2024 - 54 YEARS OF PASSION AND EXPERTISE!
We offer 2 products:
(1) our turn-key solution in metallic (steel) construction
(2) our composite solution in concrete construction
Each solution offers flexibility to our customers and is designed to fit your drying needs. Both solutions offer a standard drying engine, which is manufactured in steel. When we refer to metallic (steel) vs. concrete, we are talking about the drying zone where the bales will be physically dried. Regardless of your selection, you will receive guidance and construction planning throughout the project.
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Turn Key Solution Metallic (Steel) |
Composite Solution Concrete |
Material used for drying engine (fan, motor, control panel) |
Steel |
Steel |
Material used for drying zone |
Steel |
Concrete/Wood/Steel |
Customer construction requirements |
- Concrete Base - Electrical Source (Propane/Gas/Diesel )
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- Concrete Base - Drying Zone - Shelter including airflow ducts and insulation - Electrical Source (Propane/Gas/Diesel ) |
Electrical options |
- Standard: Star-Delta-Starter - Optional: Full Variable Speed Drive
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- Standard: Star-Delta-Starter - Optional: Full Variable Speed Drive
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Number of bales dried at same time |
48
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50*
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Type of bale (round vs. square) |
Round or square in any combination |
Either all round or all square* |
Maximum bale weight |
1,100 lbs |
1,100 lbs |
Maximum humidity of bale at time of baling |
30 - 35%** |
40 – 45%** |
Multi-use drying zone? |
No |
Yes – the drying zone can be reused to store heavy farm equipment, dried forage etc. |
Optional Cooling Zone |
- Steel fan and control panel - Customer constructs a shelter in material of choice* |
- Steel fan and control panel - Customer constructs a shelter in material of choice* |
Shipping requirements for one Hay Dryer COMPACT |
We ship approx. 5 containers (HC 40’’) to port of entry |
We ship 2 containers (HC 40’’) to port of entry |
Training |
On site training for technical system use and best practices for optimal results |
On site training for technical system use and best practices for optimal results |
* We can customize a solution on request
** Variable depending on your regional climatic conditions and type of forage
The relative moisture of the bales at the time of baling is the most important factor to help you make your decision. This is, of course, a function of your local climatic conditions. Our hay dryers are optimized to dry your hay with maximum moisture between 30 - 35% down to the desired moisture level, with a maximum weight of 1,100 lbs. If you anticipate higher moisture in your bales at the time of baling, then the collaborative solution in concrete is the best option for you.
A second consideration is the desire to have a multi-use structure. Some of our customers prefer the collaborative solution in concrete because the concrete drying zone can be repurposed to store heavy farm equipment in the off season. The concrete drying zone can also double as your winter shed, where you can store your dried bales until you are ready to use them.
If you chose the composite solution in concrete, our technical expert will provide you with the plans and specifications to complete the necessary construction and will provide guidance throughout the process.
If you want to minimize your responsibility for local construction, and you have acceptable moisture consideration in your bales (between 30 - 35% ), then the elegant turn-key solution in metallic (steel) construction could be an excellent option for you. In this case we furnish both the Technical Unit (drying engine) and the Drying Zone to you. Keep in mind that you will still need to provide the concrete base upon which the Hay Dryer COMPACT will be installed.
In warm climates, you can anticipate the baling. This means that you get the hay away from the field earlier than usual and out of the burning sun, which preserves the color and nutrition. When a hay farmer uses solar radiation, it is more difficult to control the level of radiation and the hay can become yellow from oxidation. In the case of alfalfa leaves, avoiding direct sun radiation will preserve the delicate leaves, which are the true source of nutrition.
Regardless of your crop, our approach keeps your drying costs negligible because we exploit the low humidity of the ambient air, while avoiding the harshness of solar radiation.
The demands of a humid climate require some form of automation in order to achieve the desired moisture of your crop and preserve your investment. The Hay Dryer COMPACT is ideal for humid climates especially when combined with our Cooling Zone. Fundamental to every hay drying solution is the Drying Zone, which typically dries 48 bales at a time. While those bales are drying, you need to protect the bales that are waiting to be dried. We have introduced the concept of a Cooling Zone, which is used to store your cut bales while they are waiting to be dried. The Cooling Zone takes the bales out of the field to prevent any moisture build up and prevents fermentation in the bales.
For example, let’s say you perform a cut resulting in 150 bales. Immediately, 48 bales will go into the Drying Zone of your Hay Dryer COMPACT and the remaining 102 bales would go into the nearby Cooling Zone. In this way, all bales are removed from the moisture and are in the process of drying (48 bales drying under regulated heat in the Drying Zone/102 bales under ventilated air drying in the Cooling Zone). Once the first batch of 48 bales has been dried to your satisfaction, then the next 48 bales resident in the Cooling Zone will go into the Drying Zone. The remaining 54 hay bales still stay in the Cooling Zone without fermenting because they are being ventilated away from the moisture. Note: In your Cooling Zone you can stack your hay bales to double your capacity, e.g. a Cooling Zone of 48 bales can hold 96 hay bales (double stacked).
Hay bales in excess of 1,100 lbs and with moisture between 30 – 35% have a mass that is much too high to permit the flow of dry air. Consequently, the hay does not dry properly and the risk of micro-fermentation and/or mold from wet spots can ruin your hay. Our Hay Dryer COMPACT is designed to produce nutritious, green, high quality hay. Therefore, for customers who deal in bulk volume, we propose the following solution:
Customers would deconstruct their large bales into bales no heavier than 1,100 lbs and dry their product according to AgriCompact specifications. Once the hay has been properly dried, then the customer can rebale the hay into any size. There are companies specialized in hay compression which offer a baling machine that can be purchased separately to support this solution.
Alternatively, there is a different market solution, which uses a process called dehydration. AgriCompact Technologies GmbH does not support this solution because it does not align with our requirement to produce the freshest, nutrient-rich hay. Clients who wish to consider this option would need to make a capital investment in a dehydration machine and would then dry their hay in lose batches (rather than in bales) under very high heat. The upside is you can process a large volume of hay using this method. The downsides are the high cost of the dehydration machine and the inferior quality of the final product.
AgriCompact Technologies GmbH invites you to go on a tour in order to find out more about our
HAY DRYERS COMPACT IN METALLIC CONSTRUCTION and our
HAY DRYERS COMPACT IN CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION.
@haydryers might need that with all the rain we are getting
— Farmers of Canada (@FarmersOfCanada) May 20, 2014
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