The deployment of Lvlogics’ patented self-cleaning SiloSpi technology across an increasing number of feed mills in the UK and Ireland marks a shift in the thinking at milling operations. Mill Managers are recognizing the significant enhancement in milling efficiency, safety, and sustainability that can be derived from remote sensing of bin levels without the need to wire the sensors back to a PLC. Lvlogics’ innovative system, designed for rapid deployment across all the bins in a mill, will monitor silo levels in real-time immediately after installation. This is transforming how feed mills operate, offering numerous benefits that extend beyond mere inventory management.

Efficiency and Cost Reduction

One of the primary benefits of SiloSpi is its ability to provide real-time data on both solid and liquid raw ingredients, minerals, and end-products. This bin monitoring system allows feed mills to optimize their production schedules, avoiding manufacturing downtime if an ingredient runs out or the need for emergency deliveries. Additionally, the mill manager has live data to utilize the full capacity of the mill as and when needed. On top of the operational cost benefits, the actual cost of deploying the SiloSpi itself is one of the most significant benefits over other types of level sensors. Because it communicates wirelessly to the cloud, there is no requirement to run what would be thousands of meters of comms cabling back to a central PLC in the mill, a task that is expensive, disruptive, and very time-consuming. SiloSpi operates off 12v power, so an electrician is not even required, and installation takes 45 minutes per sensor. Many medium-sized mills have experienced going from manual monitoring to fully system-wide remote level monitoring in less than a week with just two Lvlogics engineers onsite performing the installation.

Enhanced Safety and Reliability

Worker safety is a critical concern in feed mills, and SiloSpi addresses one significant hazard associated with manually dipping bins by eliminating the need for workers to climb silos to check feed levels in bins. This is true both within the mill building itself and for external silos where cold weather and algal growth can make surfaces extremely slippery. The system’s self-cleaning sensor, designed to withstand harsh, dusty environments, provides accurate data on bin levels without climbing a single step. This improvement in workplace safety is achieved due to the sensor’s inherent reliability and Lvlogics’ commitment to customer service, remotely monitoring sensor performance and proactively addressing service issues as they arise and usually before the mill is aware of the need for a service visit. This is achieved remotely where possible and onsite if required. This maintenance feature is neatly wrapped up in Lvlogics’ uniquely simple “Service Level Agreement”: as long as the user has an agreement in place with Lvlogics, they will commit to maintaining the sensor, up to and including replacement of faulty or end-of-life sensors.

Customer Satisfaction and Retention

For feed mills, maintaining strong relationships with their customers is essential. Where mills deploy SiloSpi on their customers’ silos, it helps the mill enhance customer satisfaction by ensuring timely and efficient feed deliveries. Mills will proactively schedule deliveries based on customers’ silo level data, improving mills’ capabilities to dispatch feed only when necessary and never too late. A farmer with a silo equipped with a SiloSpi and linked to their local mill need never worry about running out of feed again.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

By optimizing delivery routes and reducing the number of trips required, SiloSpi helps feed mills lower their greenhouse gas emissions. This reduction in emissions is a crucial step towards achieving sustainability targets and promoting a greener agricultural sector. The system’s data-driven approach ensures that resources are used efficiently, minimizing waste and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Installation Flexibility for Silo Monitoring

SiloSpi can measure the levels of any solid regardless of its physical properties because it incorporates a patented self-cleaning design in its laser housing. Uniquely, SiloSpi can be installed on any style of tank, bin, or silo regardless of the type of construction. It can be installed on skirted silos, split bins, legless silos, concrete silos, wooden silos, and silos without a lid. SiloSpi can be retrofitted in the field or factory fitted. During installation, the sensor can be pointed and locked to monitor at any location in the bin it’s monitoring. It can even be offset from lidless silos and tanks with “gaps” between the sensor and the “full” level being cut off in software. Because of this, it can be installed anywhere, regardless of the access available, and so can monitor every bin.

In conclusion, the deployment of Lvlogics silo level sensors in feed mills across the UK and Ireland is a game-changer. It enhances operational efficiency, improves safety, boosts customer satisfaction, and supports environmental sustainability, making it an invaluable tool for modern feed mills.