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GSI develops FlexWave technology

A grain handling manufacturer is developing a tool that would eliminate the need to manually sweep out bins.

AGCO’s Grain Systems Incorporated (GSI) calls their exclusive FlexWave technology a safer, more efficient way to empty grain storage units.

GSI director of engineering Greg Trame says the automated system consists of two inflatable liners in each half of the bin, capable of unloading more than 100 tons of grain using less than one psi of air pressure.

“And those liners actually bring the grain left in the bin after the gravity unloading stops to the center of the bin, where we have a traditional unloading auger or conveyor in a trough.  And we bring that grain to the center, and when we’re finished, we’ve got that bin cleaned out.”

He tells Brownfield this type of technology has been around in different industries for more than 20 years, but has been used mostly in small-diameter bins.

GSI is perfecting the system on a larger scale, and Trame says field trials are underway.

“The first question every farmers asks about is aeration.  If we put the liner in there and take the aeration floor out, they want to know how to aerate their grain.  So there’s still a lot of development work happening to ensure that we can successfully install a FlexWave system, and aerate the grain for long-term safe storage.”

The GSI system was on display during the Farm Progress Show earlier this month, and Trame says some FlexWave products should be commercially available in 2018.