18 minute read
A World First for Potato Farming
1st
A World First for Potato Farming
By Paula Schuck Allan Equipment Manufacturing was started in 1964 in Prince Edward Island and is currently Canada’s oldest and largest manufacturer and designer of potato harvesting equipment. This on its own is a powerful, notable and wellrecognized accomplishment in the ag world. But a lesser-known fact is that Allan Equipment has lit up the industry with the world’s first electric potato harvester.
When Allan Equipment president Trent Cousins and I finally caught up, it was at the end of the day. Home with his two young children sounds like the perfect spot to land after a long day during one of the busiest seasons for potato farming.
Cousins and his partner, Danie van Shalkwyk, bought Allan Equipment in 2013. In 2014, they decided to design a new harvester and wanted to power it electrically because it is simple and cost efficient.
There had been a prototype electric potato harvester built in the 2000s. “We took the idea and made it into something we could bring to market. That was the world’s first electric potato harvester.”
Why Electric?
Allan’s electric potato harvester is more efficient and costs a lot less to run. It sends very little dirt to the warehouse. It’s wider and it digs cleaner. Electric power allows farmers to easily control the speeds of the belt chain or webs, shakers or kickers and all cleaning tables. It is also very dependable.
The ground-breaking, fully electric harvesters feature an innovative electric system that offers advanced control of the harvester while delivering Allan’s core values: simplicity of design, ease of maintenance, gentle crop handling, high capacity and reliability. “It’s easier from the perspective of if it’s electric, parts are readily available, so if there are ever repairs it is easy for people to work on and fix,” says Cousins.
Cousins says the potato harvester has been very well received in North America and is carving out a following beyond. Different areas prefer different row configurations, so the harvesters are available in two-, three- and four-row options. There were some of the usual challenges at the start launching the new product, but Cousins says it was pretty well received in general. The biggest challenge was acceptance. Some wondered how electric equipment could work in the field.
“It’s actually old tech we are using, which is part of the story. There’s a reason this technology makes sense. Look around your home. Electricity powers many of the things in your home. This technology is reliable and tested.
“It takes a lot less power to run and costs less,” Cousins says.
It’s all electric, which makes it cost efficient. There’s no power take off (PTO) shaft, it’s wider, digs cleaner and it’s easy to operate. The extra cleaning capacity of Allan’s electric potato harvester makes a huge difference to potato farmers. It provides more separation with infinite adjustability. If a farmer is driving along operating the harvester and sees the potatoes bouncing, they can slow the machine down to minimize damage. The machine is easy to adjust and control.
The potato harvester digs the potatoes up with the digger web and then lifts them to the sieving webs. As soil and potatoes are transferred onto the series of webs, soil falls through and returns to the ground and the potatoes continue on to the fully adjustable Scotts Evolution cleaning table. This is a dirt elimination table designed to gently handle crops in even the toughest conditions. Touch screen controls allow for easy and instant adjustments to be made from the comfort of the cab.
Suction Nozzle Swivel Coupling Safety Relief Valves 6 inch line, Dual Inlets 110-130hp 1000rpm PTO Backsaver Floor Sweep #614 - WALINGA Blower #1618 - 10 Vane WALINGA Airlock Self Contained Hydraulics 2 - 6”x12’ Galvanized Delivery Hoses (DLX incl. Stainless Hoses) 1 - 6”x12’ Rubber Clean-up Hose Rhino-lined Receiver Tank & Boom Cyclone
• Fill 100’ silos! • Clean up spills! • Clean Out 50’ Diameter bins! • Suck up high moisture corn!
Book your demo now:
USA Tel: 800.466.1197 • CANADA Tel: 888.925.4642
— Trent Cousins, President, Allan
Equipment The electric harvester design does not require the use of a high horsepower tractor. There are few moving parts, which ensures that the electric harvester is low maintenance, with reduced operating costs. These machines also boast superior operator visibility.
Are you changing the way business is done in your company or industry? SPOTLIGHT
Workforce Capital Re!magining Business Models
February 2020 brought disruption but created opportunities to reevaluate our processes at Workforce Capital. In an industry where we provide our clients with the best possible talent, we chose to evolve as a team and synergize rather than compete. Our team rally cry when we conferenced with our competitors was “Together Everybody Wins” – including our partners, candidates and clients.
We have consistently performed and grown through this challenging time because of MCLS.ca (Multiple Career Listing Service). MCLS.ca enables our staffing agency partners to work with would-be competitors to broaden their candidate reach and capability. The partnership helped us venture deeper into the manufacturing industry, and we’ve placed over 700 workers through this pilot project. We’ve helped support our workers, satisfy our joint clients’ ever-evolving needs and move a small part of the economy in the right direction. With national reach, remote or mobile human capital, our clients have a single contact to meet their human resource needs anywhere in Canada.
We have reimagined our processes, partnered with top expertise and created a contingent and direct hire environment appreciated by our clientele. When clients and candidates are happy we know we’ve created a platform where Everybody Wins!
Saskatchewan Polytechnic Re!magining Education
The move to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was a big undertaking for the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Agricultural Equipment Technician program.
During the pandemic, Glacier FarmMedia (GFM) Ag in Motion at Discovery Farm Langham also moved to online delivery of its array of field and livestock demonstrations, as well as field research programs. The result was hours of video footage.
Building on their long-standing partnership, Sask Polytech and GFM made these videos available to over 250 Sask Polytech students and apprentices pursuing careers as agricultural equipment technicians and agricultural equipment experts. These videos not only provide detailed views of equipment produced by a range of manufacturers but also capture the machinery in action in the field.
This online video content is a great complement to the limited in-person learning taking place on campus to ensure agriculture students and apprentices receive a quality education. In-person learning on campus continues to follow strict COVID-19 protocols.
With the new tube laser cutter at Custom Quality Manufacturing (CQM), customers will benefit from improved cut quality and accuracy, a shorter lead time, and reduced production costs for parts that previously had to go through multiple processes.
The BLM LT8 tube laser cutter is one of the few of its size and capabilities in Ontario, with state-of-the-art nesting software, and a 4K fibre-optic resonator. The tube laser can cut and bevel tubes, pipes, channels, angles or other profiles all in one swift, efficient operation. George Peters, managing partner, says that with the new machine, most parts can be processed more accurately, and from 20% to 80% faster.
For an RFQ or more information, contact salesandservice@cqmfg.com or visit www.cqmfg.com.
Showcase your Re!magination...
The AMC Re!magination Spotlight is an opportunity for AMC members to showcase how they are reimagining business! In order to qualify, your company should be reimagining business in one of the following categories: Business Models: Examples could include shifting gears to adapt to changing business supply demands, expansions, or new acquisition strategies. Workforce: Examples could include a virtual workforce, an outsourced workforce, or an automated workforce.
Products: Examples could include new product development, innovation, and new-to-market ideas.
Services: Examples could include adapting offerings to a changing environment or reinventing your delivery of services to meet customer needs.
Technology: Examples could include the development of a new software, new technological equipment, or automation. Distribution: Examples could include new sales tactics, new supplier channels, or new network opportunities. Other: Examples could include reimaginations that do not fit into one of the above categories.
Submissions are easy!
Just send us a 150-word write-up telling us a little bit about your reimagination, the category it qualifies for, and the impact it has on your business or the industry. Submissions are free and you can submit more than one entry.
Submit your entry.
This will be a recurring section in Implement Success, so submit now to have your company featured in an upcoming edition! Submissions can be sent to lbursch@31stline.com, with the subject line AMC Re!magination Spotlight Submission.
www.yokohama-oht.com @yokohamaohta
NEW COMPANY NAME— SAME GREAT FARM TIRES.
The wide range of Alliance tires—including cutting edge VF flotation tires, fast flotation, rugged R-1 and turf tires, and more—is now under the umbrella of
Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc.
That means an even bigger global R&D, engineering and manufacturing team to back up your familiar Canadian reps. And we still promise warranty coverage up to 10 years and our convenient Warranty Wizard app. So our new name backs up our long-standing promise: any size, any spec, any challenge. Alliance is ENGINEERED TO KEEP YOU AHEAD.
Contact Barrie Taylor: 306-381-5150 or Daniel Menard (QC/Atlantic): 819-469-3574
HarvestFaster.ca 306.296.2297 Sales@HoneyBee.ca
New Member SPOTLIGHT
Please join us in welcoming our newest members to the Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada!
Allan Equipment Manufacturing Ltd. is Canada’s largest designer and manufacturer of potato harvesting equipment. We also manufacture blueberry harvesters and mowers. Allan is also a full-line dealership for Claas, Miedema and Agrifac. We have been serving the needs of our farm community by manufacturing quality equipment for over 50 years and are proud to be Prince Edward Island owned and operated. Our 60,000 square foot facility includes a large parts inventory and full-service machine shop.
www.allanequipment.com
Established in 1967, Conestoga now serves approximately 23,000 registered students through campuses and training centres in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford, Ingersoll and Brantford and is a provincial leader in apprenticeship training. Continuing education programs attract approximately 30,000 enrolments each year.
As the region’s only provider of polytechnic education, Conestoga plays an integral role in the success of our community: 65 per cent of our graduates remain in the area after completing their education, contributing more than $2.3 billion each year to the local economy. More than 50 per cent of the local adult population has accessed our services.
As one of the country’s top research colleges, Conestoga’s applied research activities support student learning and helps area businesses grow, innovate and improve their productivity. Conestoga delivers more than 300 career-focused programs and is a leader in skilled trades training in Ontario.
www.conestogac.on.ca
InVision Edge helps organizations do great things through our patented strategic planning process that is built for rapid execution, and an innovation system that leads to repeatable and scalable results. We hold the only license in Canada to train and certify in Innovation Engineering. Together, we can find your next breakthrough – fast.
www.invisionedge.com
JVC Precision Ltd. is a Canadian-based custom metal fabrication company focused on manufacturing high-quality metal products, built by professionals, who leverage advanced software, machines, technology, and equipment.
We offer a full range of services that cover all aspects of the product development lifecycle from 3D CAD design and prototyping to CNC laser cutting, forming, welding, and assembly.
Our unique value proposition is defined by our highly skilled and dedicated team, the advanced technology we leverage, and the processes we follow to ensure each product meets or exceeds expectations. Our combined services of design and production make us an attractive partner for many businesses.
www.jvcprecision.com
Magna-Lite Ltd. is a manufacturing and supply company serving primarily the agricultural and truck trailer manufacturing industry with wire harnessing and lights. Magna-lite manufacturing facility is in Altona, Manitoba, just 6 miles north of the U.S. border allowing ease of service to both Canadian and U.S. customers.
Magna-Lite supplies a complete line of top-quality DOT compliant LED clearance, turn and stop/turn and taillights to the trailer manufacturing industry. Magnalite wire harnesses are made to our customer’s exact specifications and all harnesses are fully tested before they are packaged to ensure quality every time. New ASABE standards for OEM also call for enhanced lighting. To meet this standard the Magna-Lite Enhanced Lighting Module was introduced. This module greatly increases the safety of road travel.
Magna-Lite Ltd. believes in quality products at a reasonable price.
www.magnaliteltd.com
Prairie Sky Strategy is a professional team of experienced, results-oriented strategic advisors on the ground, across Canada’s prairies and in our nation’s capital, focused on your success. We have deep experience in the agricultural equipment industry and government affairs. We work with clients on M&A Integration, business and strategy development, and government program insights.
www.prairieskystrategy.ca
Samuel Son & Co. is an industry–leading full-service steel processing metals supply center. Our capabilities include coil slitting, cut to length and stretch leveling. We can supply both ferrous and nonferrous metals. We have over 100 locations across North America and over 6500 employees ready to help you meet your metal needs.
www.samuel.com
Thunderstruck Ag Equipment is a sales company specializing in distributing products for manufacturers across the world. We primarily represent farmerinvented products and we sell those products to OEMs, distributors, dealers and direct to farmers. We sell over $7 million per year in products around the world and do over 20 tradeshows per year where we display these products to farmers in North America.
www.thunderstruckag.com
Thunderstruck Sales & Marketing is a fullservice marketing company specializing in helping companies in agriculture bring their products to market. We specialize in video, web design. web development, software development, digital marketing and social media management. We have been helping companies in ag over the last 7 years in marketing from a sales perspective. Our team works hard to generate more sales for our clients through the marketing we do. We recently did all of the marketing for our own series of trade shows that we put on across Western Canada called the Thanks for Farming Tour. We work with all sizes of manufacturers across ag.
www.thunderstrucksales.com
TiMOTION is an industry-leading provider of electric linear actuators and supporting products. Our team specializes in innovative and customized solutions for manufacturers of industrial, furniture, and medical equipment. We pride ourselves in providing the best possible solutions to each and every one of our customers.
At TiMOTION, we know that any problem can be solved with the right technology. Customizable electric linear actuators are used to enhance applications that hydraulic and pneumatic systems just don’t fit. As your business partner, TiMOTION aims to provide the highestquality, customizable components at competitive prices. We believe in what we do and the products we create.
www.timotion.com
Triple Green Products manufactures and installs technologies that are focused on sustainable biomass energy and the environmentally conscious handling and recycling of organic waste materials. We have built a reputation for supplying proven, long-lasting heating and composting/dehydrating solutions for many industry sectors and are sought out for innovative solutions in industries that had not previously considered the alternatives before.
The products central to Triple Green’s innovative solutions are their scalable, biomass high-heat output boiler/furnace systems and options, and their industrial composters and dehydrators.
www.triplegreenproducts.com
Western Canadian Pulse Processing Solutions is an industrial maintenance and overhead crane service company. Serving all agricultural, feed, food production and material handling industries. Grain processing & ag, industrial facility maintenance, overhead cranes and hoists. We can custom build or modernize existing systems, including system design, construction, implementation, project management, automation, fractionation and air classification services.
www.lhsmcorp.com
Wildwood Transport Inc. The Open Decks Experts. At Your Service! There’s an easier road ahead with us. Providing a streamlined approach to open deck transportation, we simplify the complexities of your supply chain. Our process is entirely customized to your needs and delivered by a proven and dedicated team. We go the extra mile to help you do the same! There are challenges involved with almost every shipment. With decades of proven experience, we are able to see the roadblocks ahead. We act with urgency, find a solution and communicate throughout the process, staying accountable from the beginning.
No surprises. No excuses! We look forward to earning your trust!
www.wildwoodtransport.com
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NOW STOCKED IN CANADA
www.walterscheid.com
P675 WIDE ANGLE JOINT
ideal for heavy-duty applications
LONGLIFE CROSS KITS
for double the service life
NEW WIDE-ANGLE TECHNOLOGY P450
optimised for applications with high continuous angles and speeds
INNOVATIVE LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR PROFILE TUBES
ease of maintenance and optimum grease distribution
K68 / EK68 CAM-TYPE CUT-OUT CLUTCH CUT-OUT CLUTCH
prolonged service life, reduced maintenance and quieter running quieter running
NEW ST GUARD FOR DRIVE SHAFTS
elimination of retaining chain
NEW K90TF FRICTION CLUTCH
constant torque and easy maintenance easy maintenance
NEW PREMIUM GUARD CONE
for easy and quick mounting and maintenance of the drive
GIVES DOUBLE THE LIFETIME OF OUR DRIVE SHAFTS
Authorized Distributor:
AIC Supply Inc | 1-6 Don Valley Parkway | Springfi eld, MB, R5R 0C9 Canada | P: (204) 237-5310 | sales@aicsupplyinc.com AIC Supply Inc | 1-6 Don Valley Parkway | Springfi eld, MB, R5R 0C9 Canada | P: (204) 237-5310 | sales@aicsupplyinc.com
Index to Advertisers
31st Line Strategic Communications ............. 16
Agri Supply (Dick Jones & Associates, Inc.) ........ 17
Alberta Industrial Heat Treating (AIHT) .......... 17
Apollo-Clad .................................. 17
Axalta Coating Systems ......... Outside Back Cover
BKT Tires .................................... 23
Daemar Inc. .................................. 31
Encore Metals ................................ 30 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) ....................... 4
Government of Saskatchewan .................. 16
Honey Bee ................................... 27
Omega Drives Inc. ............... Inside Front Cover
Percy H. Davis Limited. ........................ 30
Walinga Inc. ................................. 25
Walterscheid ................................. 30
Yokohama-Off Highway Tires America Inc.
Axalta has built a legacy
of coatings expertise over the past 150 years
Axalta powder coatings offer superb technology with benefits for many industrial applications. These products have earned a reputation for corrosion resistance and durability due to superior edge coverage, thick film build, and primerless application.
Containing virtually no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or targeted hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), powder coatings are designed to respond to environmental demands while meeting stringent customer requirements.
Alesta®
» Wide variety of colours » Meets or exceeds AAMA 2603 and 2604 standards » Excellent weatherability, elasticity, impact and abrasion resistance » Ideal for hand railings, fencing, and aluminum extrusions
Highlights
» Can be applied on aluminum or steel substrates » Uniform colour between batches » High weather resistance and colour retention » Environmentally responsible » Available globally
