietary products may be inevitable. No endorsement of the named products or manufacturers is intended and no adverse criticism is implied of similar products which are not mentioned. © THE INSTITUTION OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS ISSN 1363-8300 AMENITY ENGINEERING
The Falkirk Wheel which joins the Forth and Clyde Canal and Union Canal is shown here, complete with visitors’ centre (Photo: SKF)
THE FALKIRK WHEEL Melissa K. Witney-Hunter
Introduction the 1790s, creating attractive Union Canal between Glasgow The Falkirk Wheel, a unique and accessible places on which and Edinburgh. Up until the giant rotating boatlift located to live, work and relax. 1930s, the two canals were close to the Scottish town after Restoring waterways benefits linked by a series of 11 locks. which it is named, was opened everyone: renewing communi- However, along with the demise officially on the 24th May 2002 ties; protecting and improving of the canals, the locks fell into by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the environment; creating jobs disrepair, were in-filled, and II. By the end of 2002, British and boosting opportunities for remain unusable. Waterways and its partners new businesses. This particular plan to complete an huge £190 regeneration also offers scope Design million waterway restoration for exciting new buildings, visitor The Falkirk Wheel is expected programme which will see 350 attractions and conservation of to double as a new national km of waterways built or re- both a structure of great histori- landmark. The idea of connect- BIO NOTE opened, spectacular new visitor cal interest and the natural envi- ing the canals via a rotating boat attractions and even the first ronment. lift, was put forward and was Melissa K. Witney-Hunter is the Features stretch of new canal in a centu- The Wheel is the centre- originally conceived as a giant Editor and I.T. Consultant with Land ry! piece of the Millennium Link, a Ferris wheel with suspended Technology Ltd, 33 South Barnton The restoration of water- £84.5 million project led by gondolas. SKF proposed large, Avenue, Edinburgh, EH4 6AN. Tel: 0131 ways is currently taking place at British Waterways, which double row, spherical roller 336 3129 E-mail: the same rate as they were built reopens and reconnects the bearings and specially designed [email protected] at the height of ‘canal mania’ in Forth and Clyde Canal, and the bearing housings to support the Web: www.landtec.co.uk
2 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 loads. When the wheel is fully loaded, it weighs 1800 t which results in a radial load of 9095 kN per bearing. Each slewing bearing has three rows of cylin- drical rollers, one for the radial load and two with smaller rollers for the axial loads. Ten hydraulically driven gearboxes, via the geared slew- ing bearing, rotate the wheel. It turns at a rate of around 0.125 rpm, which sees it lift and lower boats at an average rate of 4 m/minute. With consideration given to the time taken for loading boats, the wheel is expected to complete a half turn about once every 15 min- utes. In operation, the wheel is maintained at close to perfect balance. With the caisson and the canal watertight doors open for loading and unloading, the water levels in the caissons depend on the level in the canals to which they are then open. Any vessel which enters a caisson, automatically displaces its own weight of water back into the canal and therefore has no net effect. When the caisson and canal watertight doors are The Falkirk Wheel is a feat of modern engineering (Photo: SKF) closed, a pump system is brought into action to equalise wheel. However, the final considered to be a form of con- SKF to provide a new bearing the water levels in the two cais- design, differing from the origi- temporary sculpture and is solution. To support the wheel, sons to establish near perfect nal, which progressed to con- endorsed as such by the Royal they developed a solution which balance. The wheel drive sys- struction evolved over the years Fine Art Commission for uses a pair of purpose-designed, tem has, of course, been into the radical concept which is Scotland. It takes the shape of a 4 m diameter, three row, slewing designed to handle a degree of now in use. Celtic-inspired, double headed bearings, one positioned at imbalance due to differing water The Wheel measures 35 m axe, in which two axe-shaped either end of the wheel, with levels in the caissons. However, in diameter, with an axle length arms rotate in a continuous cir- outer rings bolted to the sup- even allowing for this potential of 28 m, and will transfer boats cle, 180 degrees at a time. It port structure and inner rings out of balance, the very low between the two canals, over a will simultaneously lift and lower bolted to the arms. The inner friction torque of the SKF vertical gap equivalent to the two 22 m long caissons which ring of one of the bearings is antifriction bearings means that height of eight double-decker each hold a payload of 300 t, equipped with gear teeth to a rated torque of only 2972 buses. comprising of water and up to transmit the drive to the wheel. kNm is required to rotate the The new design, came from four boats, and uses a series of The use of the slewing wheel. the successful collaboration of synchronous gears to positively bearings was an unusual solu- Although the bearings come several designers led by the keep the caissons in the hori- tion, as these are normally used with their own integral seals and Morrison Bachy Soletanche Joint zontal plane. in applications with heavy axial have been designed to have a Venture. It follows on from the loads, such as those encoun- life expectancy of 120 years, SKF much acclaimed initial design by Build tered in the rotational move- is also supplying extra seals of 4 Dundee Architects Nicoll Butterley Engineering, of Ripley ment of large cranes. However, m and 2.5 m diameters. This Russell Studios and the exem- in Derbyshire, won the contract SKF specially designed these type of seal is specifically plar designs by Engineers Binnie to build the wheel and its engi- slewing bearings to be posi- designed to withstand the con- Black and Veatch. neering design consultant, tioned on a horizontal axis and ditions found in heavy-duty Situated in a natural Bennett Associates, of to cope with the specified com- applications and, in this instance, amphitheatre, the design itself is Rotherham in Yorkshire, invited bination of radial and axial will virtually guarantee the pre-
3 AMENITY
vention of any ingress of water. The 59.5 km long Antonine SKF has also provided cross Wall was begun in AD142 dur- roller bearings, to support the ing the reign of the Roman idler gears, which will keep the emperor Antoninus Pius and caissons level at all times. The stretched across central caissons themselves run on a Scotland between the Firth of wheel arrangement on circular Forth at Bo’ness and the mouth rails, with each wheel mounted of the River Clyde at Old on two spherical roller bearings. Kilpatrick. Extensive consulta- tion revealed that the safest way Millennium link to connect the Union Canal to The Falkirk Wheel is part of the the Wheel was to tunnel under- largest canal restoration project neath the wall. Needless to say, currently underway in the UK. great care was taken during the Dubbed the ‘People’s Project’, construction of the 145 m tun- the Millennium Link is the nel to ensure that no aspect of biggest canal restoration ever in this important historic structure Britain, re-establishing the his- was disturbed. toric canal link between Stonework apprentices Glasgow and Edinburgh and from the Historic Scotland coast to coast across Scotland. stone masonry training college It will see the removal of over in Elgin have completed a spe- 30 obstructions on the Forth cial commission for The and Clyde, and Union Canals to Millennium Link – the carving of make the 180-year-old water- 24 milestones for the Union ways navigable once more. Canal. Protecting the history of The Forth and Clyde Canal, the canal is an important aspect the world’s first sea to sea ship of all the work being undertak- canal, and a stretch of the Union en and the stones, measuring Canal were opened in 2001, about 1.4 m in height, are with the complete reopening of inscribed in miles showing the the Lowland canal network distance from Falkirk to scheduled for May 2002. The Edinburgh in both directions. Millennium Link is already Old Ordnance Survey maps attracting visitors, with the num- were studied to discover the ber of towpath users increasing exact locations for the stones, as the restoration progresses. all of which will be placed on On the outskirts of Edinburgh, their original sites. annual visitors to the Union In addition to consideration Canal have already dramatically for the historic structure, atten- IAgrE Scottish Branch members during their Summer Visit to risen from 18,000 in 1998 to tion was paid to regeneration of the Falkirk Wheel on 21st August 2002, waiting for their ’turn’ 75,000 in 2001. This extra activ- the surrounding area. Five to be upwardly mobile,‘in transition’, and barging clear of the ity will help local businesses as thousand new trees were plant- immediate horizon! [Photos: G Owen] towpath visitors mean money ed on a section of towpath at invested in the area, according the site of the Falkirk Wheel. Commission, and financial back- always said that the Falkirk to research carried out. The ‘Waterways Trust Scotland’ ing from seven local authorities, Wheel should be something Within the decade, the organised the mass planting, Scottish Enterprise, the special, we wanted to create Millennium Link is expected to which involved hundreds of European Regional something elegant that people have generated over 4,000 new local people. The trees, donated Development Fund, British would want to come and see. jobs along its length, attracted by local company Soroptimist Waterways and five local enter- The wheel will be a symbol for hundreds of boats and brought International, were individually prise companies. Scottish innovation and ingenu- millions of new leisure visitors sponsored with the names of The Waterways Trust ity as well as a unique, thrilling to the region. those involved placed in a com- Scotland is working with local experience for visitors.” memorative book, on view in canal societies and others to Caring for old and the Falkirk Wheel visitors’ cen- raise £2.2 million from charita- Acknowledgements new environments tre. ble trusts, corporate sponsors For generous contributions to A major challenge for the engi- and public appeal. This towering this article, we gratefully neers working on the aqueduct Project potential structure is set to become a vis- acknowledge: Samantha leading from the Union Canal to The potential of the project itor attraction in its own right. Carberry, Marketing Designer, SKF the Falkirk Wheel was a struc- has gained it a £32 million grant Jim Stirling, Director of British (U.K.) Limited, Sundon Park Road, ture dating from Roman times. from the Millennium Waterways, Scotland, said:“We Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 3BL. Tel:
4 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 01582 496729 Fax: 01582 canoeing facilities, picnic areas, 848091 E-mail: improved footpaths and disabled PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION [email protected] Web: access, for the whole community, www.skf.co.uk, and British throughout the United Kingdom. Waterways for additional infor- For more information or to make mation. Web: www.britishwater- a donation please contact:The New qualifications ways.co.uk. Waterways Trust Scotland,The The Waterways Trust is a reg- Old Basin, Applecross Street, in farm istered charity. They need help to Hamiltonhill, Glasgow, G4 9SP. conserve and improve canals, as Tel: 0141 354 7540. Web: diversification well as to provide fishing and www.thewaterwaystrust.co.uk. nnovative courses in farm Lesley Brook, land-based spe- diversification and country- cialist at Edexcel. TRAINING Iside management are In total 89 new BTEC among a new suite of BTEC qualifications are available qualifications for the farming from September 2002 cover- Trainers make tracks industry launched by award- ing most aspects of land- ing body Edexcel. based work from animal, for latest quad bike The new BTEC National horse and fish management Awards have been developed to agriculture, horticulture facts in response to the growing and forestry. Further qualifica- need that farmers face to tions in land-based technolo- Representatives from six major border to make full use of the investigate alternative uses for gy are due for 2003. ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) manu- off-road track at the village’s their land.The college-based The new courses have facturers (Honda, Kawasaki, Baskerville Hall Hotel. All the courses are designed to be been developed by Edexcel’s Massey Ferguson, Polaris, Suzuki instructors are members of accessible to people working land-based experts working and Yamaha) were recently given Lantra’s Professional Register, a in the industry.They can be with specialists from colleges the chance to demonstrate their comprehensive directory of delivered so that most of the and representatives from latest bikes at a day-long event quality-assured training and busi- studying is done in the industry, government and in Clyro, near Hay-on-Wye.The ness support professionals. evenings or during the winter other key organisations.They event was organised by Sector Representatives from the Health months. are offered at around 120 Skills Council, Lantra, to ensure & Safety Executive were also in BTEC National Awards colleges of agriculture and its UK network of ATV training attendance to answer any enable students to focus on a further education in England, instructors were completely up- queries from the instructors, and particular area of study.The Wales and Northern Ireland. to-date with current technical there was an opportunity to try farm diversification course BTEC qualifications are and health & safety issues. the latest safety helmets from allows investigation of sub- practical and work-related. Used correctly, ATVs, or Logic. jects including sustainable Students learn by completing quad bikes, are very versatile “Our instructors not only farming systems, organic pro- assignments and projects, vehicles with a wide variety of found the event extremely use- duction and estate skills. applying their knowledge and uses in the land-based industries, ful in terms of finding out the Students interested in coun- skills to realistic work situa- such as agriculture and forestry, latest technical facts and dis- tryside management can spe- tions. Edexcel is one of the which Lantra represents. But cussing health & safety issues, cialise in game management, country’s leading awarding serious accidents can occur but also had great fun trying out woodland management, bodies, offering academic and without proper training and the vehicles for themselves,” said water management, country- vocational qualifications at instruction.“Ensuring ATV users Tricia Hobin, Customer Service side interpretation, habitat more than 6000 schools, col- are properly trained to handle Manager for Lantra Awards. conservation and rural leges and accredited training their vehicles is essential, and A number of ATV training tourism. centres. particularly important in the courses have been developed A BTEC National Award land-based industries where by Lantra Awards, all of which is equivalent to GCE A Level they are increasingly used,” said are delivered through Lantra’s in standard and comprises six MORE INFORMATION event organiser Kay Francis, network of training providers units, each approximately 60 Contact Edexcel. Tel: 0870 Regional Development and instructors. hours in length.“Recent crises 240 9800. E-mail: Consultant for Lantra.“The in the industry have made it [email protected]. instructors had been extremely MORE INFORMATION more important than ever for Web: www.edexcel.org.uk keen for an event like this, which farmers to be flexible and would give them the chance to For more information on adaptable in order to max- talk directly to the bikes’ manu- ATV training in your area, imise their returns. Ensuring facturers and update their contact Lantra Connect. Tel: that they and their employees knowledge on the vehicles.” 0845 707 8007. E-mail: con- receive top quality training in Over 20 instructors, from as [email protected] the latest techniques is one far afield as Aberdeen and way of achieving this,” said Cornwall, travelled to the Welsh
9 NEWS SCAN
ENVIRONMENT International report highlights way forward for UK compost standards
comprehensive study ing areas such as the environ- and where there are obstacles ment of tailored end user speci- comparing international mental and health implications such as low waste taxes and fications is emphasised, along Acomposting standards of application to land; and constrained funding for waste with the importance of effective around the world, published this • voluntary standards and management, the development market development and aware- week by the Waste and Quality Assurance Systems of composting is not only likely ness raising and marketing, Resources Action Programme (QASs) established to give to take longer but may even be which should be supported not (WRAP), has emphasised the confidence to consumers as compromised by prevalence of only by the government, but also need for both statutory and vol- well as clear specifications for low quality composted products. by the municipalities, compost untary standards for compost if defined end markets. As one of only a few EU coun- producers and all other stake- the UK is to catch up with many tries without statutory standards holders involved. of its European partners. This combination of instru- for compost, the study con- “Composting is high on the Commissioned as part of ments designed to ensure envi- cludes that biowaste treatment political and waste management WRAP’s ongoing work to devel- op national standards for com- ‘The study also highlights the importance of voluntary posted products in the UK, the research was carried out by a industry standards to maximise the market opportunities project team headed up by Eunomia Research & Consulting. for composted products Entitled Comparison of Compost Standards within the ronmental and health protection in the UK would benefit from industry agendas and this major EU, North America and and fitness for purpose, where being placed on a statutory piece of comparative research Australasia, the study provides a voluntary standards and QASs footing, at least with respect to raises important questions detailed comparison of the pre- support the existing statutory precautionary aspects. Any about the strategic approach to cautionary/statutory and volun- regime, was shown to deliver attempt to do this, however, will composting in the UK,” says tary standards and Quality the most effective approach. have to take account of the pos- Anne Riding,WRAP◊s Special Assurance Systems (QASs) in The study also found that a sibility of a new EU Directive on Projects Manager.“The findings place in these countries for decisive factor in creating the composting and should be will help WRAP to tailor its composting, anaerobic digestion right framework for an effective devised broadly in line with the work on the development of and mechanical and biological composting industry, is the politi- proposals in the EU’s Second national compost standards, as treatment.The study also pro- cal will to support collection Draft Working Document on well as future initiatives to devel- vides a series of profiles, detail- activities.Those countries with the Biological Treatment of op end user specifications and ing the standards that operate in the most successful track record Biowaste. improve market awareness and each country, which are being in composting are those which The study also highlights the confidence in composted prod- published as separate docu- have encouraged the process importance of voluntary indus- ucts.” ments. through supporting legislation in try standards to maximise the While the research found addition to statutory standards. market opportunities for com- MORE INFORMATION that the legal framework under- Legislation which requires posted products, and based on pinning the standards differs source separating of organic the comparative data, discusses Anne Riding, Special Projects widely, the systems devised to waste, bans its landfilling or and make recommendations on Manager, WRAP,The Old promote compost while pro- imposes high taxes on landfill a wide range of issues, including Academy, 21 Horse Fair, tecting human, animal and soil has made separate collection input materials and the scope Banbury, Oxon OX16 0AH. health tended to have common and composting of biowaste a for compost ‘classes’.Where to Tel: 01295 819900. Fax: elements in place: cost effective solution in coun- draw the line between statutory 01295 819911. E-mail: tries such as Austria, Germany, and voluntary standards is also [email protected] • standards, often statutory, Flanders and The Netherlands, explored as well as the issues The study (ISBN No.1- designed to regulate poten- where compost products are involved in setting standards for 84405-003-3) is available on tially harmful aspects of com- used in large volumes in a vari- the composting process itself the WRAP website at post production and use; ety of applications. and, more generically, the suc- www.wrap.org.uk • complementary standards, Without what the study calls cessful features of QASs. again often statutory, govern- the ‘background policy context’, The need for the develop-
6 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 HEALTH & SAFETY INSURANCE Linking insurance with health and safety performance
Research just published by the • Industrial Injuries ures” (Action Point five of the the views of UK insurers, busi- Health and Safety Executive Disablement Benefit that pro- RHS Strategy Statement). ness and other stakeholders and (HSE) examines how changes in vides ‘no fault’ state benefits. To take this forward the explored the feasibility of insurance arrangements might Health and Safety Executive last options of using insurance as a better promote health and safe- It has long been argued that year commissioned research to motivator for improving employ- ty in UK companies. the Industrial Injuries look at how possible changes to ers health and safety perform- Welcoming the research, Dr Disablement Benefit scheme our insurance and compensation ance. Peter Graham, Director of HSE’s offers no incentive for compa- arrangements might best moti- The next step for HSC/E is Strategy and Analytical Support nies to improve their safety vate changes in safety perform- to promote discussion of the Directorate, said “Insurance can record and that there is little ance and encourage greater research findings in association be an important lever in moti- evidence the Employers’ Liability business focus. with the insurance industry, busi- vating employers to practice insurance does so either. The main aim of the ness, trade unions, Government good health and safety.The UK The research is a product of research – ‘Changing business and other stakeholders.The can learn much from systems the ‘Revitalising Health and behaviour – would bearing the question central to that work is operated in other countries and Safety’ (RHS) Strategy Statement true cost of poor health and safe- whether present insurance initial reaction to the research launched by the Government ty performance make a differ- arrangements improve or shows that there is a willingness and the Health and Safety ence?’ – was to identify insurance impede health and safety? The from both employers and insur- Commission (HSC) in the sum- instruments which could have an role of HSC/E will be to facili- ance firms to explore different mer of 2000. Revitalising makes impact on the costs of health tate that wide-ranging debate. options”. clear that insurance has a key and safety borne by employers; In the UK there are two role to play in helping us achieve look at the business factors con- main systems of financial com- our health and safety targets, cerning insurance that may influ- CONTACT pensation for workplace injuries “The compensation, benefits and ence employer behaviour, includ- and illness.These are: insurance system must motivate ing business perceptions; and HSE Information Services, employers to improve their examine the manner in which Caerphilly Business Park, • Employers’ Liability insur- health and safety performance, such instruments could be Caerphilly, CF83 3GG. Tel: ance – under which employ- in particular by securing a better implemented. 08701 545500. ees may receive damages for balance in the distribution of the The research surveyed com- accidents or ill health; and costs of health and safety fail- parable overseas systems, sought
Easier read for OPE Directory
The AEA’s OPE Directory & Price Guide - serv- In the recently published Autumn issue the Main listing ing the outdoor power and equipment industries - has starts on page 3, followed by the Trade name index, been ‘turned on its head’, to provide an even easier which now includes a product column and indication read for users. of those products on offer to the Hire industry; the last section is the revamped Product finder. OPE Directory - available in hard copy as an A5-sized book of 420 pages, or on CD - is published in OPE Directory & Price Guide is on subscription at February (Spring issue) and October (Autumn issue) £30 a year for the two issues, and is available by con- and contains product information from 245 manufac- tacting: Angela Black, AEA, Samuelson House, Paxton turers and distributors. Road, Orton Centre, Peterborough PE2 SLT. Tel 01733 362925; Fax 01733 370664; When it was first produced in Spring 1995 the OPE E-mail [email protected] Directory contained a Product index, a Trade name index and a Main listing of companies, their products and prices - in that order.
7 POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY Olive tree shaker in action - harvest- ing an olive crop (Photo: P Febo)
Steve Minett and Feld Kenwick LOBE PUMPS FOR OLIVE OIL PRODUCTION
Introduction for olive oil processing equip- Portugal and Tunisia, served by used for oil production. The Crude olive oil, which still con- ment. In 1991, a sister company its eight-strong work force. growing season varies somewhat tains fragments of crushed olive called Centrifugacion Alemana according to the weather but in stones, is a very abrasive medi- (CA), was set up to sell olive oil Oil production Spain the fruit generally starts um to pump. Spanish producers processing equipment manufac- Fresh, ripe black olives picked appearing in April. Harvesting are discovering that lobe pumps tured by the German company from the trees give the best mature trees starts around from ITT Jabsco may be the Hiller, and now has between 500 quality olive oil. Green olives are Christmas but the smaller trees optimal solution for this applica- and 600 customers, mainly in less mature and are consumed are picked later, from January to tion. Spain but also in Morocco, as whole fruit but they are not March. The Spanish olive oil indus- The whole olives are try is centred on Jaen, 300 km Fresh, ripe black olives in a hopper ready to be processed dropped into a grinder with an south of Madrid in Andalucia into olive oil Archimedean screw which pro- which is the largest olive oil pro- duces a paste of the raw fruit. ducing region in the country. The paste is transferred to a Andalucians are rightly proud of blender consisting of two long their product which they claim is channels, one above the other, the finest in the world. The fitted with rotating paddles. As region produces about 350,000 the paste flows along the top tonnes per year, depending on channel and back along the the weather, selling for around lower one, it is blended. In addi- 300,000 pesetas (ptas) per tion to this, the temperature of tonne. This gives an annual total the paste is raised to 40ºC by of about £350 million. thermostatically controlled To serve this industry, the heaters. engineering company In the blender, the moisture Transmission y Rodajes SL was content is adjusted to that of established in Jaen in the early freshly picked olives, namely 1970s and specialised in service, 60%. Olives which have been maintenance and parts supply allowed to lie in the sun may
12 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 a minimum. They operate on a different The whole olives are dropped into a grinder with an Archimedean Centrifugacion Alemana origi- principle to screw pumps. Two screw, which produces a paste of the raw fruit; the paste is trans- nally offered a screw pump for interacting, contra-rotating ferred to a blender, consisting of two long channels, one above the use in olive oil plant and, rotors, typically having three other, fitted with rotating paddles although it was the best available lobes each, are externally geared at the time,Technical sales man- together so that they maintain a ager Antonio Trujillo Anguita says design clearance between them- that its performance was poor. selves and between the pump “The main problem with screw housing. Lobe pumps produce a pumps is that they can be dam- gentle pumping action without aged very quickly if they are shear and without damaging the allowed to run dry. This can pumping medium. They are ideal happen quite easily if the opera- for moving fluids with solid tor fails to keep a careful check pieces in the stream since the on the level of fluid at the pump pump head components are not inlet. After about ten minutes of easily worn. dry running, the stators can be Lobe pumps are available in
The main problem with the previously used screw pumps was that dry running could completely destroy the stators
have dehydrated and could need ceramics factory, and as domes- additional water. On leaving the tic fuel. blender, the crude oil passes The virgin oil is treated in a through a wire strainer with a centrifuge which rids it of any mesh less than 5 mm and is then final traces of particles and water pumped to a decanter which before packaging and sale. separates the nearly pure virgin oil from contaminants, such as Pump selection fragmented stones and skins. Extracting oil from olives involves crushing the fruit, including the Final processing stones, to produce a highly abra- The particle paste, which is sepa- sive paste. Even after straining rated out in the decanter, goes the crude oil contains fragments through another process to of stones which can seriously extract the non-virgin residual oil damage seals and the internal which is sold for lower grade surfaces of pumps. Careful applications. What is left of the choice of pump types and mate- particle paste is sold as a biofuel rials, however, has reduced to local industries, for example a downtime from pump failure to completely destroyed. At that sizes to suit a wide range of stage in the refining process, the flows and with different design The virgin oil is treated in a centrifuge which rids it of any final crude olive oil contains stone factors to suit the huge number traces of particles and water before packaging and sale fragments and other contami- of media needing to be pumped. nants and is an abrasive medium Design factors include rotor to pump. Even with a continued clearance, which influences the good supply of the pumping volumetric efficiency of the unit medium, therefore, the stators since it determines how much of had to be replaced after pump- the pumped medium slips back ing between 1 and 5 kt. After from the outlet side to the inlet some years, therefore, we start- side. The length and profile of ed to switch to lobe pumps for the rotors determine the pres- this application.” sures that the pumps can attain and of course the size and Lobe pumps speed influence the volume flow. The family of twin rotor dis- One of the greatest advan- placement machines, to which tages of a lobe pump is their rotary lobe pumps belong, came inherent simplicity and the fact under intensive development in that they can be dismantled easi- the middle of the 19th century. ly without disturbing the pipe
13 POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY
housing failure. This was a seri- type rotors and because they do Fragments of stones can seriously damage seals and the internal ous fault since replacement not require accurate synchroni- surfaces of pumps; use of ITT Jabsco’s Hy-line pump has reduced involved dismantling the pipe sation, they are easier to bring downtime from pump failure to a minimum work which was a time-consum- into service and more tolerant ing job. of abuse. No shimming or other Mr Anguita said,“During 2000, timing adjustments is required. we began testing an ITT Jabsco The rotors are suited to pump- Hy-line pump. We ran compar- ing abrasive fluids since they do ative trials against the Spanish not touch each other or the equipment for a period and rotor case when in operation. then dismantled them both. We The bearing arrangement made careful measurements and utilises a simple preloading found that the Hy-line pump mechanism which can be adjust- was the much harder wearing ed without the shims and is easy unit of the two. We also pre- to service. The rotor case is ferred the design since it had a completely removable for easy removable back plate. This replacement and provides a exploited the simplicity of the wide separation between prod- lobe pump principle and uct and gearbox. These features work or pump mounting. This its customers was a Spanish-built enabled our customers to clean reduce dismantling and reassem- makes them very useful for food machine. This was an improve- the machine in situ without bly time during cleaning proce- processing applications where ment on the screw pumps, origi- uncoupling the pipe work.” dures, a factor well received at the plant must be cleaned regu- nally supplied by the company, the production plant. larly. since it gave a stator life of Design features between 5 and 6 kt. However, “The Hy-line’s seals are posi- Customer feedback Competing designs there were problems with the tioned for easy inspection and Antonio Trujillo Anguita, The first lobe pump that internal dynamics of the units replacement. They are fitted Technical Sales Manager for Centrifugacion Alemana offered and a number of them suffered from the front which also makes Centrifugacion Alemana stated them more accessible to prod- “Customer reaction to the uct flow and for CIP liquids. As Jabsco pumps was favourable. the seals are further forward They commented on the superi- than in many other pumps, they or quality and they especially 026 are mounted in the flow of the liked the removable back plate Like machinery? liquid. They therefore expose which gives easier maintenance. the sealing faces and the seal It means that work can be done You’llYou’ll lovelove profiprofi joints to the liquid, preventing on the pump without taking the the oil from partially drying out whole unit out of the system. and becoming sticky. The full This minimises production exposure also means complete downtime.” circulation of the product is Mr Anguita acknowledges guaranteed, which avoids stag- that it is more expensive than nant areas where bacteria can other pumps but for large-scale multiply”, says José A. Rodriguez users the reliability and ease of from Tecnica de Fluidos, ITT maintenance, which give Jabsco’s distributor in Spain. The increased uptime, are very pop- seals are also balanced, giving ular with users. “They are very profi controlled pressure between the happy if a pump can give two or international faces for longer face life. The three years service without static face is energised instead of major attention” he added. “We
free trial the rotating face, which elimi- are keeping accurate records of nates wobble and the resultant the pumps in service. In a few Yes, I would like to receive an issue of profi international free of charge, & without any obligation. shaft wear, to provide effective more years we shall have first sealing, even at low pressures. hand experience of service life Full name A2USLW Long life at high pressures is and we will be able to calculate another advantage. The Hy-line accurate figures for total cost of Address design includes a flat crevice-free ownership. That takes in initial Postcode front cover, flush rotor securing costs, routine running costs and screws, sealed drive splines and service. We expect this to be Telephone absence of recesses where the substantially below other equip- Profession oil could stagnate and compro- ment on the market.” Please post this coupon to: Reader Service Centre, FREEPOST SEA 8428, mise maintenance or hygiene. Garrard House, 2-6 Homesdale Road, Bromley BR2 9BR The pumps have scimitar Minett Media
10 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 RENEWABLE ENERGY
Teagasc Crops Research Centre at Oak Park, with oilseed rape crop in foreground
Bernard Rice and Andreas Fröhlich RECOVERED VEGETABLE OIL AS A VEHICLE FUEL
Introduction Member States discretion to cient on its own to kick-start a Three recent developments abolish excise on biofuels is also UK biodiesel industry. have stimulated a renewed under discussion interest in the use of vegetable • The threat at EU level to Feedstocks oils as diesel engine fuels: exclude recovered vegetable oil The most likely vegetable oil • The introduction of a 20 from animal feed rations follow- sources for vehicle fuel use in p/litre remission of excise duty ing on the Belgian ‘dioxin in the short-term future in on biodiesel below that of ultra- chickens’ incident of 1999 has Northern Europe are twofold. BIO NOTE low-sulphur diesel was con- been reactivated following the • Oil-seed crops grown on set- firmed in the UK 2002 budget implication of food wastes in aside land This paper was presented at the IAgrE • The Transport Directorate of the recent UK outbreak of Foot This is currently the main Annual Conference entitled ‘Faster by the EU has produced draft and Mouth Disease. source of liquid biofuel in the Design’ and held at Harper Adams directives proposing mandatory While progress on the EU. Production reached about University College on 15 May 2002. substitution rates for transport Transport Directorate proposal 0.7 Mt in 2000 and, with rapid Bernard Rice, MIAgrE and Andreas biofuels in Member States. and food waste legislation may expansion in Germany, it will Fröhlich are research scientists at the These are proposed to start at be slow, it is interesting to spec- soon be well in excess of 1 Crops Research Centre, Teagasc, Irish 2% in 2005 and reach 5.75% by ulate as to whether or how the Mt. The main concerns about Agriculture and Food Development 2010. A second proposed EU target substitution rates this source are its high cost as Agency, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland. Tel: directive would limit remission could be met by the UK. In the a feedstock and the risk of +353 (0)503 70200 E-mail: of road excise to 50% but an meantime, the 20 p/litre excise being affected by unfavourable [email protected] Web: alternative version giving duty remission should be suffi- adjustments to EU agricultural www.teagasc.ie
11 RENEWABLE ENERGY
The high level of saturated fatty acids, mainly palmitic but also stearic, in French waste oil would present difficulties for biodiesel production. The main problem would be inferior low- temperature properties. The achievement of a high yield, Biodiesel production from material with variable and sometimes high level of free policy. chase specification of two in France, is included. Results of fatty acids, would present a chal- • Recovered vegetable oil (RVO) Austrian biodiesel plants using a small number of analyses, car- lenge for plant designers. from the food processing and RVO as feedstock are included ried out in Ireland, of UK sam- catering industries in Table 1. The main difference ples are also included. Quality of biodiesel About 0.4 Mt of this material between these and the specifi- Water content was very from RVO is collected in the EU and 0.1 cation for animal feed is the lim- high in some Irish samples Data on the quality of biodiesel Mt in the UK; with improved itation, in one plant, of free fatty (Table 2). This indicates inade- produced from RVO is available collection systems this could acid levels to less than 2%. quate water removal at RVO from commercial production in rise to 0.7 - 1 Mt in the EU, Table 2 contains the results of assembly. Free fatty acid levels Austria and pilot plant trials in and 0.15 - 0.2 Mt in the UK. RVO analyses from a small were higher in the UK and Ireland. Mean values of the In the event of a ban on its biodiesel production facility in Ireland than in Austria, which main parameters, in these trials, inclusion in animal feeds, a fuel Austria, and from experimental probably indicates excessive are included in Table 3. use is the most likely alterna- The quality of the biodiesel tive. Table 1 Austrian purchase specifications for waste oils produced at the Austrian plant Process/usage options for used in biodiesel production has continued to improve over these oils include conversion to the past two years (Table 3). In bio-diesel, or use in particular, the total contaminant unprocessed form in modified level has been reduced, as well engines in vehicles or central as the values for neutralisation heat and power (CHP) plants. If number and water content. the UK excise duty remission Irish-Austrian investigations applies to biodiesel only, the of the storage stability of vari- questions of most immediate ous methyl esters, suggest that interest are whether the RVO esters from waste oils may be collected in the UK is suitable work in Ireland. An estimate of storage periods between origi- more prone to oxidation than for biodiesel production, and the main characteristics and nal use and recovery. Fatty acid virgin oil esters, due to con- whether the quality require- fatty acid composition of waste composition was very similar in sumption of antioxidants in the ments of the EU draft standard oil, collected from catering use the oils from all three countries. cooking process. Austrian for biodiesel (prEN measurements of 14214) can be thermal oxidative sta- Table 2 Composition of waste oils from Austria, Ireland, achieved with this bility of esters from United Kingdom and France material. The main waste oil have shown findings of a recent slightly lower levels study of these issues than those from rape within the EU methyl ester (RME). ALTENER pro- It is not yet clear gramme are sum- whether this is of marised in the paper practical importance. detailed at the end of In both countries, this article (Rice, viscosity values were Mittelbach and close to the upper Pelkmans, 2000). limit. The cold filter plug point (CFPP) val- Recovered ues would indicate a vegetable oil possibility of winter quality use problems in some As an indicator of the EU countries. Irish key oil quality param- research also indicat- eters and levels ed that additives that required for biodiesel improved the low production, the pur- temperature perform-
12 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 Table 3 Quality of biodiesel produced from waste cooking oil The total volume of recoverable oil is substantial, and its supply varies little from year to year. It could therefore provide more stability than virgin oil produc- tion which is liable to change with EU agricultural policy. • It is in every country’s interest to recover as much as possible of this material before it enters the waste disposal system. The cost of the problems caused in drainage systems and landfills would be avoided, and its use as a renewable fuel would con- tribute to the abatement of CO2 emissions. • RVO price is much lower than that of virgin oil, so RVO ester can compete with mineral diesel, with a much lower level of excise remission. • With modern processing technology it is possible to pro- duce biodiesel with most parameters up to international specification from RVO. However, the high saturated fat levels in some oils might be expected to yield biodiesel, with poor low temperature proper- ance of rape methyl ester were were operated on blends of resist a change to what would ties. less effective with RVO ester. esters from various feedstocks, be seen as inferior raw materi- • RVO collection systems need Conradson residues were out- including waste vegetable oil als. Problems would also be to be streamlined to reduce col- side the limit and water content and tallow – a fatty substance expected from the glycerine lection costs, improve oil quality high in some Irish samples. The consisting of a mixture of glyc- market if the glycerol were and increase the volume of oil high water levels were probably erides, including stearic, palmitic derived from waste oil esterifi- recovered. due, mainly, to poor plant and oleic acids and extracted cation • Concerns about potential design. Otherwise the biodiesel chiefly from the suet of sheep • It is claimed that there are damage to the biodiesel image, produced was generally within and cattle. The only problems other potential uses in adverse reactions from engine specification. encountered were filter block- lipochemistry for waste cooking and component manufacturers, ages at low temperatures. No oil esters. and effects on the glycerol mar- Use of RVO ester in other engine problems arose; In Germany, where biodiesel ket, may give rise to some prob- vehicles even where there was a high production from virgin oil is lems. Storage stability of In Austria, many vehicles have level of dilution of the engine expanding rapidly, the need to biodiesel, produced from waste been using 100% waste oil lubricating oil by the fuel. preserve the green image of oil, also needs further examina- esters without any problem. biodiesel is also seen as a deter- tion. Only at very low temperatures Other considerations rent to the use of inferior (< -10oC) has it been neces- There is some resistance in grades of waste oil. Reference sary to blend the ester with France to the concept of Oleochemistry and bio-diesel Rice B, Mittelbach M. and mineral fuel. In Graz, buses biodiesel production from waste are envisaged as competing for Pelkmans L. 2000 Waste oils using this fuel have covered 1.5 vegetable oil, for the following the higher grades, with low qual- and fats as biodiesel feedstocks: million kilometres to date. In a reasons. ity oils and animal fats being an assessment of their potential current EU ALTENER project, • Rapeseed oil is not generally used in fixed industrial heating in the EU ALTENER Programme the University of Graz is exam- used for cooking in France, and plants. Final Report, Phase IV, Non- ining the use of various esters, the oils used are less suitable for technical Barriers to the including waste oil, in modern high-quality biodiesel production Conclusions Development of Biofuels. common rail fuel injection sys- • RME production and distribu- The following are the main find- Contract No. 4.1030/Z/98-529. tems. tion is well established, and ings of the study. In an Irish-Austrian EU petroleum companies and • RVO has potential as a feed- ALTENER project, three vehicles engine manufacturers might stock for the biodiesel industry.
13 NEWS SCAN
CONSERVATION Shropshire farmer gets wild about flowers – with a little help from DEFRA
A Shropshire farmer is pioneer- lished wildflower meadow – ows planned.” Roger Owen, Rural ing a new scheme which will which matches for soil type and The move to lower intensity Development Service Manager restore much needed and much chemical make-up – and is farming at Wall Farm has been for the Department of the loved wild flowers to the coun- spread on the new site immedi- gradual. Originally a dairy farm, Environment, Food and Rural tryside. ately.This retains the flower then an arable farm, since 1994 Affairs (DEFRA) in North In the first trial of it’s kind on seeds and is proving much more the 132 ha have been dedicated Midlands said:“The results at a commercial farm Neil and successful in preserving the to traditional breeds beef with Wall Farm are bringing real ben- Stephanie Dobson of Wall Farm, diversity of flowers.The field can prize winning Aberdeen Angus efits to the local environment. It Kynnersley, near Newport, are then be lightly grazed with no and Red Polls.The whole farm is is an excellent example of how creating wildflower meadows use of artificial fertilisers. under a Countryside commercial farming can work using three crucial ingredients: a The advantages of this Stewardship agreement, which hand in hand with conservation. Countryside Stewardship grant, method of meadow creation are compensates Mr Dobson for We hope lessons learnt here wildflower seeds from a 200 that it is much quicker, more lower productivity. can be used to help create simi- year old meadow in effective and more environmen- Neil Dobson continues:“The lar meadows on other farms.” Staffordshire – and speed. tally friendly. traditional grasses promote In the past, attempts at cre- “We piloted this high speed slower growth of native cattle MORE INFORMATION ating viable wildflower meadows method over the last two years leading to later maturing and have proved tricky. Grass was and the results are amazing” says better flavour beef selling for a For further information cut, dried and bailed up before farmer Neil Dobson,“The suc- premium price.The benefit of about the Countryside being spread onto a new site, cess of the first meadow has taking part in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, or any possibly weeks later.This method meant that we are currently Stewardship Scheme is that we other scheme under the resulted in many of the seeds working on a new meadow – are now much more environ- England Rural Development dropping off before the new site which we spread with grass mentally and financially sustain- Programme, visit the DEFRA was even reached. seeds taken from the 200 year able with lower inputs and high- website , or contact your Now, under the new old Staffordshire meadow only er outputs. I have a real sense of local DEFRA Rural scheme, speed is of the essence. this week.We also have a fur- making a positive contribution to Development Service office. Grass is taken from an estab- ther 5 ha of wildflower mead- the land.”
POLLUTION Immission values for soil protection – deposition values for cadmium
Editor:VDI Verein ated new requirements for ambi- from Pollution (LAI). limiting value for cadmium.The Deutscher Ingenieure ent pollution control because of The Guideline deals with the limit for cadmium deposition was (The Association of the impact these soil protection occurrence and typical input set with the objectives of achiev- Engineers), regulations have.Therefore, the pathways of cadmium. It ing a precautionary and lasting Kommission various parts of VDI 3956 focus describes the properties of cad- protection of the environment in Reinhaltung der Luft on the criteria for deriving depo- mium and cadmium compounds mind. im VDI und DIN – sition-limiting values to comply in soils and suitable measure- Normenausschuss with the new requirements of ment methods.The important MORE INFORMATION KRdL (Commission on the soil protecting regulations. transfer paths of cadmium from Released in German and Air Pollution Guideline VDI 3956 Part 1 soil to humans, soil to plants and English Language. Price: Prevention of VDI and addresses the objectives and soil to groundwater are covered 43.40 EUR. Substitutes the DIN – Standards basic terminology. Scientific basis in detail. draft edition of December Committee) of Part 2 of the guideline VDI In addition, an assessment of 2000. Available from: Beuth 3956 on cadmium are the soil the toxicity of cadmium and cad- Verlag GmbH, D-10772 Passage of the German federal protecting, deposition-limiting mium compounds to humans Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49 302 soil protection law as well as of values which were formulated by and the ecosystem is provided. 601-2759. Fax: +49 302 601- the soil protection and waste- the Committee of German Special attention is given to the 1263. E-mail: site clean-up regulations has cre- Federal States for the Protection criteria for deriving a deposition- [email protected]
14 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 Bimonthly WINTER 2002 MEMBERSHIP
MATTERSTHE NEWSLETTER OF THE INSTITUTION OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS THE NEW ‘SOCIETY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT’
t the 2002 annual con- Environmental Management) excellent return indeed. Of those ference of the • IEMA (Institute of responding, over 50% indicated THE GREAT AEnvironment Agency, Environmental Management and an interest in becoming regis- held at Stoneleigh on 23rd Assessment) tered as a Chartered October, the formation of the • IES (Institute of Environmental Environmentalist. NAME ‘Society for the Environment’ was Sciences) There will be an abbreviated officially announced to the world • IFM (Institute of Fisheries form of application for existing CHANGE at large. Management) members of constituent bodies This is exciting news for • IPSS (Institute of Professional (‘grandparent rights’) and it is ou will remember that IAgrE and could have a positive Soil Scientists) planned to process these applica- ‘to change or not to impact on professional recogni- • IWM (Institute of Wastes tions in time for registration on Ychange’ the name of the tion for many IAgrE members. All Management) 1st January 2004. institution is the question, with those with an interest in the • IWO (Institution of Water It is anticipated that further a request that those with a environment and sustainable Officers) institutions will join the society desire for change come up with development should read on. • RMetSoc (Royal Meteorological once the Royal Charter has been a suitable new name. Suggested A number of professional Society granted.There will be the oppor- names would then be put to institutions with a prime focus in SocEnv will be a company tunity to be full members (ability Council for them to select an the well being of the environ- limited by guarantee and will be to award CEnv) and ‘affiliates’, appropriate name for putting to ment have been considering how petitioning the Privy Council for without the awarding facility. a vote of the Membership. In they can play a positive role in a Royal Charter, which it hopes, A draft charter and all of the the event that Council did not sustainable environmental man- will be granted by January 2004. necessary documents required feel that any of the suggestions agement and development.They This will mean that the con- for company registration are in were appropriate, then a vote have concluded that they can stituent bodies of SocEnv will be preparation. A number of inter- would not take place and the best contribute by working in in a position to grant the title of nal working documents have name would remain the same. synergy.This will demonstrate to Chartered Environmentalist already been produced. The suggestions are in and wider society a very important (CEnv) to suitably experienced As and when documents are Council reviewed them at the virtue in sustainable develop- and qualified professionals.There signed off by the various working Council Meeting on the 7th ment, namely co-operation and will be no membership of parties, they will be reproduced November.This issue has, as teamwork.That co-operation has SocEnv for individuals, award of on the IAgrE website expected, stimulated a fairly vig- resulted in the establishment of CEnv will only be possible for www.iagre.org orous debate.Whilst the letter the ‘Society for the Environment’ members of the constituent Chris Whetnall to members only asked for (SocEnv), an umbrella body bodies. new name suggestions, a signifi- made up of the following ten IAgrE has been party to the cant number of you took the environmental institutions and discussions surrounding SocEnv’s opportunity to respond that learned societies: formation from the outset and you were opposed to a change. • CIWEM (Chartered Institution Council considers that there will Indeed, strong views were of Water and Environmental be many members of IAgrE eligi- expressed – both for and Management) ble to register as CEnv.The against. • IAgrE (Institution of Agricultural recent survey of members bears Overall, 57 responses were Engineers) this out with over 14% of the received (two of which repre- • IEEM (Institute of Ecology and membership responding – an sented Branch views) and of CONTINUED OVERLEAF>
1 NEWS for MEMBERS
FROM PAGE 1> WELL DONE HARPER ENGINEERS these only fifteen individuals suggested change was in order Harper Engineers have won sec- ty which can only be to the Green Dragon was also assisted and suggested possible names. ond prize in this year’s Lord benefit of everyone who lives, by the university CONTACT This perhaps reflects a general Stafford awards, which reward works and visits the region. project, which aims to promote lack of desire for change. collaboration between universi- The winning project was a and aid collaboration between In the event, the sugges- ties and industry in the West crop desiccation and weed con- the business community and all tions were put to Council. Midlands.There were 15 finalists, trol flaming device developed by the universities in the West Taking into account the addi- so this is a great result in our Green Dragon Flaming Ltd of Midlands. tional cost implications of a first year of entry. Ross-on-Wye, in collaboration Peter Darkins led for name change, Council did not The Awards are aimed at with Harper Adams University Harper on the project, whose consider any of the names encouraging a positive approach College. advice helped increase the effi- submitted to have sufficient to innovation in the West Green Dragon Flaming pro- ciency and durability of the merit to justify a change. As Midlands, through business to duces equipment for crop desic- product, while reducing the fin- detailed in the letter to mem- university collaborations and cation.The collaboration with ished weight. Green Dragon bers, the name will therefore each year produces a diverse Harper Adams was to investi- Flaming received a cash prize of remain the same. and interesting range of applica- gate the existing heat shield £3000 to assist further develop- However, it is planned that tions, with this year being no used in systems utilising propane ment and promotion of the the emphasis on the words exception. burners.The aim of the project product. ‘Institution of Agricultural All the judges visit the was to improve the perform- The work came from a lead Engineers’ will reduce over short-listed companies which ance of the heat shield, to max- from CONTACT, our time replaced by an increased enables them to gain a personal imise efficiency and provide a HEROBaC 2 project with the use of the acronym IAgrE used insight into the work taking more durable and aesthetically rest of the West Midlands together with a tag line suit- place and the hope is that this pleasing product.The collabora- Universities. able for the audience.This can work leads to more collabora- tion led to the production and Much credit is due to Nigel be done at little or no extra tive activity, which in itself will introduction of an enhanced Jordan, our CONTACT field offi- cost. have a positive effect on the design solution, utilising materials cer, for encouraging our links Thus you will see a greater region’s economy. used in the aerospace industries with Green Dragon and sug- focus on the use of the logo, in All of this year’s applications but providing the flexibility gesting the project as a suitable its various forms, together with proved that the West Midlands needed for locating the product finalist. the supplementary logos rep- is a hot bed of innovative activi- on a unit which weighs 240kg. Dan Mitchell resenting the breadth of our interests across the land-based industries.We have represent- ed this approach on the post- card enclosed with this issue of Engineering Technicians on the move ‘Landwards’. Please make use of Engineering Technicians will find it easier to gain this card to hand out to professional recognition in some overseas countries potential members. Further following the signing of the Dublin Accord. copies are available from the This agreement, signed by the Canadian Council of Secretariat.These are also Technicians and Technologists, the Institution of Engineers of available with a blank reverse Ireland, the Engineering Council of South Africa and the Engineering Council of the UK, builds on previous accords which allow for the mutual for overprinting for specific recognition of qualifications accredited for IEng and CEng. events or requirements. For further information see http://www.engc.org.uk/news/engineering_technicians.asp
Membership Changes
Admissions Student Transfers Deaths Fellow C Swift (Shropshire) Fellow D H Sutton (Bedfordshire) M G Kibblewhite (Bedford) A N Marchant (Devon) T F Weaving (North Devon) C K Sankat (Trinidad) P A Webb (Wiltshire) Member Readmission S J Churchill (Essex) E A Hammad (London/Sudan) Member J A Harris (Bedford) T M Farrow (Lincoln) D Russell (Cambridgeshire) C M Johnson (Cheshire) C P Pitelen (Norfolk)
2 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS WINTER 2002 Academic Members Sponsored student
Askham Bryan College membership Askham Bryan Pencoed College Yo r k Pencoed The following Douglas M T Charlesworth YO23 3FR Bridgend Bomford Trust sponsored P Clinton CF35 5LG students have been admitted L J Coffey Cranfield University from Walford College: T J Connor Silsoe Reaseheath College M J Cheesman J Corbridge Bedford Reaseheath A Curtis I J Crutchley MK45 4DT Nantwich M J Dorricott M R Daintith Cheshire T D Evans A H Dale Duchy College CW5 6DF J R Gittins W L Darlington Rosewarne C Grafton A D Elliott Camborne Sparsholt College D L Hogarth S J Harrison Cornwall Sparsholt D E Jarrett R A Hough TR14 0AB Winchester P J Jones J Hoult Hampshire I J Millington J L Howaston Harper Adams University SO21 2NF D J Rowlands G I Jones College D Smith J Kelly Newport Wiltshire College – Lackham S Smith R S Lomas Shropshire Lacock R E Watkin J G Mason TF10 8NB Chippenham S D O’Connell Wiltshire The following Douglas A M Perry Myerscough College SN15 2NY Bomford Trust sponsored S Priestner Myerscough Hall students have been admitted J Rowlands Bilsborrow Writtle College from Reaseheath College: P W Seddon Preston Chelmsford M C Allwood A Sessions Lancashire Essex J I Armitt C P Shuker PR3 0RY CM1 3RR A Atherton M W Smith R Baker B Stanley Oatridge Agricultural College C P Bell B G Stubbs Ecclesmachan R Black D Syson Broxburn J Blakeman P R Thompson West Lothian T G Burgess J Treacy EH52 6NH G A Camm A Welch U Cavanagh R A Whiteley O Cavenagh
FREE E-MAIL ALIASING AND FORWARDING SERVICE As a member of IAgrE, you are changes to ensure you continue you are currently using.We will Where there is a conflict of now eligible to use our e-mail- to receive your e-mail via then contact you once the for- people with the same surname ing facilities as a free aliasing whichever ISP you choose. warding arrangements have and initials, it will be resolved and forwarding service. The e-mail address been made. on a first come first served If you elect to use this serv- [email protected] remains Members using this service basis with alternatives offered ice, you will continue to use yours free of charge for as long have found it particularly bene- to the latecomers. In such cir- your existing Internet Service as you remain a member of ficial. cumstances, the webmaster’s Provider (ISP) to collect mail IAgrE.This means continuity Rather than using a long decision on e-mail name will be but all mail addressed to and not having to change busi- and convoluted address such as final. [email protected] will auto- ness cards, stationery etc. whilst [email protected] So do not delay (especially matically be forwarded to still leaving you with the oppor- serve.co.uk use the snappy if your name is J Smith). whichever ISP you have chosen tunity to chase the best ISP [email protected] and told us about. deal. If your name is not J R For further details, contact If you change your ISP,then To activate this address, Smith, then don’t worry.Your Elizabeth Stephens at the notify us immediately and we please let us know, via e-mail, own surname and initials will Secretariat. E-mail: will make the necessary which ISP and e-mail address do just as well. [email protected]
3 NEWS for MEMBERS NEWS OF MEMBERS
Congratulations to Jim Ward North West China, in a small efficient in conserving heat.The nursery. who has been awarded the but beautiful city called Kurle. coldest temperature was “Approximately one year degree of Master of Business Kurle is located on the edge of recorded outside the green- ago, I started working for Administration from Henley the Gobi desert and is part of houses as -37oC whilst inside Eisenberg Agri China which has Management College. He start- the old ‘silk road’. without heating it was +5 oC. its head office in Beijing.The ed working towards this at the “I have been working in They have however a disadvan- company is highly committed to end of 1999, having completed China for the last four years. tage of available light and radia- bringing advanced agriculture the Henley DIM previously and Originally, I was based in tion.We used some for germi- technology and water conserva- submitted his final dissertation Shenyang which is the capital nation and nursery purposes tion technologies to China as in April 2002. city of Liaoning Province and some for demonstrating well as preventing desertifica- Jim, who is based in South (Northeast China).There I dealt the growing of vegetables, tion.The majority of the work Africa, says that he continues to mainly with the changing hi-tech mainly: that I have done over the last manage a fleet of animal feed irrigation and agricultural tech- • tomatoes year is research into preventing tankers for Unitrans Freight, niques used in the locality. I spe- • cucumbers sands from blowing.” delivering about 1000 loads per cialised in upgrading the use of • squash For members wishing to month of animal feed through- local ‘sun greenhouses’.These • aubergine. make contact with Colin out the Natal midlands. He is greenhouses have a brick and We were interested in selling Friedman for advice or while currently involved in making mud back wall and sides. In the drip irrigation technology, visiting China, mobile tel: running improvements to the addition, these structures also both conventional pressurised (0086) 13911098002 discharge equipment hydraulics, have a single transparent film drip irrigation and gravity-fed e-mail: cjfmsc:hotmail.com targeting fuel consumption and wall on one side. drip irrigation, imported seeds Tony Chestney offloading times as areas for “Sun greenhouses are very and seedlings from our own improvement.There is also the possibility of making greater use of engine mapping to maximise fuel efficiency during offloading LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATES periods and the challenges of Name Grade Date of Anniversary maintaining the latest genera- tion of US sourced International 35 years engines, that currently test the Roger Anthony Ballard IEng, MIAgrE 12 Oct 2002 limits of the lubricant specifica- John Bradshaw FIAgrE 12 Oct 2002 tions available locally. Heavy Colin Campbell IEng, MIAgrE 12 Oct 2002 local snowfalls and rain during Peter Brook Percival Copeland CEng, MIAgrE 12 Oct 2002 July caused several feed tankers Michael Denis Purchas IEng, MIAgrE 12 Oct 2002 to get bogged down on farm Jonathan Guy Martin Wood CEng, FIAgrE 12 Oct 2002 roads and in some cases the John Malcolm Heald EngTech, MIAgrE 01 Nov 2002 pressure was on to prevent poultry houses and piggeries 25 years from running out of feed as a Richard Martin Frost IEng, MIAgrE 16 Sep 2002 result. It is not all sunshine in Maurizio Pierconti AIAgrE 16 Sep 2002 Africa! Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Musa IEng, MIAgrE 16 Sep 2002 Lance Harold Rayner CEng, MIAgrE 22 Sep 2002 I am most grateful to Colin John Leslie Butler IEng, MIAgrE 22 Sep 2002 Friedman for the following John Linwood Page IEng, MIAgrE 22 Sep 2002 information about his work in Richard James Butt-Evans IEng, MIAgrE 22 Sep 2002 China. He is the manager of the Royston Leslie Peter Lemberger MIAgrE 22 Sep 2002 Eisenberg Agri China’s irrigation Paul Francis Hemingway CEng, MIAgrE 06 Oct 2002 department and the general Stephen John Watson AMIAgrE 10 Oct 2002 manager of the Company’s drip Robert Edward William Timmins CEng, MIAgrE 17 Oct 2002 irrigation factory.They manufac- Michael Anthony Bird EngTech, MIAgrE 09 Nov 2002 ture dripline using drippers Brian Martin James IEng, MIAgrE 16 Nov 2002 imported from Israel. Graham John Barr AMIAgrE 30 Nov 2002 “I am now living in the Walter John Cracknell CEng, MIAgrE 06 Dec 2002 Xinjiang Autonomous Region,
Produced by: Land Technology Ltd, Edinburgh Printed by: Barr Printers, Glenrothes
INSTITUTION of AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS, WEST END ROAD, SILSOE, BEDFORD, MK45 4DU, UNITED KINGDOM. Tel: 01525 861096 Fax: 01525 861660 RENEWABLE ENERGY Government energy policy unrealistic, says Academy
he Government’s energy imported gas.We will also need The Energy Review places vent supply shortages. Skilled policy is hopelessly unre- to build new storage facilities, as great faith in wind energy and people are also retiring so rap- Talistic, expecting far too we become a gas importer.The proposes installing 22,000 MW idly from the nuclear industry much from renewable energy Academy estimates this could of turbine capacity by 2020. that we will soon be totally sources and ignoring serious cost the Government up to However, Meteorological 0ffice reliant on the nuclear expertise concerns about reliable gas £13 billion by 2020, as the mar- data shows that the country’s of other countries. Nuclear supplies, the Royal Academy of ket is not likely to bear the wind record is not dependable waste disposal is clearly a prob- Engineering has told Energy cost. – the most likely power output lem but we have to deal with it Minister Brian Wilson MP in a The Energy Review sets a in real life is less than 7,000 irrespective of any decision on recent report.The Academy’s target of generating 20 per MW.To ensure the supply it new build.“Replacing the whole engineering assessment is highly cent of our energy from would have to be backed up by of the current UK nuclear critical of the Energy Review renewable sources by 2020. 16–19,000 MW of conventional capacity with new units would published by the Cabinet Office While this is a laudable aim it is generation plant, adding an add only around 10 per cent to Performance and Innovation over-optimistic and fails to extra £1 billion to the cost. the existing volumes of waste Unit on 15 February. address the fundamental prob- Biomass is another promising over the 40-year lifetimes of The Academy’s most imme- lem with all renewable sources power source for the future the reactors,” says the diate concern is about security – they are intermittent. but it needs more research to Academy’s report. of gas supplies, which the “Experience on the Continent, make it practical – the whole of The Academy is also very Energy Review assumes will especially in Denmark, has Kent would have to be covered concerned about the continue to be plentiful and rel- shown that grid stability can be in coppiced willow to replace Government’s lack of attention atively cheap. However, the adversely affected when the the output of Dungeness B to transport issues – 42 per Department of Trade and penetration of intermittent power station. cent of UK energy consump- Industry’s (DTI’s) own figures renewables reaches about 15 In order to meet our com- tion goes on transport. Major indicate that by 2020 the UK per cent,” says the Academy’s mitments to reduce carbon support for research to devel- might need to import up to 90 report. As yet the UK electricity dioxide emissions we must op the hydrogen economy is per cent of its gas require- grid is isolated, except for one replace the nuclear reactors urgently needed.“The Energy ments.We could experience interconnector to France – fur- coming to the end of their lives Review appears to accept fuel gas shortages as soon as ther interconnectors to with non-carbon emitting ener- switching, probably to hydro- 2004/5 in a severe winter. Norway and the Netherlands gy sources.The Energy Review gen, as inevitable in the long While Russia is expected to are being investigated to help conceded that the nuclear term,” says the Academy’s double its gas exports to the share electricity. As more option should be kept open in report.“But it is unwilling to EU by 2010 the Government renewable sources are connect- case we cannot find alternative recommend early action or sig- must address the planning, ed to the grid electricity stor- sources. But it takes so long to nal that this is the funding and operation ques- age will become essential – our build new power stations that Government’s preferred solu- tions involved in expanding the only current storage capacity is we need to commission them tion. Sustainable mobility is fast pan-European gas transmission through hydroelectric storage in the next few years if they are becoming a key political issue.” network so that we can access schemes. to be on stream in time to pre-
Commercial Members Autec Design Ltd John Deere Ltd Winchester Rotomation Ltd Stockley Road Harby Road Hampshire Summerwood Lane Heddington Langar SO21 2AP Halsall Calne Nottinghamshire Ormskirk Wiltshire NG13 9HT Law-Denis Engineering Ltd Lancashire SN11 0PS Millstream Works L39 8RH FEC Services Station Road Douglas Bomford Trust NAC Wickwar White Horse Contractors Ltd 16 The Oaks Stoneleigh Park Wotton-under-Edge Lodge Hill Silsoe Kenilworth Gloucestershire Abingdon Bedford Warwickshire GL12 8NB Oxfordshire MK45 4EL CV8 2LS OX14 2JD David Ritchie (Implements) Ltd Bomford Turner Limited G C Professional Services Carseview Road Salford Priors for land-based and related Suttieside Evesham industries Forfar Worcestershire Highdown Cottage Angus WR11 5SW Compton Down DD8 3EE
15 NEWS SCAN
BOOK & CD ROM New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora
he ‘New Atlas of the heathland, unimproved grassland, the development of biodiversity Environment Research Council British and Irish Flora’, woodland, bogs, marshes, pools indicators. (NERC), said:“This atlas is a Twhich charts the distribu- and streams all in close proximi- The Government has done shining example of best practice tion of every flowering plant and ty – which have survived since a great deal to slow down and in partnerships between funders, fern species across Britain and the 12th century, when originally start to reverse the decline in researchers, specialists and Ireland, has been published. a mediaeval deer park gifted to biodiversity during the past five enthusiasts. It provides us with Sutton Park in Birmingham, the people of Sutton Coldfield years. Many plants are increas- valuable insights into the decline which is the largest urban by King Henry VIII. ingly restricted to protected sites and fall of some plant species National Nature Reserve in DEFRA’s Senior Ecologist for and Defra has established a and the meteoric spread of oth- Europe, celebrated the regional the West Midlands, Iain Diack Public Service Agreement to ers. I am very proud that launch of the Flora Atlas, with said:“Sutton Park has a remark- bring 95 per cent of English NERC’s Centre for Ecology and DEFRA’s Senior Ecologist for the able range of vegetation and SSSIs into favourable condition Hydrology has played such a West Midlands, Iain Diack.The habitats, with at least plant by 2010.There are also 68 indi- major role in this remarkable national launch was held at Kew species found here that are not vidual action plans covering pri- publication.” Gardens with Secretary of State present anywhere else in the ority flowering plants and ferns Martin Harper, Plantlife’s for the Environment, Food and county.Two species in particular, under the UK Biodiversity Action Conservation Director, said:“The Rural Affairs, Mrs Margaret Grass of Parnassus and Round- Plan. A Biodiversity Strategy for New Atlas will allow the work Beckett. leaved Sundew are both scarce England is due to be published of Plantlife and other organisa- The 910-page volume, pro- in the West Midlands region and within the next few weeks which tions involved in nature conser- duced from nine million records, are also shown in the Atlas to will integrate biodiversity consid- vation to take a giant leap for- features 2,412 maps.The project have declined significantly in erations into all relevant policies ward. It will not only help to was mainly funded by DEFRA southern Britain. and programmes. inform our work looking after and spearheaded by the “The decline of certain The New Atlas builds on the UK’s most threatened plant Botanical Society of the British plants is due to a number of fac- research carried out in the species, but will also make a Isles (BSBI) and Centre for tors including urban develop- 1950s which was documented in huge contribution to delivering Ecology and Hydrology (CEH). ment and changes in farming the ‘Atlas of the British Flora’, the objectives of the Global Mrs Beckett said:“The atlas practice.The Atlas therefore, will published in 1962.The new atlas Strategy for Plant Conservation.” is a huge achievement and a be an invaluable tool, which will contains 750 species not listed in DEFRA has also published tribute to the dedicated volun- help DEFRA to target resources the previous volume. More than ‘The Changing Flora of the UK,’ a teers who worked towards its through agri-environment 5.5m records were made 36-page summary of the main publication for several years in schemes, to those areas where between 1996 and 1999 by changes in the UK (not Republic partnership with the scarce species are still present 1,600 volunteers from the BSBI, of Ireland) illustrated by the Government. and to where we can encourage who visited more than 99 per New Atlas. “The atlas will provide a the recovery of disappearing cent of the 3,880 ten by ten These include: tremendous resource as we species. A good example of this kilometre squares of the • decrease in species intro- consider how we can respond will be the use of data on arable Ordnance Survey national grids duced to the UK in ancient to major and strategic challenges plants to target action for in Britain and Ireland.They noted times (Archaeophytes), espe- such as atmospheric pollution, species such as the cornflower wild flowering plants and ferns cially arable plants such as climate change and the decline and corn marigold.” throughout several seasons, but Corn Buttercup and Corn of biodiversity and as we begin The New Atlas will be a not those in gardens. Many vol- Marigold; to chart the progress of our great asset to anyone involved in unteers spent 100 hours or • increase in species intro- network of Sites of Special framing national, regional and more in each grid square. duced in recent times Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and local policies affecting wildlife One of the three editors, (Neophytes – introduced agri-environment schemes.This and the countryside, as well as David Pearman for the BSBI, after 1500), such as Butterfly- study will provide a sound basis to botanists, conservation agen- said:“The atlas reveals something bush (Buddleja) and American of information and scientific cies, academics and amateur nat- of both the more subtle and Willowherb; analysis on which to build our uralists. more dramatic changes to flora • increase in species with a policies.” It will assist the across Britain and Ireland during Mediterranean distribution, Sutton Park in Birmingham Government’s review of policy the last four decades, and will such as Spotted Medick and was chosen for the West on non-native species and the provide a sound scientific base- Wild Leek; Midlands launch because it is in implementation of the UK line on which to chart future • decrease in species with a an important area containing Biodiversity Action Plan, research trends.” northerly global distribution, SSSIs.The park covers around into the impacts of atmospheric Professor John Lawton, Chief such as Cowberry and Hare’s- 970 hectares and comprises pollution and climate change and Executive of the Natural tail Cottongrass; and
16 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 • increase in species which would be detected by a survey habitats of botanical interest; and thrive in nutrient-rich soil and of this scale. in Scotland, it is at Dunbar, decline in those that prefer The ten-kilometre square, where the mainly coastal habi- low-nutrient habitats. which boasts the greatest num- tats contain 619 species. The summary also suggests ber of plant species in the UK some explanations for change, can be found in Dorset.The such as increasing levels of nutri- area, which includes Wareham, MORE INFORMATION ents, habitat loss caused by contains three National Nature intensive agricultural practices Reserves and 15 other SSSIs; Copies of the ‘New Atlas of British and Irish Flora’ cost £99.95 and deforestation, the decline of 844 species have been recorded plus postage and packing. The atlas is supplied with a CD-ROM, mixed farming and the spread of since 1970. which contains 940 additional maps as well as those in the plants from gardens. The most species-rich atlas, and can be used to view and print distribution maps, Although some wild species, square in Northern Ireland cov- captions and associated data tables as well as to manipulate such as butterflies, already ers Belfast, whose parks, ceme- the data to produce additional maps and species lists. Contact appear to be responding to teries, golf clubs, waste ground, Oxford University Press. Tel: 01536 454534. E-mail: warmer conditions, the evidence playing fields and road and rail [email protected] presented in the new atlas does verges are home to a wide vari- not demonstrate such a dramat- ety of plants and ferns; in Wales, ‘The Changing Flora of the UK’ is available free. Contact: Martin ic response among plants, which it is west of Llanelli, which has a Wilcox, Defra. Tel: 0117 372 8523. E-mail: are less mobile and take longer wide variety of semi-natural [email protected] or access it at to redistribute to a degree that habitats and some post-industrial www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/index.htm
OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS
More help for employers to tackle violence and aggression in the workplace
A new resource for employers ple affected.They also have seri- costs for their employers. MORE INFORMATION has been developed to help ous consequences for their “HSE is pleased to support reduce violence and aggression employers who have to deal these National Occupational ‘Violence at work, a guide in the workplace.The National with the resulting poor staff Standards.They have been pro- for employers’, INDG69(rev), Occupational Standards in man- morale, high absenteeism, duced in consultation with a is available free for single aging work-related violence can recruitment and staff turnover wide range of industry sectors copies and priced packs of be used by employers to draw problems and poor business and interest groups and will ten from HSE Books. A new up policies on managing work- image. provide a comprehensive, prac- publication ‘Work-related related violence and also pro- The Health and Safety tical resource for all those who violence, managing the risk vide a framework for managers Executive has funded the devel- have an interest in tackling in smaller businesses’, and staff to assess training opment of the standards by the work-related violence and HSG229, is also available. needs. Employment National Training aggression.” HSE Books, PO Box 1999, The Standards are aimed at Organisation (NTO) as part of Sheila Hawkins, who led the Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA. a range of different occupational the Health and Safety project on behalf of the Tel: 01787 881165. Fax: and management roles. Among Commission’s three-year pro- Employment NTO said:“These 01787 313995. Priced publi- the topics they cover are how gramme which has a target to standards will help to define cations are also available to investigate a violent incident cut incidents of violence at good practice in managing vio- from good booksellers. in the workplace, developing work by 10 per cent by the end lence in any workplace and can procedures to control risks to of 2003. be used to develop policies, Copies of the National health and safety and making Ann Harrington, of HSE’s analyse incidents, specify training Occupational Standards in sure your actions contribute to Health Directorate, said: outcomes and evaluate the Managing Work-related a safe working environment. “Violence at work is totally effectiveness of training.We see Violence are available as a There are 1.3 million inci- unacceptable and employers these standards as a means to CD-Rom, priced £32.50, from dents of work-related violence have a duty under health and reducing the likelihood of vio- the Employment NTO. Tel: a year according to the British safety law to take action to lence occurring – something of 0116 251 9727. Web: Crime Survey.These incidents tackle this problem, which has benefit for everyone.” www.empnto.co.uk can result in physical injuries or devastating consequences on anxiety and stress for the peo- the victims, and real financial
17 ELECTRONIC CONTROLS
‘TOTAL MACHINE CONTROL’ IN MOBILE 0FF-HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT Nick Pridham
Introduction into one and we need a proto- • hydraulics day to day experience gained Electronic control systems are type running in 4 months time!” • auxiliary functions such as from many different field appli- now an everyday part of mod- This article offers an experi- overload cations shows that machine ern mobile equipment specifica- ence based examination of what It can be seen that before manufacturers will always bene- tion. Engines, transmissions and advantages can be gained from long, the control systems on fit from reviewing current con- working hydraulics controlled by a ‘total machine control’ system such a machine lead to very trol system solutions.The cur- electronics, all have mature approach. It also considers the complex wiring designs. Spares rent control system solutions applications in the market place. best way to meet the engineer- inventory for all the different are considered in the light of Machine designers have tra- ing brief above. control systems have to be what advantages can be gained ditionally looked to electronics managed.Training for field serv- from choosing a flexible elec- for a better and more cost Control system ice personnel has to take place tronic platform approach such effective way of improving exist- requirements on all the different control sys- as the Parker ‘IQAN’ System, the ing mechanical designs. As a Modern off highway mobile tems installed. Inflexibility is also mobile control system for result, many machines can claim machines usually consist of the a problem, when the functionali- Parker Hannifin plc. to have electronic solutions to following three basic mechanical all functionality requirements. building blocks: More often than not, the pro- • Diesel engine; electronic or gression to a machine being mechanical control controlled by electronics is • transmission – powershift or incremental and therefore stand hydrostatic alone electronic function blocks • working hydraulics are added to machine specifica- Customer demand for tion, to carry out specific tasks. smart machine functionality con- This often results in up to five tinues to grow as machine buy- separate electronic control sys- ers more frequently look for tems.The nightmare engineering greater productivity, reliability brief then descends from the and fuel economy. engineering director:“In order Manufacturers often meet cus- to take machine functionality to tomer demands by adding the next level, we are going to stand-alone control systems consolidate all control systems which has the advantage that it can be implemented quickly. BIO NOTE Typical appearance of hardware for a mobile electronic platform Problem solving due to the new This paper was presented at the IAgrE technology is easily isolated. A Annual Conference entitled ‘Faster by stand-alone system is not gener- ty requirements cross the Flexible electronic Design’ and held at Harper Adams ally modular and therefore, as boundaries between the stand platform University College on 15 May 2002. Nick new functionality demands are alone control systems. Choosing a control system for Pridham is an IQAN Product Specialist at made of the machine, a new one machine needs to be a Parker Hannifin plc, Hydraulic Sales UK, controller has to be added. Complex wiring + Spares inven- decision made with respect to 66 Wakefield Road, Ossett, West Yorkshire, Typically a machine that has tory + Training + Inflexibility = the total family of machines, WF5 9JS. Tel: +44 (0)1924 282200 Fax: evolved in this way will have a High costs! produced by the mobile +44 (0)1924 282299 E-mail: controller to manage the: machine manufacturer. If the sys- [email protected] Web: • engine In order to provide a solu- tem chosen is not capable of www.parkerhannifin.co.uk • transmission tion to the issues listed, practical being upscaled or downscaled,
18 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 for a control system.Typically, the machine will have a mechanically controlled engine and transmission. Hydraulic functions are operated by pro- portional control for installation reasons.This type of system calls for simple analogue outputs, from linear joysticks and driver cards, to control the valves. No interlocks are required and therefore the functional capabili- ty is relatively fixed. Control sys- tem cost is a very sensitive issue with this type of machine.
Medium complexity machines This category of machine has a requirement for a small amount of complex functionality.The input/output (I/O) for this func- tionality set are connected to a Typical hardware for low complexity mobile control systems; IQAN TOC2 controller controller with fixed I/O count. and analogue levers It is never envisaged that this machine will ever require any- thing other than this simple con- troller and, therefore, all other I/O is dealt with outside the sys- tem. Before selecting this type of controller, the machine manu- facturer will have considered the possibilities of handling all the I/O through one controller. Cost and a concern not to over com- plicate the machine are usually Appearance of a controller for medium complexity machines; IQAN TOC 8 controller factors deciding whether or not this is the control system of then simple machines may have of machines and the respective Low complexity machines choice. In essence, this style of to be unnecessarily complicated. control system requirements. This category contains machines controller is a stand-alone con- Consider the following groups that have low level requirements troller type.The internal soft- ware for this type of system has to be open to customer config- uration and be totally flexible.
High complexity machines This category of machine gener- ally handles all system I/O apart from automotive electrics. If the system functionality requires to be interlocked with automotive electrical functions, then the control system may well handle the I/O for this as well.This type of system will normally be a Controller Area Network (CAN) based system. CAN dis- tributes the I/O around the machine with nodes that have Hardware required for high complexity machines; IQAN master controller and various Controller the most appropriate I/O count. Area Network (CAN) nodes Node selection will also take
19 ELECTRONIC CONTROLS
load-sensing pump hence limit- norm for cylinder position feed ing the total hydraulic power back.Today, many thousands of consumption. If we have control cylinders on mobile machines, of the transmission in low have costly mechanical devices engine temperature situations, to provide end damping.These then we can also limit the maxi- mechanical devices are inflexible mum speed of the vehicle by and adjustment to the damping imposing a maximum gear when characteristics is not easy. If we engine temperature is below a choose to transfer the control certain parameter value. of this to proportional valves and sensors then we have a High temperature engine totally flexible end stop solution. Example of a software window to configure a low temperature protection The end damping will usually be function: as system temperature rises from -30 to +5 degrees If we invert the functionality the result of a linear reduction then progressively more system output is allowed described above, then we have of valve output as a result of into account whether the unit is trol where engine, transmission the possibility to protect the cylinder position, regardless of to be located in the cab or on and hydraulics are all managed engine in high temperature con- the command signal. the chassis.Total flexibility by the same control system, ditions.When the engine tem- Consider if the ending regarding node count and soft- there follows some examples. perature goes above a certain damping function is taken to a ware is required for this type of parameter, then we need to higher level, in a simple end machine. Low temperature engine reduce the engine load being damping function a linear posi- The reason for this consid- protection imposed by the transmission or tion will trigger the start of the eration of machine complexity, When the engine temperature working hydraulics.The reduc- reduction.This trigger point that we find in the market place is below a certain parameter, tion function is best applied could be the result of a load. If a today, is that machine manufac- then the maximum engine when implemented according to large load were being manoeu- turers need to consider carefully speed in rev/min starts to be a straight-line calculation.The vred then the trigger point to the complete range of electron- limited, according to a straight reduction function increases in start the reduction function ic control options. It is impor- line curve of engine speed reduction, in direct proportion would happen earlier, in order tant that when trust is gained of against temperature.The mini- to the increase in temperature. to balance the mechanical one particular control system, mum temperature limitation will As system temperature rises, stresses due to end damping. for a highly complex machine, usually limit the engine’s speed then progressively more system Consider then, if we took then for simple machines an to idling speed. One other way output is disallowed. In practice, the same principle but made appropriate product family is in which we can protect the implementation of this function- the reduction trigger point pro- available. Failure to consider engine, in low temperature situ- ality involves reducing the trans- portional to speed of move- these options carefully, may lead ations, is to limit the hydraulic mission and hydraulics with a ment of the function, or if we to costly market searches having power that can be demanded common reduction function. took the same principle and to be carried out for the cor- from the engine.With a load made the trigger point propor- rect product. A new relationship sensing pump and proportional Engine protection prioriti- tional to the angle of deflection and account has to be devel- control valves, we can easily sation of the joystick. In an ideal world, oped with another supplier, if implement a common reduction Common reduction functions as we would take all of these fac- the correct product is not avail- function, where all the hydraulic described above are one way of tors into consideration: able. valve functions are reduced pro- providing engine protection.The • linear position portionally as the temperature machine may become unusable • load Total machine control drops.This has the effect of lim- if a common reduction principle • speed of movement To illustrate total machine con- iting the flow demand from the is applied. It may be desirable to • joystick deflection. implement more severe reduc- The trigger point for the tions on some functions than end damping would then be the others. In this way, it may be value that started the reduction possible to provide engine pro- earliest. tection under severe conditions and maintain a high degree of Joystick position engine machine productivity. speed demand One advantage of having engine Electronic end stops on all and hydraulics under the same hydraulic functions controller is that the possibility Modern angle sensors provide a exists for the joystick to make a very low cost effective way of demand for an engine speed knowing the position of the increase. Instead of using the Example of a software window to configure an engine high tem- hydraulic cylinders at all times. In foot throttle every time a high perature function: as system temperature rises from -90 to 120 the past, costly linear sensors flow demand is required, joystick degrees then progressively more system output is disallowed internal to cylinders, were the deflection automatically makes
20 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 programming using a windows supply voltage levels, sensors based application tool.’ moving out of range, analogue The philosophy behind this output feed back errors, internal is to expose the machine temperature issues and internal designer to every type of inter- reference voltages. nal channel for both properties The system event error log and function purposes. For must be configurable from appli- example,‘three term controllers’ cation software. An error which have the following attrib- according to machine functional- utes: ity is defined and, when the Example of an error log download giving date and time, name of mathematical functions error conditions are met, then a faulty channel, hardware location and information regarding the internal conditioning line of error log is created. nature of the fault function parameters For effective system diag- timing and counting functions nostic analysis, it is desirable that the demand.The characteristics be given to stability of the dis- With these tools at their each line of error log has a date of this function can be easily tai- placement controller, displace- disposal, then the machine and time stamp, together with a lored to suit the demands of ment controller hysterisis and designer’s limitations are the record of the channel on which different manufacturers. For fine repeatability. If problems arise extent of imagination or the the error was made. A record metering or low flow, then the with these control areas, then cost effective hardware for of the pin out details and node joystick could be configured to the software has to have flexibil- delivering the required function- address is also useful. only ask for an engine speed ity to compensate. ality. It follows, therefore, that Light emitting diodes (LEDs) increase after a certain angle of Parker Hannifin plc has no wish mounted on system hardware deflection. The way forward to be involved in the application and visible externally are a good The days of the customer rely- file development, as long as the way of giving a quick visual indi- Hydrostatic transmission ing on the supplier for control required functionality is realised cation of the nature of the sys- control of the machine application file and the machine is safe. tem errors. A simple sequence Hydrostatic transmission control are numbered. More and more of flashes can be a good way of calls for close control of both customers are requesting con- System diagnostics coding this to the service engi- the engine and the transmission trol of their own application file. Effective system diagnostics are neer. It is important that this pump or motor. Most hydrostat- Many systems on the market an essential consideration in method of communicating ic transmission applications have today require the employ of a total machine control.The sys- errors is not made too com- a ‘corner’ power demand that trained programmer to manage will stall the diesel engine in the a machine application file.This is vehicle. Power control and anti expensive and means that the stall are therefore essential if functionality of the machine is in good machine driveability is to the hands of an individual who be achieved. In order to provide does not necessarily have a good driveability, it is essential to machine design back ground. If sense engine load. Engine load the supplier controls the appli- measurement is gained from cation file, then the issues are fuel governor mapping or an two fold. electronic parameter delivered The supplier has control over by the engine controller. ‘how the machine works’; this is According to the degree of a very commercially sensitive engine load, then the hydrostatic area as machines are sold on Example of a master module screen display reading engine speed; note hardware module location, hardware pin number and transmission starts to be ‘how they work’ the speed as scaled value (option to display the Hz value also reduced so that hydraulic pump Rapid application file develop- available) flow is reduced and pump pres- ment is at the mercy of whether sure then increases. Engine the supplier has the resource at tem error log diagnostics can be plex. Control systems exist in speed and vehicle motion is that time to make program divided into two main cate- the market place where service maintained, staying within the changes. If not, then robust dis- gories: engineers are required to count maximum available engine cussions about priorities take errors and events that refer to up to 25 LED flashes. Field power. place which is not good for the the system hardware observance of this method of A hydrostatic transmission business relationship. errors and events that refer to diagnostics, reports that service can be considered a very ‘rigid’ The Parker IQAN system, the machine application file. engineers do not consider this system. It is very important, developed by Parker Hannifin Both must be recorded in inter- user friendly. therefore, that precise control is plc, provides a solution to this nal error logs for field service One discussion that often maintained of the pump dis- dilemma with the following interrogation. surfaces in diagnostics consider- placement. It then follows that, objective:‘to put mechanical and System hardware errors ations concerns the size of the before selecting a hydrostatic systems design engineers in total usually refer to any electronic machine user interface screen. A pump, consideration needs to control of machine functionality errors due to over and under big screen is often provided for
21 ELECTRONIC CONTROLS
applications that are just one good way for engineering sup- systems. needs to have some way of generation removed from a port to be rendered. It allows Data logging functions, to implementing its command data. conventional multi-dial display. engineering access to all parts of record millions of data points, is Information, according to yield, Operators still like to glance at the application file and error a process only normally carried can be gathered by the real a row of gauges and perform logs. out at machine prototyping time control system with the aid their own checks, in which case Short Message System stage. Mobile real-time control of counters, timers, weight read- a large screen is required so (SMS) technology also gives the systems rarely possess the ings and mathematical calcula- that multiple channels can be ability to request the value of memory to take care of this tions. Information for crop appli- displayed simultaneously.The any parameter in the control type of function. If all mobile cations can be implemented in other way is to use the ‘pop up’ system. SMS is also discrete so control systems had this capabil- the real time control system by philosophy which involves a machine operators never neces- ity, then there would definitely controlling positions, speeds and small display and no channels sarily know when information is be a cost implication. High reso- forces.The crop management permanently on display. being demanded. SMS can also lution data logging is not nor- system now needs to find a way Considerable work needs to go impact on diagnostics by condi- mally a function required for of communicating this informa- into the application file so that tions in the control system volume production machines tion with the real time control all the information that is defined as to when a service and, therefore, most mobile system.The suggested method absorbed and acted upon in a interval is exceeded.When control systems do not have this for this is, once again, that it these conditions are met, then large display application has capability.There are situations, takes place over a CAN gate- been taken care of within the SMS messages are automatically however, where this type of way with a field tested protocol, code of the file. If the system sent to a service centre. function is sometimes required; such as SAEJ1939. information requires the atten- Once electronics are tested in which case, an external data Remote communication tion of the machine operator and installed in a mobile vehicle logging system would have to with the machine, for driver then the information ‘pops up’ then they tend to be very sta- be used, obtaining its informa- issues and control system com- on the display. A small display is ble. If the unthinkable happens tion from the real time control mands, is now a mature technol- ogy with SMS. Provided modem access is present, then messages can be sent to the driver via the user interface.The message can be interactive and demand a response from the driver. Command messages that con- trol machine operational param- eters are also easily implement- ed using SMS.The machine can, therefore, be easily shut down with SMS and, provided the A typical hardware requirement for remote modem communication. modem connection is present, then an extra level of security is therefore all that is required. and the system becomes unsta- system. In order to achieve this, added. Another popular criteria for ble, then some sort of hardware an interface is required.The sug- machine diagnostics are that any quality references need to be gested method is via serial com- Commercial consider- I/O on the control system accessed quickly. It is therefore munication with the real time ations needs to be measured from the desirable that all modules have a control system, over a standard Commercial considerations are machine user interface. In effect serial number, hardware version protocol. One of the most vital when selecting a mobile the user interface now becomes and software version reference developed and field tested pro- control system.The Parker a multimeter. If this is the case available from the user interface. tocols is CAN and more specifi- IQAN philosophy of a control then I/O checks can be per- This will enable the electronics cally the CAN protocol accord- system is that it should be made formed without the need for manufacturer to act quickly in ing to SAEJ1939.This is a widely up of the following items. expensive diagnostic tools.The relation to hardware issues. adopted standard among engine Hardware discussion then follows as to and transmission manufacturers. All control systems have to whether the field service engi- System integration The mobile control system of consist of a safe hardware neers can fault find and fix with The merits of total system con- choice must, therefore, have a design that takes care of irreg- an error document and the user trol are unquestionable.The CAN gateway and every chan- ular power supply with varying interface. Alternatively, are field boundaries of a total control nel that is used in the applica- voltages. Reverse polarity and service engineers required to system are perhaps worthy of tion software is available for log- high temperature protection dig deeper into machine func- greater discussion.The total ging purposes at the CAN gate- should be included. Each unit tionality? If so, then a laptop or machine control concept is way. module must have test docu- palmtop computer is required. broadly confined to real time Crop management systems mentation for electromagnetic If field support regarding the control operations. Other topics are now an essential part of compatibility (EMC), vibration, application file is required, then of machine control include data modern harvesting and planting thermal shock, humidity, salt remote modem access is a logging and crop management equipment. Crop management spray, etc.
22 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 Application software control system is such a pivotal systems, to implement total There should be a totally open part of the machine that sup- machine control, then a ‘work application software environ- plier issues can cause major out of the box’ control system ment where the application file problems. Control systems has to be purchased. If the offer- is in the control of the cus- tend to soak up engineering ing from the supplier is a truly tomer. resources quickly. One major ‘works out of the box’ solution, issue with a small electronics Diagnostics then development costs for company, can quickly tie up all A comprehensive diagnostics each of the areas will have to their engineering resources package is essential for prob- have been absorbed in advance. and it becomes a question of lem solving. Field experience is teaching us priorities as to which problem Accessories gets solved. Smaller electronic that many companies have the Modem access, radio remote companies that control all the ability to design hardware and control and SMS messaging application software also suffer, go ahead and do this.They then should be easily integrated into in circumstances where urgent start on the operating system the system if required. application file support makes and start to suffer, as the size of Documentation impossible demands of the the undertaking becomes appar- Extensive documentation programmers. It is not suggest- ent.The vision of what is should include instruction ed here that larger companies required, in terms of resource, manuals for all software and will have unlimited resources to create an application tool hardware.The ability to docu- but if the control systems also becomes clear. What ment the application file in the department is well funded, seems to happen next is that form of text is useful for cre- then the resource to tackle big the machine manufacturer then ation of machine error docu- issues will more likely be avail- looks around for an operating ments. able. A larger company, with system and software that will more people, also spreads the Remote communication with Product training & applica- work with hardware they have machine for driver issues is now a risk in situations where there tion support designed and the whole process mature technology with the may be a break down in per- Short Messaging Service (SMS) The control system has to be becomes an exercise to ensure sonal relationships. It allows the supported by supplier person- the company concerned does machine manufacturer Operating system nel who can offer training and not lose the investment in hard- recourse to other personnel in A safe embedded operating assist with the generation of ware design. A better way to order to solve problems system needs to be designed the first application file handle this type of project is to that conforms to relevant safe- Type of organisation research the market for a ‘work ty standards. Updating of this It is recommended that the Conclusion out of the box’ solution at the operating system needs to be control systems supplier If machine manufacturers are to outset. simple and able to be carried should be a large, stable and embark on fast, flexible and cost out in the field. profitable organisation.The effective development of control
HEALTH & SAFETY REGULATIONS HSE sets deadline for safety upgrade of wood
The Health and Safety Executive took a review of operator pro- said:“Wood chipper owners with the existing measures on (HSE) has set a deadline of 5 tection at the infeed chutes on have had 18 months to bring their machines and contact their December 2002 as the date by power-fed machines.The review their machines up to scratch. suppliers for upgrading where which all power-fed wood chip- found that while some designs Many prudent users have necessary. pers must have improved stan- provided better protection than already upgraded their dards of operator protection. others, all makes needed machines, and, by setting this After this date, inspectors com- improvement.These improve- deadline, we hope to motivate MORE INFORMATION ing across machines not meeting ments were discussed with UK the rest to come up to stan- the standards given in HSE manufacturers and suppliers dard.Wood chippers are dan- Copies of the free informa- Agriculture Information Sheet during 2000, and, from 31 gerous machines with the tion sheet Power-fed mobile (AIS) 38: Power-fed mobile wood October of that year, manufac- potential to cause horrific wood chippers – Operator chippers – Operator protection at turers and suppliers agreed to injuries unless fitted with the protection at infeed chutes infeed chutes will be taking supply new machines to the right safeguards.” (AIS 38) are available from increased levels of enforcement, standards in AIS 38 and offer The report AIS 38 sets out HSE Books, PO Box 1999, including, in some instances, retrofit kits for the upgrading of the minimum standards for Sudbury, Suffolk, C010 2WA. serving an immediate existing units. these machines. Users should Tel: 01787 881165. Fax: Prohibition Notice. Neil Craig, from HSE’s compare the protective meas- 01787 313995. Web: Two years ago, HSE under- Agriculture and Wood Sector, ures described in the guidance www.hse.qov.uk/pubns/agin-
23 PRODUCTS
TERRAIN VEHICLES Massey Ferguson makes new additions to AgTV range
ew MF 500 TBX go-any- Massey Ferguson’s newest AgTV machine Nwhere load carrier • New MF 400 Auto with ‘Duramatic’, constantly variable transmission • Superior transmission durability and reliability • Start in gear and reverse shuttle • Higher torque at lower engine speeds • A host of class leading features Two new models, the MF 500 TBX range topping load carrier and the MF 400 Auto mid range machine, both with ‘Duramatic’ automatic transmission, have been added to the Massey Ferguson line-up of Agricultural Terrain Vehicles (AgTV). Named AgTV because they are specially designed for rugged use in agriculture and allied indus- tries, the MF range now compris- es seven manual and automatic transmission quad bikes from 246 cc to 493 cc.The new models extend the already class leading load carrying capacity of the range, backed by the same out- standing engine, transmission and suspension features which make with a carrying capacity of 136 The new MF 400 Auto is a mid compared to other systems. the MF machines more durable, kg.This is in addition to the front range machine suited to a wide A major advantage of it is reliable and manoeuvrable than rack which can carry a further 45 variety of work. It also leads its that the massively strong Kevlar others on the market. kg. For easy emptying, the box class in load carrying capabilities coated belt is always engaged and tips on a gas strut by using a lever with combined front and rear tight. Drive is engaged and disen- New MF 500 TBX go any- at the side of the operator’s seat. rack capacities of 136 kg and a gaged by an automatic clutch where load carrier The corrosion resistant plastic is towing capacity of 477 kg. rather than slackening the drive The MF 500 TBX combines the easily cleaned with a pressure It has the same ‘Duramatic’, belt as on most other automatic powerful ‘go anywhere’ four- washer. Extra carrying and stor- automatic, constantly variable transmissions. As a result, the belt wheel drive characteristics of the age space is provided in two fully transmission as the MF 500 Auto on MF AgTVs with automatic conventional of MF 500 AgTV, sealed bins in the rear fender and new MF 500 TBX machines, transmission cannot be distorted with the load capabilities utility moulding. Made from the same offering the same operator or stretched by frequent engage- vehicle, making it ideal for farm toughened plastic, they are ideal advantages of easy of use and ment and disengagement. Since use, grounds care applications and for carrying tools, valuables or a manoeuvrability. there is no slack in the belt, utility company maintenance flask. Additional load transporting power take-up is always smooth operations. capability is provided by a towing Superior transmission dura- when moving off, without any Instead of the conventional capacity of 477 kg. bility and reliability ‘snatch’. rear carrier, the MF 500 TBX is fit- The ‘Duramatic’ transmission is Durability and reliability of the ted with a moulded toughened New MF 400 Auto with unique to MF AgTVs, providing transmission, which provides plastic box over the rear axle Duramatic transmission superior durability and reliability selectable two or four-wheel
24 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 drive with two forward and one the MF 500TBX – provide the MF 400 Auto and the MF 500 • Best in class fuel capacity of 18 reverse speed ranges, is aided high torque at low engine speed TBX are: litres. two-fold. Firstly by the large sup- that is needed for working in diffi- • Fully-independent wishbone • High-density polyethylene skid port bearings on the drive clutch cult conditions and to match the front suspension and patented ‘4- plate protects the underside of which keep the clutch centres excellent towing and carrying link’ fully floating, semi independ- the MF AgTV. constant and secondly by the fully capacities of the machines.The ent rear suspension providing • Compared to steel, it has the sealed, rigid, cast aluminium hous- MF 500 TBX produces its maxi- class leading 18.3 cm of suspen- advantage of not denting, ripping ing which keeps out dirt and mum torque of 46 Nm at 3,500 sion travel and 23.3 cm of ground or rusting. water. rev/min compared to a compet- clearance, while maintaining a low • An electrical output socket pro- ing 600 cc machine with a maxi- centre of gravity and without vides power for equipment such Start in gear and reverse mum torque of only 39 Nm at making the seat uncomfortably as spreaders, sprayers, winches shuttle 5,500 rev/min. high.When towing, the suspen- and the MF Fieldstar terminal for On the MF 400 Auto and the MF High torque at low engine sion systems transfers weight precision farming operations 500 TBX, the engine can be start- speed provides better perform- directly to the driving axle for a • Top quality after-sales service ed with the transmission engaged ance on difficult terrain, whether more comfortable ride for parts and servicing provided by squeezing the brake lever and steep hillsides or muddy fields. It • All round hydraulic disc brakes through the MF dealer network. pushing the starter, making the means less noise, better fuel operated by a single lever give machines ideal for work requiring economy and less stress for the impressive braking performance frequent stopping and starting. operator. and are less prone to clogging CONTACT Both have a single lever The engines and magnetos and wear compared to the drum Caroline Button, AGCO forward/reverse shuttle on the are fully sealed to keep out dirt brakes still used on some ATVs. Limited, P.O. Box, 62 Banner right of the fuel tank. and moisture for reliable running An additional rear foot break, Lane, Coventry, CV4 9GF. Tel: in all conditions and can operate mechanical on the MF 400 Auto +44 (0)2476 851292 Fax: Higher torque at lower in water up to exhaust depth. and hydraulic on the MF 500 +44 (0)2476 851182 E-mail: engine speeds TBX, gives extra braking when [email protected] Powerful, liquid-cooled, four-valve, A host of class leading fea- used with the hand-lever brakes p.com Website: four stroke engines – 371 cc on tures or allows braking while turning www.uk.agcogroup.com the MF 400 Auto and 493 cc on Other leading features of the new when used alone.
FERTILISER SPREADERS Top-line S60 Teagle’s fertiliser spreader in action broadcaster
A new machine, the Top-line S60 conventional twin rotor design, has been added to Teagle’s range which spreads from the outside of UK built broadcasters.The S60, inwards to give a high degree of which replaces the TD50, has a overlap.The radial feed system basic capacity of 1300 l which can onto the rotor vanes minimises be increased to 1900 l and 2500 spread pattern variations and l by adding hopper extensions. A consequent striping in hillside major feature of the machine is work. Bout widths between 12 m the extent to which stainless steel and 24 m can be achieved by made easy by the fully tilting hop- The Top-line S60 is a British has been used in it’s construction changing the gear ratios in the per.This is held in place by a design and built alongside the rest including the hopper and hopper main drive gearbox.This opera- spring-loaded pin and when tilt- of the range in Teagle’s modern extensions.Virtually all of the tion does not involve the use of ed, the whole of the spreading UK factory. spreading and metering mecha- tools and it is not necessary to mechanism is exposed for easy nism is stainless but the addition drain the gearbox. access. CONTACT of a stainless steel hopper will A headland spreading facility, The generous specification greatly reduce corrosion. in the form of a tilt mechanism, is includes hydraulic remote shutter, Teagle Machinery Limited, As with most of the Teagle included as standard equipment. lights, hopper screens, boundary Blackwater, Truro, Cornwall. broadcaster range, the S60 car- The tilt is operated hydraulically spreading system and test tray kit. TR4 8HQ. Tel: +44 (0)872 ries a 2 year parts warranty in and produces a very short spread The basic machine is priced at 560592 Fax: +44 (0)872 addition to the normal 12 pattern on the field boundary £3,410. Options include hopper 561166 E-mail: howard@tea- months comprehensive warranty. side of the machine. extensions, folding hopper cover gle.co.uk Website: www.tea- The spreading mechanism is a Cleaning and maintenance is and extra gear sets. gle.co.uk
25 PRODUCTS
FIRE PROTECTION Jephson Gardens’ temperate glasshouse safe from fire
The most sensitive smoke detec- In 1999, AirSense Technology essary to conceal aspirating pipes and drain moisture present in tion system has now been Ltd became the first manufactur- within the structure’s girders and the air.The Classifire® system installed to protect Jephson er of fire alarm products to under the flooring, ensuring visi- contained in Stratos-HSSD® Gardens’ temperate glasshouse receive the Queen’s Award for tors will never know they are enables the system to adapt to from fire as part of a £4.3 million Technological Achievement.This there.” climatic changes. It also allows for makeover undertaken by award was in recognition of the Installing fire detection sys- high levels of pollen or other Warwick District Council. innovative design of the Stratos- tems within exceptionally humid non-related particulates thus pre- The historic gardens which HSSD® detector and the effec- buildings such as glasshouses venting any of these factors from are currently undergoing redevel- tiveness and reliability of its artifi- presents a number of technical causing nuisance alarms.This opment, will feature a temperate cial intelligence (AI) system, challenges. Greenway & Partners ensures the best possible warn- glasshouse overflowing with known as ClassiFire®.They have Ltd worked closely with consult- ing, to even incipient fires, can be exotic plants when it opens later recently added to their success, ants from AirSense and F4 Ltd, provided throughout the year. this year. Consultants, Greenway having been awarded the paying particular attention to & Partners Ltd, chose the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, ensure aspirating pipes were CONTACT Stratos-HSSD® which was man- for Export Achievement 2002. installed in positions throughout AirSense Technology, 1 Oak ufactured by Queen’s Award The fire detection system the building where rising smoke House, Knowl Piece, Wilbury winning AirSense Technology Ltd, was supplied and commissioned is most likely to dissipate. Given Way, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 0TY. to protect the glasshouse, the by F4 Ltd, taking great care to the level of condensation that Tel: +44 (0)1462 440666 adjoining riverside restaurant and preserve the aesthetics of the would be present in air samples, Website: www.airsensetech- the thousands of annual visitors glasshouse. Brian Morrison, Sales it was also necessary to install nology.co.uk from fire. Manager for F4 said,“It was nec- special piping that would collect
GRAIN STORAGE When PTO doesn’t mean please turn over
SIP (Industrial Products) costs.These sturdy units have a Ltd have recently added a special speed increasing gearbox, new range of power sized for alternator speed and take-off (PTO) generators power which decreases the trac- to their already vast tor engine speed required thus range of products.The saving money. PTO generators can pro- With models ranging from vide an excellent source 13 to 40 kVA continuous out- of power to remote puts, single or three phase, there places that previously had is something for all requirements, no provision of an electri- but the main issue is the conven- cal supply ience and time-saving that can be These impressive achieved. units are designed to be driven by the power take-off of the tractor, CONTACT and are easily coupled to the three linkage connec- Chris Wight, Marketing tions, making them easily Executive, SIP (Industrial transportable from job to Products) Ltd, Gelders Hall job across the farm. Road, Shepshed, Convenience, of Loughborough, course, is not the only Leicestershire, LE12 9NH. Tel: issue and considerable +44 (0)1509 503154 E-mail: thought has also gone [email protected] Website: into reducing running www.sip-group.com
26 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 LUBRICANTS Biodegradable greases for bearings
biodegradable and low toxicity • availability of nitrogen lubricant involved a number of • pH levels key issues.These included: • solubility • current and proposed environ- • ability of bacteria to adapt to mental legislation relevant to the source of oil nutrient. lubricants Ultimately, of course, the • existing products on the mar- lubricant should be reduced to ket and their performance its simplest natural form while • demand for the product leaving no harmful by-products properties for the product that could have a detrimental • current research. and long-term effect on the local A central issue was to estab- environment. lish a clear definition of the term Traditional lubricants based ‘green’ grease as most materials on mineral and synthetic oils are will degrade in some way over ultimately biodegradable though time.There are many processes the slow rate of decomposition responsible for these changes, means, under some conditions, mostly commonly biodegrada- that they can exist as a contami- tion, oxidation and photolysis. nant in groundwater for close to New biodegradable grease from SKF (Photo: SKF) Chemical and physical changes a century. over time often occur simultane- A new biodegradable grease adverse effects on the environ- ously. Testing considerations from SKF can match traditional ment. With regard to the develop- Any tests to establish the grease performance in bearing Although only a portion of ment of clear parameters on biodegradable performance of a applications. It also meets the lubricants used may pose a material breakdown in the con- new lubricant have to bear in increased demand for environ- threat to the environment, this text of ‘green’ grease, the under- mind the often unpredictable mentally friendly products in the can add up to several millions standing of biodegradation is and complex processes at work. engineering industry. tonnes worldwide. In particular, vital. In biodegradation, the mate- With no single universal stan- SKF has launched its ‘green’ equipment users in the con- rial is gradually broken down dard that clearly defines grease, LGGB 2 product, as a struction, earthmoving, forestry through the metabolic action of biodegradability, SKF opted to general-purpose lubricant. As and farming industry are increas- such living organisms as bacteria, use a number of existing tests. such, it is suitable for many differ- ingly seeking ‘green’ solutions fungi, yeast and algae. These were used to establish ent types of bearing applications. because environmental contami- Hydrocarbons, which are the whether toxicity and biodegrad- This contrasts with other nation may be an issue. main constituent of biodegrad- ability occurred within a reason- biodegradable and non- Until recently, it was thought able lubricants, are transformed able length of time. Basically, biodegradable greases which that current generations of into carbon dioxide and water biodegradability means that often require one particular type biodegradable and low-toxicity by this process. microorganisms in the soil, rivers of grease per application.The lubricants could not satisfactorily Naturally, this process is not and oceans can break down grease is also a highly competi- meet the requirements of rolling entirely predictable as it can be greases with relative ease. tive alternative to traditional bearing applications. influenced by factors, such as the From exhaustive studies, SKF greases. SKF has managed to over- mix of living organisms present, has found that ester or vegetable The development has come come the inherent disadvantages temperature and humidity. It can fluids formulated carefully into about through SKF working with of biodegradable greases, which happen that a material that may lubricants perform well in real its own suppliers to identify the have led to premature bearing easily degrade under one set of applications. In particular, SKF suitable characteristics and per- failure. LGGB 2 has been tested circumstances may not readily researchers found that a combi- formance requirements for envi- and approved for ‘steel on steel’ degrade under others. nation of synthetic ester oil and ronmentally friendly grease.The spherical plain bearings, ball and The minimum basic require- a lithium/calcium thickener application of biodegradable roller bearings.The grease is ments are sufficient bacteria resulted in good properties as lubricants and greases has been based on synthetic ester oil, lithi- population, correct oxygen levels defined in terms of water and studied at the SKF Engineering & um/calcium thickener and other and a suitable temperature corrosion resistance without the Research Centre for a number biodegradable ingredients and it range.The rate of degradation is need to use toxic additives. of years.This has led to a formu- has low toxicity. also affected by such factors as: The LGGB 2 grease formu- lation that can meet the strin- • fluid viscosity lation, based on these con- gent demands of a range of Study of requirements • sunlight stituents, performs well with ball, engineering applications without The search for a suitable • mineral salt content roller and plain bearings.This is a
27 PRODUCTS
Thanks to its specialist knowledge The new grease is part of the Technical data for LGGB 2 biodegradable grease. of bearing behaviour and the group’s continued commitment to effects of lubrication, the Company the environment and the adoption has now launched its first ‘green’ of sound environmental practices grease, which is believed to be the within the bearing industry. first of its kind on the open mar- ket. CONTACT Developed to meet a range of bearing applications, the new Colin Roberts, SKF Engineering grease, called LGGB 2, meets the Research Centre, P.O. Box strict criteria that SKF places on 2350, 3430 DT Nieuwegein, The bearing greases. It has been tested Netherlands. Tel: +31 30 60 and approved for ‘steel on steel’ 75608 Fax: +31 30 60 43812 spherical plain bearings, ball and E-mail: [email protected] roller bearings. Website: www.skf.com
DATA CAPTURE New barcode scanning feature for PocketGISTM
Positioning Resources Ltd, base files into the field, so the Aberdeen based data capture data shown on the hand-held specialists, have been working computer is the same as is held closely with Netherlands clients, on the central GIS database. Geometius B.V. to further devel- Therefore changes, if made to op their revolutionary handheld data while in the field, link directly mapping software PocketGIS™. In back to the main database when response to customer demand, PocketGIS™ is uploaded on PocketGIS™ now has the ability return to the office.This upload, to scan bar codes in the field. updates the corporate GIS data- REMU, an electrical utility base in one step, without deleting company in the Netherlands, are existing files, ensuring that integri- currently using this system to sim- ty and quality control are main- plify the collection of asset infor- tained throughout the process. mation for more than 100,000 Positioning Resources has lampposts, each with it’s own been providing field data capture unique bar code.The bar code and mapping solutions to public scanner is an optional, integral and private sector organisations significant development, as conven- • SKF EMCOR test which tests part of a Husky Fex21 hand-held for 18 years. PocketGIS Software tional lubricating greases are nor- corrosion inhibition properties computer. Running PocketGIS™ was one of the first of its kind to mally considered suitable for only • R2F test to establish grease lubri- software on a Husky Fex21 in the run on hand-held computers one bearing type. Each bearing cation performance in roller bear- field, the user scans each lamp- when introduced in 1997.The bar class has a different contact surface, ings post bar code and checks the code scanning feature will now which can affect lubricant perform- • SKF ‘steel on steel’ plain bearing asset information displayed by add further value and capabilities ance. For instance, the lubricant film test PocketGIS™ by way of a pop-up to an already versatile software in ball bearings has a point contact; From these tests, it was found that form. If the information is correct, product. in roller bearings it is a line contact; LGGB 2 offered superior perform- the user moves on to the next and for plain bearings it is full con- ance over a range of operating lamppost. If the data is incom- CONTACT tact over the area. SKF selected conditions and bearing types and plete however, or needs updated Judith MacDonald, Marketing four different formulations that established a steady operating tem- – perhaps the lamppost has failed Assistant, Positioning were subjected to stringent bearing perature set at 90°C. since it’s last check – the user Resources Ltd, 64 Commerce tests.These included the: simply notes this on the pop-up Street, Aberdeen, AB11 5FP.Tel: • SKF R0F test to determine per- Summary form and moves on.The updated +44 (0)1224 581502 Fax: +44 formance in ball bearings and Overcoming the limitations of information will be dealt with on (0)1224 574354 E-mail: determine the maximum operating biodegradable lubricants has been return to the office. [email protected] Website: temperature limit a goal of SKF for many years. The user takes existing data- www.posres.co.uk
28 LANDWARDS WINTER 2002 BAND SAWMILLS Wood-Mizer’s biggest band sawmills yet
Wood-Mizer UK Smallest Wood-Mizer New band sawmill revealed their biggest with larger heads The model LT15 is Wood-Mizer’s sawmills so far at the and extra long smallest band sawmill. Using the main frame Association of same narrow band saw blades as Professional Foresters the larger mills, it can cut logs up (APF) fair in to 71 cm in diameter or 5.4 m September.This band long. sawmill has significantly larger cutting heads Kilns and moulders and an extra long main As part of its policy of assisting frame, for dealing with customers setting up small timber longer logs. processing operations,Wood- Mizer is adding kilns and moul- Industrial band ders to its product line. sawmill The new mill, which CONTACT can be used as station- ary or mobile kit, becomes the wide customers’ often stated sawmill was invented, the compa- Brian Hind & Associates, 3 biggest of Wood-Mizer’s wishes by introducing this indus- ny is offering three ‘limited edi- Napier Court, Ranelagh European range which now trial sawing head and long bed tion’ packages at special celebra- Gardens, London, SW6 3UT. extends to eleven basic models for reliable, heavy duty, long term tory prices.The anniversary dis- Tel: +44 (0)20 7736 0780 all with differing engine options timber processing.” count applies to models: Fax: +44 (0)20 7736 5833 E- and other features. LT40HDG24S-1, LT40HDD30S-1 mail: [email protected] Peter Burn, manager of Limited edition sawmill and LT40AHDE15S-1 which are Website: Wood-Mizer UK explains:“We packages essentially petrol, diesel and elec- www.hindsite.uk.com have added to our existing range To celebrate the 20 years since tric versions of the widely used, of band sawmills to meet world- the first Wood-Mizer band hydraulically assisted LT40.
FORESTRY ‘Wet preserving’ storm-felled timber
terrible European storm Lowara pumps, boosters and felled 300 million trees in compressors were used at three AFrance and Germany. In French timber stockyards – France ‘wet preserving’ these Mauvages, Bois de Sorcy and huge stockpiles of felled wood, Jussarupt, where they pulled using pumps, keeps the price of water from nearby rivers and timber from collapsing. lakes to keep nearly 100,000 m3 When Hurricane Lothar of wood saturated for 24 hours blasted through France and per day.The Jussarupt operation Germany on the 26th December After the storm; the Eiffel was so successful that it was 1999, it damaged 500,000 ha of tower with one of many recognised as the pilot plant for commercial forests.With winds of trees, felled in France and the entire forest region to copy. 200 km/h and higher, Lothar Germany by Hurricane Lowara’s pumps enabled the uprooted about 300 million trees Lothar, shown in the fore- ONF to market the wood at – the equivalent of a three-year ground normal prices which meant the harvest. agency gained more money to Like all hurricanes, Lothar dis- re-plant and re-forest the areas regarded the laws of supply and all at once, the over-supply would fungus and parasites.The pump that Lothar devastated. In this demand.The 300 million trees decimate forestry product prices. company chosen by France’s way, Lowara technology is helping represent an estimated 140 mil- The solution is, therefore, to Office Nationale des Forests the French timber industry avoid lion m3 of timber. If this com- stockpile the logs and keep them (ONF) to keep the expensive economic and ecological disaster. modity were brought to market wet, to protect against damaging inventory wet was Lowara. [Courtesy: Minett Media]
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