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SUPPLEMENT ENCLOSURE & SAFETY SOLUTIONS PROTECTING DAIRY


PARLOUR CONTROLS WITH POLYCARBONATE ENCLOSURES


Electronic controls for dairy parlours demand


protection from water and dust ingress, impact and corrosion. Spelsberg’s industrial enclosure design, based on high strength, lightweight


polycarbonate thermoplastic, provides Davlec with the protection the company needs


human resources, and raises productivity by increasing the speed of the milking process. Automated systems can also improve animal welfare, reducing time spent in the parlour, while adding controls that prevent over milking. Established in Welshpool, Mid Wales, Davlec has designed, manufactured and serviced electronic dairy parlour equipment since 1983.


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utomation is crucial in a modern dairy farm setting. Electronic control increases efficiency, reducing the dependence on


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particularly fertilisers, contain ammonia which, combined with moisture, can be corrosive. Fortunately, polycarbonate thermoplastics are immune to corrosion. At the same time, polycarbonate also


ensures high strength, vital in an agricultural environment with close proximity to livestock. Even though polycarbonate is six times lighter than stainless steel, Spelsberg’s enclosures can still achieve up to IK09 impact resistance, a high industrial rating that gives protection against the equivalent of 5kg dropped from 200mm.


EASE OF USE Durability and longevity are key selling points for Davlec’s milking parlour controls, but occasionally a repair is required. So, even though the enclosures need to uphold high ingress protection, they must also be easy to access. “We typically house the electronics within the lid of the enclosure, as we offer a repair service. Therefore, we can swap out the lid in a service exchange and get it back to the farm/distributor quickly to minimise downtime,” explains Steve Clarkson, Davlec. “This is made easy with Spelsberg enclosures, as the lid can be easily removed and sent to us.” As well as consistency in


product quality, and ease of use, reliable supply is also crucial. Davlec requires as many as 1,500 industrial enclosures per year, so stock availability and rapid supply are very important.


RELIABLE SUPPLY “When creating new products, our design engineer tends to choose Spelsberg as we have had supply issues with other manufacturers in the past,” confirms Clarkson.


automated feed control systems for use during milking, as well as remote parlour entry and exit gate controls. While most of the


company’s products are stand-alone units, Davlec can supply larger parlours with a turn-key system. This can link capabilities such as an auto ID system that recognises the cow from an ear tag, and dispenses feed based on the individual cow’s needs.


INGRESS PROTECTION


With electronics design and manufacturing onsite, the company’s PCB assembly capability is central. The electronics designer supplies distributors, who install the company’s systems on farms around Britain. Among the range, the company produces


automatic cluster removal systems, also known as detachers, that remove the milking attachments from the cow, ensuring sufficient yield without overmilking. Davlec also develops


Enabling fast and simple operator control, Davlec’s equipment is installed inside the milking parlour. Being a rugged environment, sensitive PCBs need protection from liquid and dirt. As the parlour is subject to high pressure washdown, an IP66 rating is also required. The company has therefore partnered with Spelsberg to provide enclosures that do the job. Within dairy parlours, PCBs also need protection from manure. Manure, and


32 DESIGN SOLUTIONS - SUPPLEMENT JUNE 2024 The dynamic nature of the market, with a


high volume of farms that Davlec’s distributors need to service, also means Spelsberg’s order turnaround – which can be within just five working days – is important. “Our purchasing is very reactive. Due to the


nature of the orders we receive, we keep stock of all of our products on the shelf but we often receive ‘out of the blue’ orders for larger quantities,” says Clarkson. “Spelsberg copes very well with that and lets us know what they have in stock in the UK, and when we can expect the balance of the order. This helps with production and ensures we are not letting customers down.” As well as marketing the company’s own


Davlec-branded products, the electronic control specialist also provides a subcontracting service to several agricultural companies. Davlec also relies on Spelberg for these projects, albeit with a different label. Like the majority of Spelsberg’s customers,


this close relationship creates a partnership, rather than a transactional customer-supplier situation. “I have always found Spelsberg excellent to deal with,” Clarkson concludes.


Spelsberg els UK T: 01952 605849 www.spelsberg.co.uk


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