Southern NSW designed and manufactured grouper bin took home Greater Hume Council Award at the Henty Machinery Field Days.
Two brothers from West Wyalong, NSW, who have only recently started up their manufacturing and fabrication business have been presented with the Greater Hume Council Award for their versatile CRF SUPA Bin 42000 designed to reduce fill-up times during sowing.
The award recognises the best new Australian designed and built agricultural machine and was judged by a panel of independent judges at the Henty Machinery Field Days on September 17 to 19.
It was presented by Greater Hume Council’s Terry Weston and Henty Machinery Field Days director Matt Noll to Kaidan and Dallas Boyd of Clear Ridge Fabrication on Thursday, September 19.
Launched in time for the autumn sowing season, the CRF SUPA Bin 42000 is the result of growers wanting a bin to reduce fill-up times and contamination between seed and fertiliser for air seeders.
It was a moving tale of resilience and diversification in the face of adversity for the brothers. Traditionally, the Boyd family crop 3441ha of wheat, barley and canola north of West Wyalong.
When the drought took hold, the family made the decision to lease out their farm and the two brothers combined their talents as qualified welders.
“On the farm, we always wanted a bin like this but had the time and opportunity after leasing the farm to start designing them,” Kaidan said.
“We built and delivered our first two bins – a 42,000 litre model, 40 feet long and mounted on a skel trailer, and a 21,000 litre, single six metre bin mounted on a super dog – just before sowing this year.”
Kaidan added customers had been looking for a bin to take the place of multiple trucks and cut down on fill-up time of an air seeder.
He said the SUPA Bin 42000 achieved these with the added bonus of moving away from tipping trucks in the paddock, resulting in a safer operation.
“Growers can use the bin for the purpose of mixing fertiliser straight into the seeder saving the cost of paying a premium price to get it done elsewhere,” he said.
“This bin features our remote control system for doors, belts and the lighting system.
“It is fitted with a zero contamination conveyor, GX270 Honda engine, roll top tarp, rear and front access ladders and is mounted on a skel trailer using container locks.”
Clear Ridge sold their first smaller bin at sowing, a SUPA Bin 21000, and it was put straight to work by the grower.
“This customer was looking for a machine to improve the efficiency of his seeding program and to suit his operation,” Kaidan said.
“With no access to trucks he needed something he could pull behind his tractor so we made the CRF SUPA Bin 21000 twin bin 60/40 split mounted on a super dog with an added pull to suit towing his auger.”
Clear Ridge Fabrication operates from an on-farm workshop.
The 40 foot model on a trailer is priced at $92,000 plus GST and the 21,000 litre model $52,000 plus GST.
Kaidan said launching the grouper range in a tough season was a challenge for the fledgling business but had gained some strong follow-up leads at the Henty field days.
“When designing the machine we thought about possible use at harvest time and to keep the tare weight down while achieving a strong design,” he said.
“It is made out of 3mm walls and floor, uses a remote control 700m wide conveyer belt underneath, delivering four tonnes a minute out the back for a fast unload at harvest time.
“There are four internal compartments, a 60/40 split on each bin, giving the opportunity to mix and match at sowing time.”
Kaidan added the bins come with a chute option on the back, can be painted in any colour and can be mounted on whatever trailer the customers require.
“The different compartment gives the option of mixing fertilisers and there are options on door width, a digital display on the door openings and internal light package,” he said.
“Customer feedback has resulted in us working on a tubulator conveyor to mount on the side.”
As growers, the Boyds made the annual trip to Henty to look at machinery and equipment.
“We liked seeing the new ideas but never thought we would be one of them,” Kaidan said.
