Cost effective transport methods for hive management. Various transport systems were explored and the most cost effective, least trouble system was a 2 wheel tractor pulling a trailer. The following solution has been selected: 1. STUD VERSA-TRAC Tractor with single cylinder, 12hp, 4-stroke diesel engine, with slinger start, V-belt guard, hour meter (12V). 2. Flatbed trailer as per drawing below, frame made from channel 76x38 and flatbed (2,5mm mild steel) 1500 wide and approx 2450 long, to carry 16 honey boxes (371 x 502mm) per level. Angle iron 20x20 around edges to stop boxes sliding off. 4 rings down each side for strapping the load. Wheels 7.00x16, low-speed braked (with foot pedal) axle on leaf springs. Spare wheel with rim. Jockey wheel assembly that can be mounted on the boom such that the trailer can be animal/man drawn in emergency. Bench seat for driver. Detachable storage box, approx 400x400x1500 to be mounted under rear of trailer. STUD AFRICA Engines built for Africa Tel: 011-695-0760 3. Toolbox with normal wear parts and suitable selection of tools for running maintenance, hand pump with gauge and trolley jack. Operator and spare parts manuals for tractor and engine in English & Afrikaans (uploaded onto management cell phones). 4. Trailers would come in knock-down format for bolting together and a forklift would be needed to offload. 5. Training of the beekeepers in tractor operation and basic maintenance would be done in groups at the 2 Stud Africa centres. 9 trainees per trainer for a day. If 3 trainers were sent to Kathu, the training would take 9 days to complete. Free cell phone support will be available to beekeepers. 6. Spares and mechanic training: there would be a set of spare parts and a spare engine at Kathu. 2 mechanics from Kathu would be trained for 2 days in the Stud Africa workshop. Proposal: African Honey Bee March 2009 33
Overall dimensions (L x W x H) 3060 x 960 x 1250 mm Ground clearance 186 mm Wheel track variable widths 800,740,640 or 580 mm (1100 MAX) Net weight 340 kg Total mass (including fuel, oil & water) 365 kg Forward Speeds (max) 1.4, 2.5, 4.1, 5..3, 11.4, 17.3 km/h Reverse speeds 1.0, 3.8 km/h Engine model 12hp STUD Diesel Single cyl. 4-stroke. Rated Output -1 hour 13 hp (9.9 kw) -Continuous 12 hp (9.3 kw) Rated Speed rpm 2000 Specific fuel consumption Giving a max of 195 g / hp-h 2 l / h Net weight of engine 160 kg Light dynamo, permanent Magneto 6 to 8V, 90W, 800rpm, single phase, 3 wire Load Capacity 3 Lamps 6-8 V,15 W V-Belt type 3 off B17 BY 1880 mm Clutch twin disc Friction, constant contact Chain drive box Duplex roller ½ x 24 Links Main gear box 6 Forward, 2 Reverse Braking system Internal Expansion ring Steering system Dog clutch, disengage to turn Tyres, both driving wheels 6.00 x 12 Ply, rubber Tyre Pressure 1.5 bar (21 psi) Proposal: African Honey Bee March 2009 34
Bottling Plant Swienty Fillinglines: Since the start of the 80s, Swienty A/S has been developing and producing high quality honey filling machines. Their main objective has always been to make their designs easy to use, dependable and flexible. Their machines are used around the world and all their customers are satisfied. The international scope of their business has made it crucial for them to design dependable machines with little or no need for repair. Their filling program is also flexible. They guarantee that whatever degree of automatisation their client s filling operation needs, they can find a solution for them within the Swienty filling system. The unique aspect of their filling system is that their clients can start with just the filling machine and then add on as their operation expands. Their system grows with their clients. Their filling line for plastic jars is a cost-efficient operation and provides a professional output. With this line one operator can feed, fill, cap, label and pack up to 1400 jars per hour. One of Scandinavia s largest honey bottling companies, Jakobsen & Hvam, have been using Swienty s filling line since 1985. Their machines are in operation every day year round. At Swienty s they have learned a great deal about the needs of large filling operations not only from their business with Jakobsen & Hvam but also from other companies world wide. In other words, they know a lot about what their clients will need and can advise them with a professional edge not found anywhere else. Proposal: African Honey Bee March 2009 35
Photographs of the Jakobsen & Hvam A/S factory Proposal: African Honey Bee March 2009 36
Planned African Honey Bee Plant built in food transport containers Proposal: African Honey Bee March 2009 37