Sensors monitor dairy chemical levels
Producers can now receive text messages, alerting up to five mobile contacts, about low levels of hygiene chemicals. Ecolab Textomatic from UK hygiene chemical distributor, Progiene, is an electronic, low-level alarm system, which can monitor six containers at a time, for early detection and intervention for replenishing all farm cleaning chemicals, teat dips and footbath solutions.
Text messages
Once chemical drums have reached a level pre-programmed by the users, text messages will be sent out to inform contacts that new supply is needed.
The sensor was developed to improve the safety and efficiency of monitoring dairy hygiene chemicals, while safeguarding farms from the financial implications of running out products.
Hygiene products
"Bulk-tank chemical, for example, is the most common hygiene product that farms run out of due to its high-volume use and being stored in an area that isn't often frequented," says the company's Alison Clark.
"Drums tend to be between 200 and 1,000 litres in capacity and in solid colours, so levels can't easily be determined from the outside. And manually assessing the inside of drums, particularly large ones, comes with safety issues."
Controller box
The alarm system features a controller box, which operates on mains electric and can pick up signals from six sensors at a time.
The sensors, which are available for five- to 25-litre drums and 200- to 1,000-litre drums, can be pre-programmed by producers for what supply level they want to be alerted at.
LED alarm
Working on a 3G network, the system will send a text message to up to five contacts about which drum has a low supply and the hygiene chemical it contains.
For farms in low mobile signal areas, an aerial antenna can be used to boost it. A backup LED alarm is also installed on site to alert personnel working close to the unit.
The system is available for purchase, but Progiene is offering it for free to both current and new customers using its hygiene products.
