10 minute read
High pressure washing systems in Agriculture
Agricultural equipment needs to be cleaned all over the world, and the opportunity is limited more by the seasonality of each region than the region. Typically, equipment needs to be cleaned after harvest is completed and before it can be stored or transported to another harvest site.
Typical Job
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Cleaning agricultural equipment requires a fully self-contained and portable pressure washing and soft water treatment system. For maximum efficiency, the pressure washing unit(s) should be capable of four to five gpm and 2000 to 3000 psi. Ideally, each crew would consist of two workers and have the ability to wash simultaneously, which would require two single pressure washers or one, dual-gun washing unit.
It is also highly recommended that soft-treated or reverse-osmosis water be used on agricultural equipment as it is gentler on high-finish coatings, boosts the cleaning power of detergents, and is less likely to leave a spotty film or residue. When it comes to cleaning chemicals, make sure to use products that are of a low pH. This will help minimize any exterior clouding to the coating.
Techniques that Work Best
Prior to beginning the cleaning process, make sure a pre-approved washing area has been identified and agreed upon so that the grease, oil, and wash water residue will be controlled and disposed of in a manner that limits your liability and also meets applicable environmental guidelines. Once the equipment has been prepped and readied, the first step to cleaning the agricultural equipment is giving it a good hot water rinse and mud knock down.
Using hot water for the pre-rinse will speed mud and grease emulsification and prep the surface for the chemical to be most effective. The chemical can then be applied through a low pressure, downstream injector, which will give greater control over the amount used, helping control cost and quality.
While one gunner is applying the chemical, another crew member should be following behind with a specialty vehicle brush, working the chemical in and the greasy residue loose. Once the equipment has been thoroughly pre-soaked and brushed with chemical, both crew members should immediately commence detail rinsing. It is important to rinse quickly so that the soap does not dry, spotting the surface, but not too quickly as to miss key buildup areas. If the soap does happen to dry, wet the surface with water, brush, and detail rinse.
Exceptions
Keep in mind that there are many places on agricultural equipment that may require special attention to detail, such as the engines, chassis, or combines. (Cleaning engines and chassis also introduces the reality of adding petroleum products to the wastewater, which constrains wastewater disposal options. For instance, if it is only mud being washed from a tractor, the muddy water can generally be allowed to settle on and percolate through a graveled section of the customer’s site, although even this is becoming less of an option.)
Agricultural equipment is cleaned to remove dirt, mud, and grease. It is also cleaned to prevent crop pests and diseases from being transported from field to field by machinery. If asked to apply pesticides or fungicides to equipment, be sure to be properly licensed for the jurisdiction and also fully versed in their use. And be ready to collect wastewater as required.
When cleaning orchard equipment, test clean first to find the best temperature for the material (e.g., sap, fruit residue) that must be removed. Some substances flow off nicely with hot water; others simply become gummy. The testing is important because too hot water will bake the gooey residue onto the machine instead of dislodging it. Some orchard equipment must be cleaned with steam. Detergents and degreasers are sometimes no match for the fruit extracts, but powered, rotating brushes can be useful. Always test first to find a method that works.
Equipment and Supplies
A basic list of equipment and supplies includes the following: self-contained, portable pressure washing and soft-water treatment system capable of four to five gpm and 2000 to 3000 psi and hot water; wastewater containment system; brushes; wands; downstream injector; low pH chemicals. Steam may be needed for orchard equipment.
Orchard spraying equipment and building exteriors are good add-ons for contractors washing equipment at a customer site. The farmer that owns small skid steers or loaders for use in the yard may be persuaded to add them to the list of equipment to be washed.
Wastewater collection is becoming such a significant part of jobs involving use of water that contractors in regions where there is sufficient business in washing agricultural equipment may be able to consider setting up a collection system or washing bay with permitted drainage—akin to a fleet washing operation—that can serve several agricultural equipment owners off site. (In the future, the central-site operation for a cleaning contractor may become easier than carrying a collection system and transporting wastewater collected especially because the latter opens the need for additional permits to transport the wastewater when pesticide and herbicide chemical residues are in the mix.)
Bobcat launches high-pressure washer attachment for sanitising, disinfecting public spaces
Many municipalities are required to sanitise streets and other large open public spaces in the ongoing fight against Covid-19. Bobcat Equipment South Africa has launched its new KC-19 high-pressure washer attachment for skidsteer loaders, compact track loaders and small articulated loaders. The attachment has been engineered specifically water pressure without any subsequent loss An adjustable front sprayer mode effectively washes roads and streets, while a washing handgun with a 20 m hose reel allows for quick and easy cleaning of tight spaces, entrances, statues, machines, cars, benches and signs. Other applications include disinfection, cleaning machines, vehicles and equipment and cleaning
to release high-pressure water for deep cleaning In terms of general maintenance, the attachment roads and all other surfaces, which is a critical part of the sanitising regimen for municipalities and other local authorities, explains Bobcat Attachment Sales Manager Stefano Ferrado. can also be used for railroads, bridges and tunnels, especially in areas where dedicated machines cannot reach, or where cleaning needs to be carried out mechanically. In the agriculture industry, the attachment ideal for cleaning animal The attachment transforms hydraulic power into sheds or even poultry farms in order to ensure strict hygiene compliance. surfaces such as terraces and concrete floors. of power and is therefore highly efficient. It has The heart of the attachment is the Dynaset been especially designed to provide a thorough HPW250 hydraulic high-pressure water pump cleaning of any surface due to easy switching that produces a 250 bar water pressure and a 30 between two modes of operation. l/min water flow of 30. Thanks to its new design, Ü~äÑ=é~ÖÉ=mêÉëëìêÉ=ï~ëÜÉê=~ÇîÉêíKKéÇÑ===N===NQLMTLOMOM===NQWPU the pump has the best power-to-size ratio in its class, with an output power of 12.5 kW.
The unloader valve is integrated into the front of the pump, thereby allowing for a substantial reduction in the size of the unit. The brass alloy forged body makes it extremely durable, while the Dynaset HPW250 is also self-priming.
The attachment forms part of Bobcat’s extensive road maintenance portfolio. Features and benefits include the fact that it is both easy to use and maintain due to its simple design and absence of any rotating parts, which translates into longer working hours.
A convenient ‘plug-and-play’ feature makes the attachment easy to connect and to start working with immediately. A hydraulically-adjustable front sprayer means it can adapt to all conditions, while a floating front wheel allows for smoother and faster operation.
INTRODUCING NEW PRESSURE WASHER ATTACHMENT
www.bobcatsa.co.za bobcat@goscor.co.za
0860 BOBCAT (26228)
TYRE RIM WHEEL SA (PTY) LTD
SIZE 11.00R20
12.00R20
12.00R24
13.00R25 14.00R20
14.00R24 (385/95R24)
14.00R25(385/95R25)
16.00R24(445/95R24) 16.00R25(445/95R25)
17.5R25(445/80R25)
18.00R25(505/95R25)
18.00R33
20.5R25(525/80R25)
21.00R33 21.00R35 23.5R25
24.00R35
26.5R25
29.5R25
29.5R29
650/65R25 750/65R25 35/65R33 PATTERN CM126 CM126A CM126 CM126A CMA2 CMB3 CMB7 CMB5 CM169 CM169 CMB8 CMB2 CMB2 CMA5 CMB3 CMB5 CME919 CMB9 CMD1 CMA5 CMB5 CME919 CMB9 CMD1 CMB2 CMB1 CMA5 CMB5 CMA1 CMB5 CMB5 CMB5 CMB7 CMA8 CMAS+ CMA6 CMB5 CMB3 CMB7 CMA2 CMA9 CMA9 CMA1 CMB5 CMB5 CMAS+ CMA7 CMA8 CMA2 CMA9 CMA1 CMA1A CMB5 CMB5 CMB5 CMA7 CMA8 CMA2 CMA9 CMA9 CMA1 CMA3 CMB5 CMB5 CMB5 CMA7 CMA7 CMA8 CMA1 CMA3 CMB5 CMA7 CMA8 CMA1 CMA7 CMB5 CMB5 CMA7 CMA7 CMA7 CMA8 CODE -
- E4 IND5 L5-S E3 MINING HIGHWAY - G2 G2 E2 IND-5 E3 E3 E4 E4 E2 E3 E3 E4 E 4 G2 E2 E2 E4 E3/L3 L3 E3/L3 E4/L4 L5-S L5 G3/L3 E2 E4 IND-4 L5-S E4 E4 E4 E3/L3 E3/L3 L3 G3/L3 L5 L5 E3 E4 E3/L3 E3/L3 E3/L3 L3 E4/L4 L5 L5 E4 E4 E4 E3/L3 E3/L3 E3/L3 L3 E4/L4 E4 L5 L5 E3/L3 E3/L3 E4/L4 E4 L5 E3/L3 E4 E3/L3 E3/L3 E4 E4 L4 L5 TYPE
TT TT TT TT TT TT/TL TT/TL TT TT/TL TT/TL TT/TL TL TL TL TT/TL TT/TL TT TT/TL TT/TL TL TT/TL TT TT TT/TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TT/TL TL TL TL TT/TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TT TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL TL
TREAD DEPTH
32 30 32 30 31.5 40 56 28 21 21 20 26 26 23 63 30 30 36 40 23 30 30 36 40 28 25 23 45 28 26.5 26.5 36 60 64 28 30 47 63 83 54 49 49 26 28.5 28.5 31 68 68 32 53 31.5 41.5 32 32 48 76 78 57 58 58 36 38.5 35 35 54 58 86 88 43 43 57 60 95 43 60 38 43 62.5 62.5 62.5 95
STAR PLY RATING
22PR 22PR 22PR 22PR ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ 20PR 20PR 20PR ★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★ ★★★★ ★★ ★★
LOAD INDEX
160/156B 160/156B 162/158B 162/158B 158/155F 180A8 177A2 163B 164/161F 164/161F 164/161F 153A8 153A8 170E 170B 170B 170B 170B 170B 170E 170B 170B 170B 170B 161A8 177E 177E 182B/196A2 167B/182A2 167B/182A2 167B/182A2 167B/182A2 182A2 193A2 153A8/182A2 186E 204A2 214A5 204A2 191B 191B 196B 177B/193A2 177B/193A2 177B/193A2 161A8/193A2 193A2 193A2 200B 201B 185B 185B 185B/201A2 185B/201A2 185B/201A2 201A2 201A2 209B 209B 214B 209B 209B 209A2/193B 209A2/193B 209A2/193B 193B 209A2 209A2 216B 216B 200B/216A2 200B 216A2 218B 202B 180B/193A2 190B/202A2 207B 225A2 224A2
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Q/40' 220 220 200 200 170 170 170
144 144 146 114 114 100 95 95 97 86 86 95 95 97 86 86 80 76 76 74 90 90 90 90 88 80 90 44 44 40 35 36 36 36 57 57 57 57 57 56 24 24 43 43 43 43 43 42 42 22 22 22 36 36 36 36 36 35 35 35 25 25 25 25 24 22 22 35 28 17 17 17 17
CMA1 CMA2 CMA3
CMA5 CMA6
CMA7
CMA8
CMA9
CMB2 CMB3 CMB1
CMB5
CMB6
CMB7
CMB8
CMB9 CMD1
