Lantmännen is one of Sweden’s largest groups in the food and agricultural industry. The installation of Emotron variable speed drives in their grain handling in Helsingborg resulted in simplified control and reduced costs. Demands were high for both product performance and service level when choosing a supplier.
The Lantmännen group handles everything from raw materials to ready made food items. Their company in Helsingborg buys, cleans, dries and stores grain. It is then sold to the food industry or used in their own feed factory. The excess from the process is used to produce pellet fuel. Every year 400 000 tonnes of grain are handled. The silo storing this grain is 70 metres high and operated by 2-3 people. When the fan control needed modernising, Emotron was their choice.
“We wanted a supplier who could guarantee a high service level,” says Filip Schiött, foreman at the electrician’s department. “Emotron also offered a complete solution adapted to our needs.”
Autumn is a hectic period when four 35-metre-high driers take care of large amounts of damp grain. Outdoor air heated by natural gas is used for drying. During the summer the driers are used to cool the grain in order to avoid the emergence of vermin. The grain is run through so-called cyclones where large fans create an air flow that throws out chaff and dust. The fans are controlled by variable speed drives from Emotron.
“Constant air flow is critical,” says Filip Schiött. “We want to get rid of chaff and dust, but not the seed. This is ensured by the variable speed drive sensing the flow and regulating the speed of the fan motor.”
“This new solution has made our job easier,” says silo operator Jan Nordqvist. “We can now monitor and control the process from the control room, instead of regulating the air flow manually with dampers on site.” Using Emotron products has reduced equipment wear. When the air flow was regulated with dampers, the motors were running at the same speed all the time. Regulating with variable speed drives means the flow is adjusted continuously to meet the actual need.
“Above all, it is actually being done now that it so easy,” says Jan Nordqvist. “The result is an optimised process.” Another result is an improved working environment. The operators spend less time in the dusty and noisy premises.
The dusty environment puts very high demands on equipment installed on the premises. IP 54 classification is required, but to further protect the variable speed drives Emotron developed a complete solution with customised cabinets. The equipment mounted in the cabinet is cooled by outdoor air blown in with a fan controlled by another variable speed drive. The air in the cabinet also creates pressure that keeps fine dust from getting in. Radiators protect the electronic equipment from damp during winter time when the building is not heated.operating via control panels on the front.”
“This solution was decisive in our choice of Emotron,” says Filip Schiött. “We also appreciate the user-friendly control panels on the cabinet front, and the possibility to set which process values are displayed. For us air flow is the most critical parameter.”
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