Dairymaster
PLASTICS COMPONENTS FOR DAIRYMASTER MILKING MACHINES ARE MOULDED RELIABLY ON SANDRETTOs … WITH MORE NEEDED AS ENGLISH FARMERS RE-STOCK AND RE-EQUIP AFTER FOOT AND MOUTH

A fourth Sandretto injection machine – a ‘Nove’ S 165 tonne – has been installed by Dairymaster in its County Kerry factory in the Republic of Ireland. A major manufacturer of milking machines, Dairymaster is well established in its home market and recent years have seen the company develop a successful export trade which includes the USA, New Zealand, Africa, Europe and notably the UK.

All of the components for its milking machines – from the clusters to the precision metering equipment and even automatic scrapers for cleaning out the milking parlours – are designed and manufactured by Dairymaster.

PLASTICS CONTINUE TO REPLACE STAINLESS STEEL

Plastics have replaced stainless steel over the years and particular use has been made of the TR55 and TR90 grades of Grillon’s nylon 12. Milking equipment has to function in a chemically and physically hostile environment where equipment must withstand the effects of the aggressive cleaning processes as well as the cows themselves.

Both nylon 12 grades produce mouldings which are highly chemical resistant and not prone to stress cracking. On other components, TR90 has proved ideal as it is virtually unbreakable. Recent legislation restricting the use of thermoplastic rubber has seen the introduction of thermoplastic elastomers at Dairymaster which now moulds more than 400 different parts in different polymers.
Nove S 165 Tonnes in use at Dairymaster

Largest machine in the company’s moulding shop is the 400 tonne Sandretto used to produce a container, fitted at the end of the line to collect waste materials, weighing 1.6 kg. Other parts can be very small, some of which are produced in family moulds. By incorporating interchangeable inserts, these family moulds enable Dairymaster to accommodate low number requirements.

Throughout, mouldings have to be produced to close tolerances. This is particularly the case with the intricate parts for the electronic metering systems by which milk is automatically weighed as it passes from the cow to the storage tanks. Without the use of plastics, it would have been impossible to design and manufacture this metering system.

“RELIABILITY ESSENTIAL”

Managing Director Ned Harty reports that Dairymaster milking machines are being specified by English farmers as they re-equip, following last year’s foot-and-mouth outbreak. As a result, he anticipates the need for further Sandretto moulding machines. “Our current machines have proved particularly suitable for our needs and they are reliable. We are busy, really busy, and we offer a 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year back up service to our customers; consequently we need moulding machines with a similar back-up service, which is what we get from Sandretto in Rugby.”