By Henry Empeño / Correspondent
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—GrainPro Inc., recognized as world leader in postharvest storage and drying solutions, has introduced the Solar Bubble Dryer 25 (SBD25), a compact grain dryer that promises significantly improved grain-drying capability all-year round.
The dryer is being marketed as a “perfect innovation” for small farmers who produce 300 kilos to 500 kilos per harvest because of its compact feature that allows it to be easily transported, assembled and stored.
According to the US-based firm which has a manufacturing and marketing facility here in Subic Bay, the SBD25 is a collapsible modular dryer measuring 15 meters long and with a drying area of 25 square meters. It can accommodate up to 500 kilograms of grains.
The dryer has a bubble that traps solar radiation to heat the grains. Moisture is then vaporized and pushed out by ventilators that also maintain the shape of the bubble.
Meanwhile, the drying floor is made of a proprietary watertight material to prevent water permeation from below. The company also produces the SBD25-Electric, which has the same specifications but uses electricity to operate.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Roberto Garcia, who witnessed a product demonstration recently, lauded GrainPro for creating the SBD25, saying the innovative dryer will be a significant help to small farmers, especially those who live in communities without proper drying facilities or space.
“Our farmers will be happy to own this portable but very useful equipment,” Garcia said.
He noted that the SBD25-Solar can be used even in the remotest parts of the country that lack the necessary dry space and facility for harvested grains, such as corn, coffee beans, cacao, spices, peanuts and other grain seeds.
The company said its product is ideal for the Philippines where sun-drying is the most common method used by farmers because the process is simple and relies on free solar energy.
“However, climate change makes weather very unpredictable and unexpected rainfall can result in delayed drying, re-wetted grains and quality deterioration. This leads to damage that can reduce the market value of the commodity,” it added.
Aside from being compact and operates on purely solar or electric power, the SBD25 also prevents grain spillage losses and other unhealthy contaminants.
Last year GrainPro also rolled out at its production facility in Subic the SBD25’s predecessor, the Solar Bubble Dryer 50 and Collapsible Dryer Case II, designed to dry up to 1 metric ton using the same principles employed by the SBD25.
Image credits: hoto courtesy of GrainPro
1 comment
Wonderful article. Hopefully farmers in the Philippines, and throughout the developing world avail of new drying and storage innovations to help them increase the marketability of their products, and raise their profitability. This translates to better living standards for farmers. Additionally, consumers are the biggest beneficiaries because they create a market for high-quality food commodities that are free of contaminants and deterioration. With healthy and nutritious food products, we all win.