Digging into grain handling

Heyl & Patterson’s barge unloading and rail positioning systems for grain handling operations

Heyl & Patterson has been setting industry standards for engineering and manufacturing of heavy bulk material handling equipment since 1887. Heyl & Patterson was initially devoted to the coal industry but shifted its focus into the grain industry in the 1980s with the engineering and manufacturing of continuous barge unloaders (CBU). Establishing their presence within the grain industry proved to be a pivotal point for H&P as grain plays a vital role within bulk material handling due to its widespread use as a staple food and feed ingredient.

Grain is one of the most handled bulk materials, and its sheer volume requires efficient and effective handling methods to ensure secure and smooth transportation and storage. With the industry’s most overengineered line of barge unloading systems, H&P offers unloading methods like its CBU, Grab Bucket Unloader and Barge Haul for efficient handling of materials like grain.

Heyl & Patterson is a leader in the engineering and fabrication of continuous barge unloading systems. H&P has engineered and manufactured many CBUs for grain exporters along the Lower Mississippi River. Its CBU makes it easy to unload barges quickly and efficiently without risking the safety of employees or the environment. These machines feature a free digging rate of up to 120,000 bushels per hour, maintaining a much higher average offloading rate compared to other barge unloaders. With a lifespan of 50+ years, the H&P CBU has made its name as the most rugged and efficient machine along the river.

Heyl & Patterson also offers the Grab Bucket Unloader. While less common for H&P in the grain industry, this machine is field proven to offer maximum capacity with a free digging rate of 1,000 tonnes per hour and can be engineered to accommodate almost any application depending on site requirements. The Grab Bucket Unloader is environmentally sound and has an efficient design that is used to minimize maintenance and downtime. The sophistication of this machine proves beneficial for many customers.

Next is the Heyl & Patterson Barge Haul System, a low-cost method of positioning barges along a river. Barge Hauls are utilized in Grab Bucket Unloaders and Continuous Barge Unloaders, as well as other bulk material loading applications as an integral asset to move barges at an adjustable speed to keep them in alignment with the dock and to eliminate the need for constant tugboat use. These machines feature robust construction for maximum availability and safety and are available for new or existing installations.

All these high-capacity machines have solved a variety of challenges faced by H&P’s grain customers. Engineering design for efficiency and high throughput can be a challenge but plays a crucial role in the success of the company’s machines.

Optimizing the efficiency of handling systems allows for smooth flow, minimal dust generation, and limits effects to the environment. H&P embraces the impact that its machines have on the functionality of its customers’ sites, which is vital to their success. H&P values the impact that it has on its customers and ensuring that they are successful is always the number one priority.

Beyond the bounds of barge unloading, Heyl & Patterson also offers a variety of railcar positioning systems that provide solutions for many inland grain terminals. These sites need specialized systems to move railcars, packed full of grain materials, efficiently and quickly to keep the material as dry as possible. Quickly transporting grain from one location to another limits the possibility of moisture in the grain. Railcar movers and positioners are specialized pieces of equipment that are used for moving or progressing railcars short distances at a time. These machines are designed to move railcars safely and efficiently without the need for a locomotive. By replacing the need for locomotives or other mobile pieces of equipment, these electromechanical machines have little to no impact on the environment. These devices can be designed to satisfy various sizes and configurations to meet specific needs of any facility.

Heyl & Patterson offers two specific types of railcar positioning systems that can be altered to the needs of each site. First is the Railcar Positioner that is meant for longer strings of cars, ideally up to 200, while the H&P CUB is specifically designed for sites that need to move smaller strings of cars, one to ten railcars. Both types of positioning systems are made to be more precise than traditional methods and can be automated.

Heyl & Patterson has continued to evolve with today’s technological advancements to support the industries it serves. Heyl & Patterson is a trusted partner to many facilities and finds value in continuing to provide for these relationships. The company’s customers rely on Heyl & Patterson to keep their business moving forward.

With the brand-new AI powered software, BRAINTM, Cimbria introduces a highly advanced control system in its top range optical sorters. As an AI first mover in the optical sorting business, Cimbria combines many years of solid knowledge and expertise with high technology and artificial intelligence. The result is the ability to easily create the most complex recipes for the best optical sorting ever, increasing efficiency with up to 18%.

Artificial intelligence (AI) now allows customers to experience easy and simple handling of optical sorters from Cimbria while operating at a highly advanced level. The combination of human operation and machine learning increases the precision sorting of raw materials for impressive results.

“With BRAIN we have revolutionized the way our top range optical sorter operates. Our many years of experience and in-depth knowledge of what makes the best possible sorting are key in creating the most complex recipes for optical sorting. This simplifies the manual operation of the machine because the right settings have already been adjusted for an optimized outcome through artificial intelligence,” explains Michela Pelliconi, Head of Sales Optical Sorting at Cimbria, and continues:

“A complex algorithm of the BRAIN software enables the SEA.IQ PLUS optical sorter to identify elements even more precisely and distinguish colour, shape, size, and defects quickly and easily, saving precious time and manual workload.”

The highly qualified and thus very attractive technical staff overseeing optical sorters benefit from BRAIN, which simplifies machine use by providing AI generated recipes. This reduces reliance on individual interpretation, leading to faster and simpler operations. This enhanced application allows operators to manage multiple sites and machines, increasing overall efficiency by approximately 18%.

Artificial intelligence is as good as the data it is built on. With Cimbria’s market leading knowhow and decades of experience, the AI powered software is based on unique insights as well as massive and long-term experience on the most optimal sorting processes to secure the best quality of the end product.

“AI is an inevitable part of global business in 2024. At Cimbria, we are very proud of being the very first in our industry to introduce the extensive benefits and possibilities of artificial intelligence. With the launch of BRAIN, we have taken the first step into the endless opportunities of AI with the main focus on improving efficiency and quality for our customers,” says Pelliconi.

ABOUT A/S CIMBRIA

Cimbria is a world leader in industrial processing, handling, and storage of cereals and seeds as well as animal feed, food, and other bulk products. Cimbria works closely with its customers to design, manufacture, install, and service customized solutions, individual machines, and complete turnkey systems. Cimbria is a global brand owned by AGCO Group.

About Agco

AGCO is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology. AGCO delivers customer value through its differentiated brand portfolio including core brands like Fendt®, GSI®, Massey Ferguson®, Precision Planting® and Valtra®. Powered by Fuse® smart farming solutions, AGCO’s full line of equipment and services helps farmers sustainably feed our world. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, AGCO had net sales of approximately $14.4 billion in 2023.