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Sandstone
Estates is one of few organisations in South Africa that has a
Bean Drying Plant. Built by Kongskilde from Denmark this is a
300-ton capacity dryer which has a very gentle mechanical handling
capability so as not to damage beans. The dryers are propane gas
fired but only hot air reaches the beans so there is no risk of
combustion.
This Bean Plant is an invaluable tool and can dry beans from 25% moisture downwards. This gives Sandstone Estates a competitive edge in the sense they can combine a week or two earlier than most farmers. A 30-ton load of Soyas is delivered to the Bean Plant directly from the lands.
Tipping into the intake pit.
Beans move freely from the high quality aluminium trailer.
Drying silos (quantity 6) standing by to receive beans.
The Bean Drying Plant in perspective with its two high capacity gravity tables.
Load deposited ready to move out.
The first day of the Soya harvest. The big trucks line up to transport the Soyas back to the Bean Drying Plant. To start we used two John Deere STS Combines. These are rotary combines which cope well with the beans and provide an excellent even mulch.
Our Richard Western Chaser Bin shuttles backwards and forwards between the combines and the big trucks.
The 20-ton Chaser Bin does not take long to fill the 30-ton aluminium trailer.
A global shortage of Soyas Beans means every ton counts.
Our trusty John Deere 7710 copes well with the heavy Chaser Bin.
Working to the horizon.
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Sandstone Estates, Eastern Free State, South Africa |