An innovative bin monitoring solution that allows mill operators to access their data 24/7 and eliminates the need for the dangerous practice of manual “bin dropping” (depth inspections) is launching in the United States.
LvLogics’ SiloSpi solution collects precise data on levels inside a bin or silo, transmitting it wirelessly to a secure cloud host. Each individual sensor uses an IoT radio protocol that has a 2-mile radius, making connectivity to the cloud via a base station very straightforward.
The SiloSpi level sensor unit is affixed to the top of the bin with a laser sensor placed inside the bin. It is specifically designed for easy installation and reliable performance in the harsh, dusty environments found inside raw ingredients and finished product mill bins. One of SiloSpi’s standout features is its air-driven self-cleaning technology, which activates only when the sensor detects dust buildup. Unlike competing solutions, SiloSpi’s sensor cleaning mechanism does not involve any moving parts. This innovative self-cleaning capability ensures consistent performance over time, setting SiloSpi apart in demanding industrial applications.
SiloSpi can aid the mill in effective and efficient raw materials and finished product management, avoiding production interruptions, overstocking and driving efficient logistics all the way to the farm / end user.
SiloSpi is wireless for comms and so installation is quick and easy and can be performed on bins actively in use ensuring there’s no interruption to production. In addition to the standard SiloSpi used in industrial application, a solar-powered version of SiloSpi, designed for use on farms or movable silos where power and air may not be available local to the bin, allows transport managers to remotely monitor their own or customers bins. This technology will significantly reduce the $2+billion wasted globally each year due to inefficient animal feed delivery.
Safety at the Heart of Innovation
Grain and feed handling is considered a high-hazard industry, with suffocation from engulfment and entrapment in grain bins, and falls from ladders and platforms, among the most common causes of serious injury and death. Grain shifting can act like quicksand and bury a worker in seconds–and inclement weather can make climbing bins-a hazardous task even in ideal conditions–even more dangerous. According to OSHA there were no fewer than 27 grain-related entrapments in the United States in 2023 with three incidents involving more than one victim. Falls are the second most common cause of injury & death in workplaces and falls from height are often fatal. The SiloSpi technology, means that mill operators no longer need to manually check bin levels: a hazardous and menial task.
Boost your profits and sustainability credentials
As mentioned above it is estimated that over $2 billion is wasted globally each year due to inefficient animal feed delivery. By providing mill operators with real-time data on feed levels in their customers’ bins, the SiloSpi system enables a more sustainable and efficient delivery process.
● Data-driven, proactive processes help reduce the number of emergency deliveries and partial loads to farms.
● Avoiding restocking feed that will not fit in a bin (complicated by biohazard issues) is important for controlling costs.
● Demurrage costs and inefficiencies as trucks wait to be dispatched add to costs of transportation and can be minimized with the right data.
Reducing the number of trucks on the road-or idle trucks-will result in significant financial savings for mills while at the same time adding to their sustainability performance: a win-win for the mill.
“Developing a product that makes a real difference to its users has always been the main driver behind SiloSpi’sdevelopment,” said Barry Finnegan, CEO and co-founder of LvLogics.
“The SiloSpi system is a simple and reliable way of monitoring feed and raw ingredient levels without the need to put staff at risk. It consistently delivers accurate results, even in dusty conditions. Installation, commissioning and calibration are simple and rapid. There’s no need to spend thousands of dollars on cabling a level-monitoring system to a PLC or days training staff on how to use it”
Key Benefits SiloSpi can bring to a mill–when monitoring the Mill’s own bins:
● Improved Inventory Management: Optimise production and procurement planning for the feed mill as well as maximize ullage (storage capacity) and throughput
● Enhanced Health & Safety Measures: Improve workplace safety and efficiency by eliminating the need to climb bins and thereby minimize the risk of accidents
● Wireless Installation: Being wireless-for-comms makes SiloSpi installation and incorporation into the plant operation simple and fast-and at a fraction of the cost of introducing wired sensing options
Key Benefits SiloSpi can bring to a mill–when monitoring the Mill’s customer/farmers bins:
● Efficient Product Delivery: Remote access to levels information allows mill transport managers to optimize their delivery schedules, and reduce emergency and after-hours deliveries
● Substantial Cost Reduction: Lower delivery costs per ton by decreasing the number of trucks on the road, leading to increased overall savings
● Smaller Carbon Footprint: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation
● Robust Customer Retention: Foster long-lasting customer relationships by ensuring reliable and efficient added-value services.
SiloSpi has already been installed on thousands of silos in 18 countries, and one customer, a multi-national agricultural trading and processing company based in the USA said, “The sensors installed on our Silos have been working very well. It only took a few weeks to see the full benefits as we managed to spot a discrepancy onSAP through analyzing our stock levels on the LvLogics App. This allowed us to realign our stocks. Had the sensors not been in place, it is very likely that we would have been sending our supplier back with leftover material that would not fit into our silo. Overall, this is a cost-efficient & reliable solution that I would recommend to any business that is looking for more visibility within its silos”.
For more information about SiloSpi or to schedule a demo please visit
www.lvlogics.com
