Ahrens’ latest pursuits in revolutionising its transportable silo range through innovative technology and manufacturing techniques continue to go against the grain within the Australian market.
The fifth-generation, SA family-owned engineering, manufacturing and construction company has made significant investments within its local factories to ensure farmers are guaranteed reliable and high-quality rural infrastructure for generations to come.
In brief, Ahrens has taken all the best features from its broader range of silos manufactured in SA, VIC, NSW and QLD and combined them with advanced technology.
The result means a standardised and innovative product which has gained national engineering accreditation, with all the design features resulting in a product that gives farmers the best infrastructure solutions to suit their applications.
Ahrens advancements
Ahrens Silos Group general manager Mirela Vuckic said the outcome is superior rural infrastructure made available to rural clients within a competitive market. “Our advanced transportable silo range means we now have the advantage to offer Australian farmers a greatly improved product with standardised and quality components,” she said.
“We have also invested in world-class machinery in most of our factories so we can handle larger coil more easily, reduce the number of horizontal joins in our tanks and, with the reinforcement of internal wall stiffeners, has resulted in a structurally advanced silo.”
Further strength in its silo range is backed by the replacement of rivets with mono bolts, Huck bolts and Henrob fasteners for a superior seal finish.
All silo bases have been upgraded with a cone design that enables grain to run more freely, which is especially helpful with the clean out of products such as sorghum, barley, or oats.
“A big feature for Ahrens involves their ring beam design. Instead of being RHS square bent around, we have reinforced the top of the base with angled silo section,” Vuckic said.
“This alteration is something only our company uses, and it means that there is no structural ledge for stored product to hang.”
Due to Ahrens’ technological advances, the company has also invested in its people, through upskilling and training, with the streamline process making their work easier to produce a high-quality product.
“Above others, our pursuits mean we are more efficient in our silo manufacturing because all our factories share the same components and processes, we are able to help each other based on production requirements,” Vuckic said.
Other significant improvements in its transportable silo design include:
Wider stabilised leg spacing to support different sized augers and conveyors.
Lever operating slide system located to the side of the silo, removing the traditional pull hatch from underneath.
One-piece, UV resistant, moulded S-bend to prevent insects from entering the silo and enable pressure to be released when the silo is over pressured when sealed.
Extra sight glasses on the silo’s side for efficiency and prevention of over filling.
“We are now manufacturing in a much more efficient manner with larger production runs, which has seen us lift the capacity of all our factories to provide farmers a shorter turnaround time for delivery,” Vuckic said.
A further key feature which differentiates the Ahrens name from competitors is its standout practices and procedures.
“We continue to go the extra mile with our silo workmanship and paintwork ensuring a superior finish which makes us a stand out in the field,” she said.
Farmer satisfaction
Second generation farmer Richard Rackham from Red Hill, SA, turned to Ahrens this year to help strengthen his rural operations.
His request led to the Ahrens Rural team delivering 10 x 126 tonne transportable silos to his property located in the state’s Mid North. The broadacre farmer, whose malting barley is supplied to Australia’s largest owned brewer, Coopers Brewery, said it was Ahrens’ short lead times which led him to initially installing four transportable silos followed by a further six.
By choosing Ahrens transportable silos, farmers like Rackham can maintain grain quality due to the silos providing optimum storage temperature and pest protection through a GasLock seal.
“The Ahrens Rural team was good to deal with and were quick with their installation times,” he said.
Rackham added how he has since recommended Ahrens to farmers also keen to support the integrity of their grains and secure best possible market prices.
Ahrens promise
Vuckic attributes the company’s strong supply chain as its core strength.
“Our in-house capabilities provide us versatility – especially as demands increase – for silos to suit all types of grain, fertiliser, dairy and seed and feeds.”
Ahrens’ long partnership with Brandt means the company continue to supply its rural clients with high-performance grain handling solutions to suit its silos, including augers and conveyors.
Vuckic said by choosing Ahrens’ Rural Infrastructure, farmers are also investing in 100 per cent Australian made products, built by locals in local communities.
“Our products are manufactured to a high-quality, are sealed and pressure tested, and supported by an industry-leading five-year warranty,” she said.
The company is further backed by experienced, local engineers whose skills continually provide its customers peace of mind when it comes to protecting their investments for the long-term.
Above others, Ahrens’ unique pursuits support their quest to remain a national leader in rural infrastructure.
More information about Ahrens’ transportable silo range can be found on the company’s website