CASE STUDY: Grain Millers Gets A Smooth Fill

To further ease operation and increase efficiency, Haver also equipped Grain Millers’ TOPLINE with its HAVER MEC weighing control system, which acts as the machine’s brain. Haver engineers have programmed the MEC with weight and specifications of every grain the company bags. Whenever a product or bag size is switched out during a shift, the operator simply needs to enter the new product ID number and the machine automatically adjusts to the specified product.

The MEC ensures the TOPLINE is filling each bag to the exact weight specified for each product. The system works by controlling a gate that allows material to flow into a netweigher. Once the netweigher is filled to the designated weight, the gate closes. Flaps from the netweigher open to a filling spout and the grain flows into the bag. If the netweigher is inaccurate, the MEC will pause production until operators address the problem — an issue Grain Millers has yet to encounter.

“Grain Millers processes so many different types of products throughout the day, so this has been an incredible time saver,” Selby says. “It’s the most consistent scale I’ve ever seen in my life. If you need a 50.1-pound bag, you are getting a 50.1-pound bag every time.”

Haver worked side by side with Grain Millers, not only in equipping the TOPLINE with the MEC, but also customizing the entire machine to fit the existing feed conveyors and hopper system. “The entire transitional process went very well,” Selby says. “A guide from Haver came in, installed the machine and trained us. He went through basic operation and maintenance, as well as recommended spare parts to keep on hand.”

Since the transition, Grain Millers has seen a decrease in downtime and increases in production and accuracy. Rather than two to three operators doing hard labor, now only one is required to simply oversee the operation. Grain Millers has been using those workers in other areas of the facility for other tasks, which has made the company even more efficient and productive. Production rates have gone from four to five tons an hour to six to seven tons an hour. Production rates are up to approximately 54,000 tons/year, about 40% higher than the 38,000 tons Grain Millers was processing annually prior to getting the Haver system. At the same time, weekly maintenance time has gone down significantly, from six hours a week to only two.

“We like to do weekly maintenance to ensure all the parts are working properly, rollers are oiled, those types of things,” Selby says. “But with the TOPLINE, we do it simply as preventative maintenance to make sure the machine continues to run smoothly.”

In addition to weekly maintenance checks, the control panel also “supervises” the TOPLINE’s operation to ensure everything is running smoothly and prevents potential maintenance issues. If a part isn’t working properly, the control software sends a signal to the bagger to pause until the issue has been addressed. Operators can check on the issue immediately, before the entire system is potentially thrown off balance and significant downtime results.

“The Haver system really seems to do it all. We couldn’t be happier with our decision,” Selby says. “We’re working the same hours, but we’re able to produce two to three tons more every hour. It’s really made a difference in our operation.”