Over the years, the production of soybean has increased. The supply and demand factors have dramatically improved the area of agricultural land used to produce the oilseed grain.
Part of the remarkable demand growth for soya crops is their high protein content and range of amino acids. Machines will crush about 85% of the soybean crop produced to make edible oil and soybean meal, with the remainder utilized in its bean form as seeds and food. The edible oil is used in various food production contexts, adding protein or as an emulsifier; it is also — increasingly — used in biodiesel and ethanol production. Soybean meal, the other by-product of the crushing process, is used in animal feeds.
HANDLING SOYBEAN MEAL
The continued growth of bulk trade in soybean products has been seen as a possibility to display rich port design and process engineering capacity: understanding the manners of the bulk product and designing suitable and efficient mechanical handling systems to manage its attributes. Soya is free-flowing in its unprocessed bean form and can be handled like other loose bulk products such as corn or other grains.
Provided that the system contains no high drops of the product, splitting, and breakage of the seeds to a bare minimum. Like most grains, monitoring temperature and moisture levels to determine mold damage or insect activity should help maximize storage life and pre-empt deterioration.
However, handling the soybean meal is an altogether trickier, clingier problem. It is a poor-flowing bulk product and a mildly abrasive one, so handling soybean meal requires tailored process engineering with a strong focus on the safety of dust levels and the optimization of equipment lifecycles.
SOLVING STICKY STORAGE
Storage of soybean meal can also present difficulties. The product tends to compact and solidify when left motionless for an extended period, for example, in a silo. Operators must put extra thought into storage facilities, maintenance, and product handling, even when it’s not required for processing or transfer.
Where a client prefers silos, a system for routinely transferring the product between silos needs to be implemented. The lower density of soybean meal compared to other grains and its ‘stickiness’ usually means that soybean meal handling facilities have a lower throughput capacity for a similar design.
Therefore where a very high tonnage throughput per hour is necessary, operators will likely incorporate higher capacity equipment and higher energy usage into the process design. It is recommended to operate conveyors and bucket elevators at as low a speed as feasible when handling soybean meal. There is significant wear and tear on equipment and the handling system, especially when processing at high speeds.
Buttimer has also developed the capability to load products onto trucks and train wagons, often incorporating unique dust-free out loading stations with aspiration bellows. Each intermodal port or inland terminal will have different logistics arrangements and loading schedules.
To maximize the clients’ return on the capital investment in a handling and storage facility, equipment lifecycle management, a well-designed and adhered-to maintenance program, and well-trained, informed operators are crucial.
Incorporating equipment lifecycle optimization into the design and installation phase can save significant amounts of stress, maintenance, and repair expenditure after the system has begun operating; it is always keen to work with the final operator from early in the design process.
Equipment lifecycle management includes a knowledgeably designed and stocked spare parts store with appropriate motors and gear replacement parts — the goal is to keep the parts store short but reaction times very quick.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
Assure that you are properly equipped for production. To achieve your goals, finding the right developer is crucial and necessary. VSM designs high-quality modern European feed mill equipment with local steel structure and support components. Our designs are made to consider Philippine standard feed operations and formulations.
The services we offer are:
- Design to installation as well as customer service after sales. We also provide consultancy for Mill and Facility process and operations optimization.
- Existing Facility Revamping and Enhancements
- Feasibility Analysis
- Investment – Management , Cost Control, and maintenance
- Master planning for long term strategy
For more information or a quotation for a feed mill project in the Philippines, please give us a call, send us a WhatsApp message or Viber us.