These are systems designed to open and empty a chemical jug in a half-second and then rinse that jug and prepare it for recycling by shredding, all in less than a minute.
As all farmers know, jugs of farm chemicals are supposed to be properly rinsed with water and then destroyed after use. After conducting surveys with farmers, Lagergren and Eck found that up to 95 percent of farmers simply don’t have time to rinse or recycle. This product was developed to address that industry-wide problem in an efficient and effective manner.
The newest Chem-Blade ES provides sharp blades in a sealed enclosure that cut open and empty a chemical jug in about a half-second, followed by an effective, complete rinse of the jug, inside and out, with the built-in spray nozzles.
The whole cycle takes less than a minute compared to several minutes it takes to do the exact process manually. The time saved eliminates the current bottleneck in chemical loading and will allow an operator to spray approximately 25 to 45 additional acres per day depending on the amount of jugs used. The ES system can be used as an eductor on sprayers, as an inductor at supply stations or integrated into an existing loading system.
From a safety perspective, because the ES system is fully sealed and enclosed, the operator is protected from chemical fumes and splash.
The product has been developed and is currently in the process of being licensed to large manufacturers at an opportune time as the EPA looks at strengthening 20-year-old standards for chemical handling aimed at protecting farm workers.
For more information go to the Chem-Blade website. FG
—From Eck Fabrication LLC news release
PHOTOS
TOP: Inventor Ethan Eck loads a chemical jug into the Chem-Blade ES.
MIDDLE: The product provides sharp blades that cut open and empty a chemical jug in about a half-second.
BOTTOM: The Chem-Blade ES safety is removed in order to show the engaged blade. Photos provided by Eck Fabrication LLC.
