New Products
Secure bale loads with push-button ease
Trying to throw straps against high winds, fussing with tie-down ropes and crawling on top of the load when securing a trailer full of large square straw bales are a thing of the past with the new Automatic Load Securing System made by Stinger, Inc.
"A job that could easily take half an hour or longer to complete, can now be done in a matter of minutes at the push of a button," says V.J. Blubaugh, a salesman for the company.
"Loosening the restraints to unload the bales is just as fast and just as easy." The hydraulically-operated system features two straps suspended between a stationary bulkhead at the front of the trailer and a sliding bulkhead at the rear.
To secure the load, you press a switch, activating hydraulic cylinders that push the rear bulkhead forward against the load of bales to secure them front to back. At the same time, another set of cylinders pulls the straps tight against the top of the load to secure the bales vertically.
To release the system for unloading the bales, you push another button to reverse the process. The fully-automatic system can be run from the cab of the truck, the loader tractor or both.
"Using a front end loader with a bale squeeze to place large square bales lengthwise across the width of the trailer, we've loaded and secured a 53-foot trailer full of bales, stacked three bales high, in 8 minutes," Blubaugh reports.
Stinger, which also makes equipment for handling large bales, developed the Automatic Load Securing System to meet the demand of biofuel facilities for baled biomass, such as wheat and rice straw, corn stubble and switchgrass.
"The bio-energy industry needs massive quantities of big bales and a way to transport them quickly," he says. "For example, one of the biofuel plants we've worked with will require about 900,000 bales a year."
The permanently-installed system, which includes all hydraulic and electrical components needed to operate it, is mounted on a customer's trailer at the factory in Haven, Kans. "We can adapt it to fi t straight or double trailers," Blubaugh says. Installation takes about two days.
The Automatic Load Securing System exceeds federal DOT load securing requirements, he says. In tests at the factory, it has kept a trailer-load of bales in place when the front of the trailer was tilted up at an angle of 40 degrees and when the trailer was tipped 30 degrees to one side.
Compared to securing bale loads by hand, Blubaugh notes, this system off ers a number of advantages:
One-third lower delivery costs due to the time savings.
The time saved could lower total equipment costs by reducing the number of trailers needed.
Lower labor costs since fewer employees are needed to secure the load.
Happier employees because the work is easier.
Less liability and lower insurance costs due to reduced risks of slipping, falling or other hazards compared to securing the load by hand.
Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the International Agri-Center and Farm Press when reprinting this item.
STINGER AUTOMATIC LOAD SECURING SYSTEM |
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| COMPANY: | Stinger, Inc. |
| CONTACT: | Justin Matlack or V. J. Blubaugh |
| ADDRESS: | 8905 Industrial Dr. Haven KS 67543 |
| WEBSITE: | www.stingerltd.com |
| E-MAIL: | jmat_44@yahoo.com or vj@stingerltd.com |
| PHONE: | Justin (620) 465-2683 or V. J. (620) 899-0727 |
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