Scottish farmers wanting to upgrade their drying facilities should look to recirculating batch dryers which have the added benefit of boosting bushel weights. Two different dryer ranges are available from OPICO: the diesel-fired Magna range and the gas-fired GT range.

Grain dryers in OPICO's Magna range - like this 2910 model - now come fitted with galvanised or stainless steel components to prevent corrosion in areas exposed to high moisture.

As well as drying, the mode of action of a recirculating batch dryer removes chaff, weed seeds and broken grains; grain is also cleaned and polished. This increases hectolitre weights giving an advantage over on-floor stores or continuous flow systems.

Farmers really looking to capitalise on the cleaning capability of their dryer and an even higher hectolitre weight, can opt for a Sky Vac dust extraction system.

The 'clean and even' drying heat of gas, makes the GT range popular with farmers who grow malting barley and milling wheat. Dryers are available with holding capacities from 9t to 21t. Automatic versions of GT dryers are also available which can load, dry, cool and unload completely automatically allowing unattended drying. 

Larger grain dryers with faster throughputs can be found in OPICO's diesel-fired Magna range, where the biggest dryer has a holding capacity of 48t. Magna dryers are capable of higher throughputs than similar-sized dryers thanks to their extra-large drying zones. The most popular model is the 2910 (pictured), which has a 29 tonne holding capacity. This dryer is capable of drying nearly 300 tonnes in a 24 hour period.

OPICO's James Woolway adds: "Magna dryers are now built to have even better longevity as components in corrosion-susceptible areas have either been galvanised, or replaced with components made of stainless steel."

"The resultant small increase in build cost is far outweighed by the benefits: an extended working life, thereby reducing the cost of ownership and cost per tonne of drying. Plus there' a higher resale value when dryers are sold on."

Automatic versions of the Magna dryers include a number of features which give operators greater flexibility and control. For example, the ability to set the times allowed for loading and discharging of grain, and an SMS text messaging system which forewarns when the drying cycle is nearing completion.

A good back-up service from dealers is also assured: more than 250 service engineers have been trained through OPICO's practical 2-day course since 2000. In addition, OPICO's own team of experienced service engineers are available to supply 7 day-a-week back-up.

Prices for the Magna 2910 dryers start from £62,308+VAT, and for dryers in the GT range, from £31,158+VAT. For more information and details of local dealers, farmers should contact OPICO on 01778 421111 or visit www.opico.co.uk.

A shortened version of this article first appeared in October 2017