Grain Bin Cleanout Less Dangerous With Bin Bot

2012 - Volume #36, Issue #2, Page #30

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Smart farmers understand the hazards of knocking down grain stuck inside a grain bin. In 2010, 21 U.S. farm workers were killed inside bins.
  A new robot might help reduce the number of deaths. At 2 ft. wide and 6 ft. long, the “Bin Bot” slips easily through a bin door and is remotely-controlled to push, pull or lift the sweep auger to knock down grain.
  “The response has been tremendous,” says Kristin Outtrim, marketing director for Mack Robotics, Inc.
  Four deep-cycle marine batteries that last about 12 hrs. and recharge in 4 hrs. power the 800-lb. electric skid loader. One person can operate it with a remote control while watching through the bin door or by looking at a monitor if the Bin Bot is equipped with an optional camera and lights. Each Bin Bot comes with one of several attachments including three different size buckets, a forklift, a push device or an adjustable arm.
  The Bin Bot is under final development and will be sold by Mack Robotics out of Leola, S. Dak., for $15,000 with one attachment. Models with lights and camera run $17,500.
  Outtrim acknowledges that commercial elevators are likely to be the first buyers. But it will also be welcomed by large farm operators who must meet OSHA regulations, which require the sweep to be turned off and that two people are at the bin door when a third person is fixing the auger/sweep. Besides saving lives, Bin Bot saves labor costs.
  Jerome Mack, owner of Mack Robotics, has experience with robotics. He manufactures the Boar Bot, which safely leads a boar around pens of sows to determine which ones are in heat and ready for artificial insemination.
  The death of a friend in a bin accident compelled Mack to develop the Bin Bot with engineers and designers from Anvil Design & Manufacturing of Fargo, N. Dak.
  Videos of Bin Bot in action can be seen on www.farmshow.com.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mack Robotics, Inc., P.O. Box 373, Leola, S. Dak. 57456 (ph 605 439-3434; www.mackrobotics.com).

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Grain Bin Cleanout Less Dangerous With Bin Bot GRAIN HANDLING Accessories Smart farmers understand the hazards of knocking down grain stuck inside a grain bin In 2010 21 U S farm workers were killed inside bins A new robot might help reduce the number of deaths At 2 ft wide and 6 ft long the “Bin Bot” slips easily through a bin door and is remotely-controlled to push pull or lift the sweep auger to knock down grain “The response has been tremendous ” says Kristin Outtrim marketing director for Mack Robotics Inc Four deep-cycle marine batteries that last about 12 hrs and recharge in 4 hrs power the 800-lb electric skid loader One person can operate it with a remote control while watching through the bin door or by looking at a monitor if the Bin Bot is equipped with an optional camera and lights Each Bin Bot comes with one of several attachments including three different size buckets a forklift a push device or an adjustable arm The Bin Bot is under final development and will be sold by Mack Robotics out of Leola S Dak for $15 000 with one attachment Models with lights and camera run $17 500 Outtrim acknowledges that commercial elevators are likely to be the first buyers But it will also be welcomed by large farm operators who must meet OSHA regulations which require the sweep to be turned off and that two people are at the bin door when a third person is fixing the auger/sweep Besides saving lives Bin Bot saves labor costs Jerome Mack owner of Mack Robotics has experience with robotics He manufactures the Boar Bot which safely leads a boar around pens of sows to determine which ones are in heat and ready for artificial insemination The death of a friend in a bin accident compelled Mack to develop the Bin Bot with engineers and designers from Anvil Design & Manufacturing of Fargo N Dak Videos of Bin Bot in action can be seen on www farmshow com Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mack Robotics Inc P O Box 373 Leola S Dak 57456 ph 605 439-3434; www mackrobotics com

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