Capital Equipment News June 2018

AGRICULTURE NEWS

SKF Agri Hub for harsh tillage

To maximise farm productivity, tillage machinery is getting bigger. Larger diameter, heavier tillage discs allow deeper tillage penetration, but they endure the same harsh contaminants and even heavier loads than smaller discs. Shock impacts with stones can cause structural cracks, while failed seals can allow contaminants to cause disc bearing failure. SKF Agri Hub for harsh tillage can handle these operating challenges and more. Designed as a heavy-duty alternative to standard-sized hub units, SKF Agri Hub for harsh tillage connects disc harrow arms to larger diameter tillage discs (>610 mm/24 in). By combining larger components and a unique dual sealing system, the unit’s service life is increased by up to two times compared with standard units, while eliminating the need to re-lubricate the disc hubs after each use. It also allows higher tillage speeds in harsh soil conditions. The unit’s dual seal solution incorporates both an SKF Mudblock seal and a cassette bearing seal for exceptional sealing performance – field tests confirm up to 100% extended service life compared with alternative harsh tillage hub units in the market. SKF Agri Hub for harsh tillage also features a larger flange and shaft to accommodate larger diameter discs operating at higher loads and tillage speeds. Part of the proven SKF Agri Hub range, SKF Agri Hub for harsh tillage is backed by SKF’s global capabilities, including extensive engineering support and fast delivery options. ❂

SKF’s re-lubrication-free unit extends service life by up to 100%, cuts maintenance and speeds tillage for greater profitability.

Fogmaker takes the heat in forestry

South Africa’s plantation area covers more than 1,5 million hectares, stretching over five provinces – Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern and Western Cape. “With the forestry industry nearing the fire season, forestry machinery not fitted with a fire suppression system will be at high risk,” warns John Russell, GM of Fogmaker South Africa, supplier of high pressure, water mist fire suppression systems. All diesel engine-operated machinery presents a fire risk and forestry equipment is certainly no exception. The accumulation of organic material within the hot engine compartment, hydraulic pipe failure and electrical faults are the most common causes of fire in these machines, putting billions of Rands of forests at risk. “Unsurprisingly, there is a growing demand for automatic fire detection and fire suppression systems within the forestry industry,” notes Russell. “Driven by a proactive stance taken by two of South Africa’s leading forest owners, it will soon become compulsory for all new forest machines of a certain criteria to be fitted with a fire suppression system.” Russell adds that the retrofitting of fire suppression systems to used machinery is also expected to become a pre-requisite in the not-too-distant future. Designed specifically for engine compartments, Fogmaker can be installed on virtually all forestry machines including

The Fogmaker fire suppression system protects people, animals, equipment and the environment.

hybrid harvesters, skidders, haulers, loaders, as well as hauler loaders and can even be fitted to bakkies. “We work closely with OEM suppliers and integrators and we are proud to announce that Fogmaker is the standard OEM fire suppression system on the AHWI mulcher,” says Russell. Equipped with automatic hydro- pneumatic fire detection, which is totally independent of any power source, both the detection and suppression system work even when the electricity supply is disconnected. The Fogmaker system is simple and makes use of pure extinguishant, water, combined with 3%

Aqueus Film Forming Foam (AFF), to attack all three components in the fire triangle, namely heat, oxygen and fuel. Using high-pressure (100 bar) water mist, the system effectively suppresses the fire and cools down the compartment to prevent re-ignition. “The use of water in the form of mist (50-micron droplets) presents an additional firefighting benefit that no other fire-fighting agent has,” says Russell. “The significant number of droplets together with the large combined surface area effectively blocks radiant heat by absorbing and scattering of heat radiation and reducing damage within the engine compartment.” ❂

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS JUNE 2018 44

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