How did Innovation of Grain Vacuums Ease the Grain Storage Process?

Grain storage is a field that has seen numerous technological advancements over the past  20 years, and the systems that are being used are seeing constant improvements. Improving the way that we store grain has allowed for great profit potential, with higher quality grain being produced as a result.

Obviously, there are many aspects of grain storage that need to be considered. From protecting the grain from pests to ensuring the temperature is at the right level and keeping moisture in the bin to a minimum. Grain Vacs, which are growing in popularity among farmers, help with the process of filling and emptying storage bins. This article will go into a few of the reasons they have become such a useful tool.

The Trend Towards Bigger Storage Bins

Over the past 5 years, we are seeing farmers start to prefer bigger and taller grain storage bins, for several reasons. For one thing, they enable farmers to make better use of the land they have, instead of building numerous smaller bins that take up considerably more space. Tower silos also have a very long lifespan and offer perhaps the best protection from pests, given that aeration cooling can be used to regulate moisture and drives insects out.

However, traditionally, large storage bins have been difficult to fill, given their great size. This has made it difficult for some farmers to justify using taller silos, given that grain augers, which essentially act as conveyor belts, simply can’t be used when we’re talking about a 70-foot silo. Some farmers have improvised and cut holes in tall silos, using an auger to half-fill them. However, this obviously doesn't make full use of the height of the silo.

How Grain Vacs Work

Grain vacuum systems offer a solution to this problem, by essentially blowing grain into a bin or truck very quickly and efficiently. Basically, it does this by taking the grain into a tank, where it is separated from the air. The air is taken into another chamber, where it is essentially cleaned and any dust and other bits and pieces are removed. It is then blown out of the airlock, pushing the clean grain out of the van and into a grain bin, silo or truck. It can be used to with al kinds of grain products, including wheat, barley or meadow broad glass.

Other advantages

Some farmers use grain vacs to fill or unload bins not necessarily due to the fact that they are tall, but simple because it’s more efficient. They can be very useful in cleaning out a grain shed or flat bottom silo and essentially clean the grain itself, removing dust and dead weevils in the process. Vacs can also make filling a trailer a much quicker process, which ultimately saves farmers time and money in the long run. They’ve proved advantageous for grain farmers in a variety of different situations and can be used with just about every grain storage solution, so they’re well worth the investment.

As you’ve read, there are a lot of good reasons to invest in a grain vac system, whether you are working with a small grain bin or large silo. For more information on these amazing systems, speak to the team at Advantec today and find a grain vac for sale that works for you.

Some Necessary Tips to Grain Vacuum Maintenance

Grain management is considered to be one of the most time-consuming and essential parts of the production process in the farming industry. Cutting the time you take to load a grain storage unit or transfer for transportation will increase your efficiency and speed up the process of your daily routine, saving your time, money and effort overall.

To keep your REM GrainVAC equipment in great shape, you should perform the following maintenance on a regular basis:

Regularly Change Blower Oil

REM grain vacuum products require certain types of oil to run efficiently and without issues. You must take care to read the distinct serial number tag which is displayed on the blower which recommends the type of oil you require. You should change the oil every 100 hours of activity.


Check That Blower Isn’t Overheating

It is important to regularly check that the blower is not overheating, by using the blower for the amount of time as recommended in the products usage documentation. You should always let the machine cool down completely if it has overheated, and allow the system to recover.

Taking Care of Safety Screen

The safety screen on your GrainVAC should never be removed while the machine is in operation, but if there is a build-up on the screen to the point where it has become opaque, the machine should be shut down and cleaned when finishing operations. To save you this effort, run the machine at a lower rate to avoid build-up on the screen.

Keeping the Vacuum at Full Power

If you find that your REM GrainVAC VRX is not sucking as it may have once used to, there are regular maintenance checks you can make to ensure it keeps its maximum suction abilities. Quickly check that all gaskets are in good working condition and that all inspection hatches and doors are closed. Check for any air leaks in your piping and also for any obstructions that may be blocking the pipes.

GrainVac Radiator Cleaning Solution

As grain vacuums shift huge capacities of grain every hour, keeping the radiator and air intake fans clean is one of the best ways to improve the overall efficiency of the machine, keeping it in top shape.

Normally, shutting down the machine and performing a take-down is the last solution you need due to extended downtime of the machine, but with a reversible fan such as the CLEANFIX fan, you can simply reverse the suction to blow out all of the debris from the radiator, saving you hours of laborious time.

 
Choosing A Modern GrainVAC System

Many of the older models of grain handling equipment suffered from reliability issues in the past, modern grain vacuum systems such as the REM GrainVAC VRX has been totally redesigned to improve reliability, efficiency, and more capacity when in use. These top of the line machines, such as the REM 3700 Grain Vac provides improved functions for grain handling and in many cases provides a complete replacement of typical grain auger use.

The efficiency of the REM grain vacuum solutions not only apply to the huge capacity in which these machines can move grain, but also these energy savings apply to manpower in the way that cleaning and maintenance are reduced thanks to its reversible CleanFix fan system - as well as the initial investment.


Grain vacuum systems also reduce the time you need to spend inside a grain bin, making them a much safer alternative to both small-scale solutions, as well as the use of grain auger systems and their own issues. Modern grain vacuums such as the REM systems are the preferred choice when it comes to value for money, capacity, and efficiency for the modern farmer. Advantec Australasia is one of the prominent grain handling equipment providers in Victoria, Australia. With our award winning PRBM raised bed management system, we are renowned for providing efficient grain management solution in Australia. Head to our web page to learn about our product and offering.