Used Storage

About second-hand Storage

During storage intake, the harvest comes from the field or from the transport trailer into the barn, where it is processed, sorted or stored. For potatoes, onions, carrots and flower bulbs, careful handling is essential at this stage: the product needs to move from one machine to the next with as little damage as possible, often at a fairly high pace. Duijndam Machines has a changing range of used storage intake machines that keep this process running smoothly, from elevator conveyors and receiving hoppers to box tippers, box fillers and store loaders.

Which machines fall under storage intake?

Under the category storage intake fall several types of machines, each with its own role in the process from field to barn. Elevator conveyors and conveyor belts move the product upward or transfer it between machines. Receiving hoppers catch the product and dose it evenly through to the rest of the line. Box tippers gently tip out crates or pallet boxes so the product can be processed or sorted further. Box fillers and store loaders do the reverse: they fill crates or a storage building with the sorted product in a product-friendly way. Below, we go through the benefits and key points to watch for per machine group when buying.

Benefits of used storage intake machines

A used storage intake machine requires a lower investment than a new one and, because it's delivered from stock, usually reaches the yard faster than when you have a new machine built. This shortens the payback period, which also makes a secondhand machine attractive when you only need it for part of the year, for instance during the seasonal peak around harvest. Most storage intake machines are also based on simple, robust and proven technology that's not prone to breakdowns, and they fit well into an existing line. So you don't have to replace the whole intake line just to improve one link in it. Finally, reusing machines is simply a more sustainable choice than always producing new ones.

Key points to check with used machines

With a used storage intake machine, it's mainly important to check whether the machine is in good technical condition and whether it fits within the existing intake line. First, check whether the machine suits your product, whether that's potatoes, onions, carrots or flower bulbs, and whether its capacity matches the rest of the line: a machine that's undersized or oversized quickly becomes the bottleneck. Also pay attention to practical dimensions such as belt width, infeed height and discharge height, and to the drop heights between machines; excessive drop heights are a common cause of product damage. A product-friendly design, for example with drop breakers or gentle transitions between machine parts, often makes the difference. Practical matters count too: is the machine mobile or easy to fit into the desired spot, is the electrical connection suitable (usually 400V), do the emergency stops and safety guards work properly, and are parts still available or easy to replace if needed?

Points to check per machine group

Elevator conveyors and conveyor belts

With a used elevator conveyor or conveyor belt, it's mainly about the right length, belt width and maximum discharge height for the line, and about the type of belt: a flat belt or a cleated belt, depending on the product and the angle at which you want to elevate it. Check the condition of the belt itself, the rollers, the bearings and the drive, and check whether the belt has variable speed, which makes it easier to match capacity to the rest of the line. Aside from elevator conveyors, Duijndam Machines regularly also has a wider range of conveyor belts available.

Receiving hoppers

With a used receiving hopper, capacity and content are the key factors: does it match the volume of product you want to process per hour? Just as important is an even dosing to the next machine, so the line doesn't stall. Check the condition of the floor, the chains, the dosing rollers and the drivers, and check whether there's an option for tare removal, which saves cleaning further down the process.

Box tippers

A used box tipper first of all needs to suit the crate size and crate weight you work with. Pay attention to a gentle dosing of the product during tipping, and check the condition of the hydraulics, the cylinders, the pivot points and the crate clamping, as these are the parts that suffer most from intensive use. Also look at the drop height to the next machine, as this is one of the points in the line where product damage occurs.

Box fillers and store loaders

With a used box filler or store loader, the machine needs to match the crate size and/or the storage space, and filling needs to happen in a product-friendly way with a limited drop height. Check the condition of the belts, the swivel mechanism, the sensors and the adjustment options, and pay attention to the maximum discharge height and the reach of the machine. For store loaders specifically, a well-functioning telescopic belt and automation of the swivel movement are important points, as this determines how evenly the storage space is filled.

Ready-to-use storage intake machines

For the storage intake of potatoes, onions, carrots or flower bulbs, Duijndam Machines offers a changing range of secondhand elevator conveyors, receiving hoppers, box tippers, box fillers and store loaders, checked before they go on sale, at a lower investment and shorter delivery time than new. When choosing, pay particular attention to how well it matches your product and existing line, the drop heights and the condition of the key parts per machine group. Our machines can be viewed at our site in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel (Rotterdam region); we deliver worldwide, with extensive experience exporting to Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Also check out our range of harvesting machines and conveyor belts for the rest of your line.