Case Study: Equipment helps to produce cleaner seeds at Marshall, MO plant
Rotary spirals from Profile Industries were installed in October at the Mid-State Seed production plant in Marshall, MO. (Mid-State photos)
For more information, see the First Quarter issue of Seed Today.
By Chris Lusvardi
Brian Anderson noticed a difference this fall as soybeans were being processed at the Mid-State Seed production plant in Marshall, MO.
Anderson, the company’s general manager, says the soybeans were coming out cleaner than ever before.
He credits a newly-installed addition to the production line: rotary spirals from Profile Industries.
“The rotary spirals have made the product look a lot better,” Anderson says. “I’m a big believer in spirals. In the past, we lost a lot of good beans with conventional spirals.”
The rotary spirals are something Anderson has been interested in after seeing them at other production plants but not until recently been able to have installed for Mid-State to use in its contract production process.
A Piece of The Puzzle
The rotary spiral is designed to work with other equipment on the processing line, says Profile Business Development Manager Tommy Saatzer.
Saatzer explains the rotary spiral removes low quality seed before seed reaches the color sorter and gravity table, allowing those machines to focus more on their intended purposes. The rotary spiral will sort good seeds from splits, weed seed, disease seed, and chaff.
He adds the rotary spiral removes a bottleneck before seed is ready to move onto a color sorter.
“It helps to ensure companies are moving good quality seed out the door,” Saatzer says. “It’s not replacing a color sorter or gravity table but provides another tool in your tool belt to help the equipment do what it’s designed to do. That makes the whole line more efficient.”
Finding The Right Space
Having the space for new machinery can be an issue in some production plants where equipment is already installed in a limited area.
In Mid-State’s case, Anderson says they were able to install five rotary spirals above the color sorters, keeping seeds moving along the production line.
“We didn’t have to make a lot of changes,” Anderson says. “We found an existing place in the plant and the seed flows well to the color sorters. It then moves on from there to the gravity table.”
Saatzer says Profile will work with companies to configure the space as needed and keep the operation running efficiently.
“After seeing how much the rotary spiral can reduce seed loss, companies will find a place for it,” Saatzer says. “Sometimes we do have to get creative.”
Features
The rotary spiral system is run using a VFD and has adjustable flow control, Saatzer says.
“The operator can always make adjustments,” he says. “It’s simple to use, as they can check the speed and quality and let it run from there.”
Saatzer notes rotary spirals have been in use for nearly 15 years, with recent updates to the design. Profile has used feedback from its customers when making the changes, he says.
Saatzer says the equipment is made to require as little maintenance as possible. Demonstrations of the equipment are available for those interested in seeing how it works, he notes.
“We want to help improve the quality of what’s in a bag going to farmers,” Saatzer says. “We’re happy to be part of that process.”
The rotary spirals are something Anderson has been excited to have installed and be able to continue using in the years to come.
“We thought this would be the best way to improve our process,” Anderson says. "We’ll keep looking for new ways to improve quality and run our plant more efficiently."
