Feed Industry Enclosure Solutions

The feed industry relies on electronics to help with operations, logistics, inventory management and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

The industry also uses a variety of ingredients and other value-added products that can easily damage those electronics. The result could be unplanned downtime, expensive repairs, shipping delays and revenue loss.

At DustShield, our team has a lot of experience working with feed lots, feed mills, premixers, bulk production and bagging facilities, warehouses and distributors to protect their electronics from the everyday hazards they face. We’re experts when it comes to feed industry enclosure solutions.

Electronics

To ensure their operations are going smoothly, feed mill management relies on a variety of electronics, often needing them to be located near the process.

It’s not uncommon to keep thermal label and barcode printers or inkjet and laser jet printers in the warehouse. PCs can also be near the machines that are processing the ingredients. TVs will be hung throughout the facilities for communication. And there could be wireless radio equipment stored near the facility exit for team members to easily stow or grab on their way past.

All these setups keep the electronics near the action, which helps improve efficiency. It also places them in locations with a variety of hazards in the air and around the facility.

 

Hazards

Unless the facility is equipped with clean room ventilation, there will be particulates carried on the air that can be pulled into electronics via their fan units.

Common ones in the feed industry are natural fibers, grain, corn or soy chaff, cottonseed hulls and other feedstuffs. In a processing facility, that could be combined with airborne particulates from mineral, vitamin and other supplement premixes, as well as fractioned yeast cell wall and other novel value-add products.

Some facilities would also work with wet ingredients as well as dry. They could have everything from molasses to liquid feed ingredients. In warm environments, this results in humidity and oily/syrupy particulates in the air. It also increases the risk of liquids being accidentally splashed or sprayed on electronics. Wet particulates and high humidity can also cause issues with print quality and sticking quality for labels.

In addition to particulates, the climate could be an issue. Extremely high or low temperatures can damage unprotected equipment that isn’t hardened. Some feed processors and distributors operated on a seasonal basis have processes that are seasonal. This means that those machines are sitting there without any cooling mechanism or heat generation.

While the electronics are not in use, and possibly unattended for extended periods, insects, vermin and other pests could nest in the enclosure and chew through componentry.

In most feed processing facilities, there will be heavy equipment and large containers of ingredients/products. Falling objects, accidental forklift impacts and more can easily damage electronics beyond repair. If that happens in the middle of a shift, it could result in lost revenue due to downtime.

 

DustShield Enclosure Solutions

DustShield can create a feed industry enclosure solution that fits all the previously mentioned electronics and protects the challenges. We have a proven track record of helping organizations optimally extend the life of their electronics.

We work directly with the organization to determine what solution would fit their needs. We’ll ask how often the tool will be used, which will indicate what kind of convenience features are needed. After that, the big question is: How dirty/dusty is the facility? Does the electronic need to be cleaned off constantly, or just every now and then?

Then, we will ask about the application and environment. Is it a wet or dry feed processing facility? Is it hot or cold? What are the humidity levels? Is the electronic/facility used on a seasonal basis?

The most common upgrades we offer to the feed industry are the DS500 filter guard and grommet set and a heater. The DS500 features a filter guard that keeps falling debris and liquids from getting into the intake filter. The grommets also prevent particulates from getting into the feed industry enclosure via cable ports. In essence, it creates a clean-room environment for electronics.

In addition to protection, DustShield offers kiosks that can help organizations organize and house electronics in one convenient location.

 

Production. Finishing. Packaging. Palletizing. Distribution.

Feed mills. Premix facilities. Animal confinement facilities. Warehouses. And more!

DustShield can protect your electronics at every step of the feed industry. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact our enclosure specialists at 417.736.3746 or sales1@amprod.us.