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World first in rotary platform design A New Zealand company has developed a world first which is being described as one of the biggest breakthroughs in the design of rotary dairy platforms. The Pivot Roller, designed and exclusive to Waikato Milking Systems, maintains perfect alignment with the platform’s support structure (the ‘I’ beam) even under 24 hour milking conditions and/ or in the event of ground subsidence. The resulting 100% contact enhances the performance and decreases wear and tear of the platform. The self-lubricating cast pivot rollers are positioned between two bearings and are the only components which wear. They are long-life but when replacement is necessary they are easily swapped out without significant downtime. The running surface on the roller has been increased from 50mm to 100mm and the bearings are grease filled ex-factory with a lifetime
The Pivot Roller on display at Fieldays 2015.
seal so they never need to be regreased. Waikato Milking Systems CEO Dean Bell said that the innovation is the result of years of research to lengthen the life and reduce the maintenance costs of rotary platforms.
“As herds get bigger and milkings more frequent we needed to develop a support and turning mechanism which was sacrificial, a bit like the tyres on your car. We also wanted a roller which could be easily adjusted so it is always level, always running to
The width of the roller has been doubled to increase strength and surface contact.
maximum efficiency. “We’re confident that no matter whether farmers are milking once a day or 24 hours a day they will have a platform that will operate efficiently for longer, with lower maintenance needs and cost, than anything else on the
market.” Waikato Milking System’s Centrus 84 bail composite platform, which is supported by the Pivot Roller, was named the winner of the International Innovation Award at the 2015 National Fieldays in Hamilton.