Tag Archives: Oliver Manufacturing

Blog, Technology

10 things to consider when buying from a gravity separator manufacturer

If you’re in the market for a new gravity separator, here are the top 10 things to consider when buying from a gravity separator manufacturer. It doesn’t matter if this is your first gravity or your tenth, this list provides some critical considerations to ensure your new Oliver separates itself from the competition with an issue-free deployment.

    1. Installation location
        • Do you have a right- or left-hand machine?
        • Is there ample space around the machine to operate and maintain your equipment?

       

    2. Installation infrastructure
        • What are your buildings’ electrical requirements?
        • Are they sufficient to support the full load of amps required by your new gravity separator?
        • How long would it take to upgrade your electrical infrastructure to support your new machine?

       

    3. Installation timeline
        • When do you need your new separator online?
        • Is there an agreed-upon deployment timeline between your supplier and local crews?
        • What are the consequences of a missed deployment date?
        • Have you built in sufficient “buffer” time to account for unexpected delays?

       

    4. Dust extraction/collection
        • What are the cleanliness and safety standards for your location?
        • Do you know the CFM (cubic feet per minute) requirement based on your specific application?

       

    5. Product application
        • Size, density (ensure machine is set up properly, lighter product is run on a B machine and heavy on a machine) more than one application/product, may need a different deck.

       

    6. Capacity goal
        • Do you have the right equipment to hit your processing targets?

       

    7. Equipment sequence
        • Which machines are placed up- and down-stream of your separator?
        • Do the capacities of your other machines align with those of your separator (you are only as fast as your slowest machine!)

       

    8. Operators
        • Do you know who will be operating your new gravity separator manufacturer?
        • Are they trained on the equipment?
        • Do they know how to use separators with manual and/or automatic capabilities?

       

    9. Maintenance plan
        • Is your maintenance staff located on- or off-site?
        • Does your support team have the training to effectively service your equipment?
        • Do you have a necessary inventor of replacement parts on-hand?

       

    10. Connectivity requirements
        • Do you need to connect your equipment to a plant SCADA system?
        • Do you require an Internet connection for remote support or to “speak” to other machines?

       

    Now that you know what to consider when buying a new gravity separator, contact your Oliver Manufacturing representative and ask them to help you find the right solution for you, today!

Blog, Technology

New seed industry trends in Brazil.

Clean and size soybeans with one machine.

It comes to no surprise that Brazil stands as a global powerhouse in soybean production, currently holding the number one spot. This remarkable achievement causes a substantial increase in seed processing to support the vast expanses of soybean cultivation. In response to this demand, the seed industry trends in Brazil have realized a shift in soybean processing equipment, with older equipment being replaced by newer, higher capacity, more precise, and more practical units.

One of the most noteworthy seed cleaner trends in this industry is the adoption of the Westrup Fine Cleaner. The Fine Cleaners technology is capable of both cleaning and sizing soybeans. This innovative approach has gained traction primarily in Brazil, driven by the unique need to separate soybeans into two distinct fractions.

Using a Fine Cleaner for dual processing requires large machines equipped with multiple screen layers. The approach offers several advantages, including a more compact operation, quicker screen changes, reduced space requirements, and decreased reliance on elevators for material handling. However, a two-fraction separation process limits productivity, unless one component sacrifices capacity or precision significantly.

The industry is adopting a strategy based on counting kernels per bag rather than measuring kilograms per bag. This approach not only enhances the bagging process but also facilitates more efficient reclamation of soybeans.

For those intrigued by the concept and who believe that integrating cleaning and separation into one unit could benefit their operations, Oliver presents an interesting solution. Through collaboration with Westrup, we offer a wide range of combinations and the highest capacity of equipment available on the market.

Let us know your soybean separation goals and capacity requirements, and we’ll provide you with the most suitable seed cleaner options. The power of a single soybean cleaning machine to streamline your seed processing might pleasantly surprise you.

Send us a message.

Blog, Technology

Debunking the myth of gravity separator waste.

You’re not alone when you question gravity separator waste. Is it discarding an excessive amount of quality product? Could it really be throwing away quality seed?

In the realm of seed processing, when a plant manager reviews the efficiency report of their processing line, one figure often stands out like a blazing red warning signal—the waste production. Unfortunately, because the gravity is often the last in a processing line, the loss gets attributed to the gravity separator. This revelation often prompts emergency meetings to rectify these perceived “losses” in the production process. One of the suggested solutions involves fine-tuning the equipment, and in more extreme cases, the team considers taking the drastic step of removing the gravity separator from the processing line. They cast gravity separation as the villain in this scenario.

It is undeniable that, sometimes, gravity separation equipment generates a significant amount of waste in the seed processing line. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the antagonist in this story. Incorporating a grain cleaner prior to gravity separation can significantly reduce this waste.

It’s essential to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the entire seed separation process to determine whether issues or defects are merely being shifted to the next piece of equipment. Sometimes, a minimal cut in the gravity separator can reduce waste in the grain cleaner, spirals, color sorter, or other downstream equipment. Gravity separation excels at removing defects that are better handled by other specialized machines. Each piece of equipment performs a specific task. For instance, the grain cleaner, seed cleaning machine, is more efficient at removing products based on shape, especially width, while a color sorter is adept at eliminating visual defects.

Another critical consideration is that companies often position gravity separation equipment near the end of the processing line or as one of the final stages of quality control. At a certain point, achieving the required quality standards becomes paramount, and the gravity separator is well-suited for this task. It is the most effective equipment for separating based on density, a property that closely correlates with physiological seed quality. Heavier kernels of the same size exhibit higher concentrations of reserve compounds, leading to enhanced germination, vigor, and protection against stress and breakage. This is well-documented and extensively researched.

Upon careful examination of your specific seed separation process and requirements, you might realize that the gravity separator shoulders a heavy responsibility. It not only rids your product of contaminants but also elevates seed quality, enhances the visual appeal of your product, and ensures adherence to rigorous quality standards. Ladies and gentlemen, we do, in fact, have a hero in the gravity separator!

Blog, News

Maxi-Cap Platinum Retrofit

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August 5, 2020

Dear Customers,

Maxi-Cap Platinum Retrofit Introduction: We understand the need for your equipment to adapt and keep up with the demands of your production. Which is why we have made it possible to now control your machine like never before with the maxi-cap platinum retrofit.

Want the adjustment of the equipment done faster? With the ease of having digital control settings anyone can quickly switch to or from your company’s favorite control settings with the swipe of a finger. No more hassle having to spend countless hours training new employees on the mynute adjustments. Have a problem with a part or the computer interface? Do no more than call or email our staff and we can remotely help with any problem that arises. Stop the downtime and be able to work your machines to the full capacity.

The Oliver MaxiCap platinum retrofit will not only provide you better consistency, but it will also cut labor through digital maintenance, diagnostics, and remote assistance. In little to know time you will be able to earn back the cost of this software by ‘taking out the trash’ seeds from your crop. This update is what you need to edge above your competition and take the next step in taking your Oliver Maxi-Cap platinum retrofit control to the next level.

News, Press Release

covid-19 Update

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March 19, 2020

Valued Customers,

Thanks to you our manufacturing floor stays busy. We are working on orders for shipments across the US and to Chile, Canada, and Bulgaria.Our covid-19 update at present, things are progressing well, on-time, and we look forward to fulfilling the needs of these customers. Our backlog is still strong, and we have a positive outlook on business activity over the next couple of months.

We at Oliver Manufacturing want to be certain we are keeping you informed as to what we are doing to ensure we continue to be a valued partner to you during times of the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, we will keep you updated as to what we are doing to provide you the valued services and products you deserve.

Our approach has and will continue to be as proactive as we can during the ever changing insights gained as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. Below is the current state from an Oliver Manufacturing perspective.

  1. We have reached out to our supply chain and have seen some slight delays in sub-components of components we obtain from outside resources on covid-19. We have worked with our vendor-partners to minimize impact on these items and have alternate sourcing channels to manage the supply chain.
  2. We are taking a proactive approach towards the health and well-being for Oliver employees. As such, we have done the following:
    • We have placed a 30-day hold on travel and are relying on electronic and teleconference means of communication and coordination
    • We have also placed a 30-day hold on visitors to our facility from both a supplier and customer perspective
    • For those visitors, such as transportation partners, responsible for delivery of supplies and pick up of your products, we have limited their access to only incoming and outgoing receiving dock areas
  3. We are testing, confirming, and implementing a remote working protocol for those employees where it makes sense
  4. We are changing the way we conduct meetings
    • We have closed three of our smaller conference rooms and made them off-limits to meetings.
    • We are using teleconferencing for conducting meetings to support social distancing
    • For meetings that need to occur face-to-face, we have opened our cafeteria area for such meetings. This allows us to meet social distancing protocols of having team members not closer than 6 feet from each other. It also allows us to open doors and get natural air flow from external areas.
  5. While at present we have had no confirmed cases of Covid-19 in our county, we recognize being in a rural community that our team members may travel outside of our county. As such, we are checking and have commitment from our team members to notify leadership if they are traveling personally outside of the county. With this information, we better understand any risk of importing Covid-19 back into our county and our organization.
  6. We are checking the health of our employees and have strict guidelines related to staying home if employees are ill or have a fever.
  7. We have a team of employees who are staying actively aware of the changing dynamics and requirements set by local, state, and federal guidelines. As more information becomes available, we are addressing these in a proactive manner.

Our goal is to continue to provide you the valued services you require and deserve. As things change or we implement new procedures, we will keep you informed.

Thanks for partnering with our team to meet your needs during covid-19,

Joe Pentlicki

VP/COO

Oliver Manufacturing “Let our team help your team”

Blog

Profile: Troy Jackson, Regional Territory Manager

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Troy Jackson is Oliver’s regional territory manager. He’s responsible for regional sales and customer relationships in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Jackson has a pervasive knowledge of Oliver equipment; he can describe the mechanical components of any given Oliver machine inside and out. When approached with a processing challenge, if a viable solution is possible, he’ll figure out how to obtain it. But this skill, expertise and professionalism didn’t sprout up out of nowhere. Jackson gained his knowledge over a combined 19 years at Oliver Manufacturing.

Jackson began his career with Oliver in 1994. He started in the metal shop and, over time, transitioned up from one department to the next. Assembly. Testing. Woodshop. Press, Machinery. Nearly a decade after his first day on the job, Troy left the company for a role in sales. Five years later, he returned to Oliver in 2008 with sales experience and his welding certification.

Troy Jackson, Regional Territory Manager

It was after his return that Troy earned his current title of Regional Territory Manager. His sales experience and years of work with Oliver parts and equipment prepared him to take on a large sales challenge. “Everything north, south and west of Colorado is under my territory,” says Troy. “And Mexico. And Canada.”

Over time, Jackson’s defined the type of salesperson he wants to be. Some salesmen will try to grease up their customers; bend the facts to make their product look more appealing, or omit information that might dissuade a customer from making a purchase. But that’s not how Jackson rolls. “I’m not a typical salesman,” he says. “I’m more of a technical salesman.” Jackson enjoys what he does because he doesn’t need to sugarcoat things.

He’s free to speak intelligently and doesn’t shy away from technical details. He enjoys coming to understand a given product better and how Oliver’s solutions apply to it, and he can only reach that level of understanding through honest discussion with clients. His in-depth knowledge of Oliver equipment allows him to help his customers find the best solution for their needs– not something that is tempting to buy because it looks new and shiny, but something that actually works  as defined by the customer’s needs.

Jackson’s technical knowledge helps him assist not only customers, but agents and other Oliver employees, too. And with the ease of communication in today’s world of social media, Jackson really is only ever an email away. Though he travels less often than he used to, Jackson still prefers a face-to-face meeting over a direct Facebook message. “I’ve always been a firm believer in face-to-face,” says Jackson.

Blog, Technology

Cleanout Your Gravity Table with This Simple Guide

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The cleanout process is an important feature of your Oliver Automated Gravity table. It allows you to make sure your equipment is free of any straggling product and ensures that your next batch is contaminant-free. While it’s a simple process, we understand that our user interface can be confusing for newcomers. So, we’ve put together this short tutorial to demonstrate how to properly perform a machine cleanout. If you’d like the visual version, be sure to watch our video here.

Before you begin your cleanout, you need to ensure that additional product is not discharging onto the deck from the feeder. Be sure to open the high side gates and rock trap as well if you haven’t already. It’s always a good idea to allow the machine to run for one minute before beginning a cleanout process. This unwedges residual product and makes the cleanout cycles more effective.

When you’re ready to begin, navigate to the Machine Recipes menu on your machine console HMI. You can load any created recipe from here. In our example, we’ve selected our Soybean Cleanout recipe for Soybean product. You can scroll through the recipes list using the up and down arrow symbols. When you’ve highlited the recipe you want to load, press the Enter symbol. Then, confirm your selection by pressing Load on the right side of the menu.

After loading the cleanout recipe, you wish to use, return to the main menu. Press Clean Out on the bottom left side of the main menu to be taken to the Clean Out menu. Here, three cleanout steps are displayed along with their run times. From this menu, all you need to do is press HMI Button “Press to Start Clean Out.” And that’s pretty much it! The Cleanout screen will display how much time remains in an active step, and each step will start automatically as the previous step concludes. Keep in mind that after final step, the HMI will load the last recipe before you pressed the “Start Clean Out” button and completely stop the machine operation.

Blog, Technology

Is the Latest Tech too Intimidating? Oliver’s Engineering Dept. can Help

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It was all hands on deck for Oliver Manufacturing’s engineering department as three representatives of Crop Production Services (CPS) visited company headquarters. They drove for about six hours from Levelland, Texas to meet with Engineering and explore the possibilities of upgrading their equipment. Continue reading Is the Latest Tech too Intimidating? Oliver’s Engineering Dept. can Help →