Our unique scalp barrels work very differently to other machines which usually start with small holes for undersize material then larger holes for size material. This reduces the amount of cleaning screen area available often halving cleaning rates.

Our scalp barrels also increase cleaning efficiency by drafting off larger particulate that slows the cleaning process in all other machines, this material can be returned back to the clean grain (ie: straw in wheat), dropped in the seconds hopper for feed or sent out the back of the machine via the ‘pod chute’ in the case of bug snails or stones, etc.
Lately we have been scalping conical snails and rocks using 2.3mm scalp barrels in excess of 45t/hr with a 4 barrel Mother (in Tenderden).

This has allowed growers to reap canola lower with less air, throwing less seed out the back of the header to get a good sample. Similarly growers in Queensland have gained 0.2-.04 tonnes per hectare by reaping lower and scalping out stones from pea crops which have a zero tolerance for rocks. At nearly $800 per tonne for peas this has resulted in around a $1,000,000 bonus.

The biggest advantage in our barrel design is that they don’t have a screw through the middle to move the grain along. The barrels are on a slight angle which moves the grain along the length of the screen as it rotates allowing the grain to roll in the screen while constantly turning over. Depending on the speed and angle of the machine, the grain can move through faster for less screenings or slower depending on the result needed. When the barrels rotate faster the grain is pushed further up the side of the screen with the help of screen paddles which lift the grain while flipping it over and over hitting more holes and stopping grains like barley and weed seeds like brome and rye grass from rolling over the screen without falling through. 

In machines with a screw inside if you rotate faster the grain is moved through quicker with little cleaning as a result and this is why they use oversize holes to increase throughput but also taking out high percentages of good grain. Some samples of seconds have been tested in wheat at 99.8% seconds.

Our unique barrels are made in one piece and can be easily changed by lifting out and replacing with another (this is much faster than using clip on screens) and scalp barrels can be easily removed for high speed cleaning in the paddock (especially barley) then refitted for cleaning seed or a problem paddock.

We can use small Honda petrol engines because we have a patented drive system which eliminates the need to use hydraulics reducing the horsepower and fuel required for running. The petrol engines are also air cooled while the small diesel engines are oil cooled with cooling systems that easily block with dust.

When asked what size machine a customer should use we usually pass on the contact details of other farmers cropping in the same area so they can discuss how their machines work in a similar area but as a general guide we have found that most farmers cropping 500-1000t of grain annually use a 2 barrel cleaner, from 1000t-3000t a 3 barrel machine and over 4000t-6000t especially when cleaning barley will use a 4 barrel (Mother) finally, with over 6000t of grain harvested customers usually purchase a 4 barrel (Mega) with 3.6m long screens.