Grain Dryers for Sale in South Africa: Keep This In Mind

Drying and storing grain has been a part of our society for centuries. This is because grain has been one of the primary food sources of mankind for millennia. Artificial grain drying (grain that has been picket when wet and dried out manually) can be dated back to the Iron Age. As humanity evolved so did grain storage and drying techniques and equipment.

Today we have highly advanced drying and storage technologies that allow us to facilitate the mass production of grain. It is extremely important to ensure that grain doesn’t spoil and dries in time as much of our population relies on grains to supplement and support their diet.

In this article, we will discuss grain dryers for sale in South Africa, and which options are best utilised in different environments.

In-Silo Drying vs Purpose-Built Grain Dryers

Typically, there are two prominent grain drying technologies or methods. They consist of in-silo drying and purpose-built grain dryers. Each has its advantages and disadvantages; it just depends on the farmer’s specific needs.

Purpose-built grain dryers are generally more efficient and allow one to increase the size of harvests. This is because large harvests can often spoil when not dried quickly enough. The fact that purpose-built dryers have the capacity to dry faster, decreases the chances of spoiled crops drastically. This can ensure the prevention of capital loss due to spoiled harvests. It also increases the harvesting window that farmers have and typically produces a higher quality product.

Even though in-silo dryers aren’t as efficient at drying grains and there is a higher chance of grain harvests spoiling, it is a cheaper option. They do have lower energy consumption and don't pose the threat of producing over-dried grain.

Types of Grain Dryers

There are many types of dryers that can be acquired for different types of crops; however, there are two prominent dryers that are typically used for grain. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, but they do both operate on the principle of pushing air through the grain heap. Depending on the initial moisture content of the grain, the rate of airflow through the grain, and the temperature of the air being pushed through, the grain will take longer or shorter to dry. The two popular types of dryers are:

In-Bin Dryers

In-bin dryers have the grain situated in the middle of the bin. The air is then pushed up from the bottom of the bin, through the grain, and out the top. Once it has been detected that the moisture has been taken out of the grain, the dryer will automatically stop the drying process. This takes place when the moisture content of the grain is the same as the air being pushed through the grain.

Continuous Flow Dryers

Bin or in-bin dryers are often used for smaller harvests and struggle when it comes to larger capacities. If harvest and crop capacities have become overwhelmingly large, a continuous flow dryer is a better option. One can find portable, stack, and tower options within continuous flow dryers, depending on the farmer’s requirements. One can also find mixing or non-mixing variations, depending on the type of grain being dried.

Tower Grain Dryer Prices and Advantages

Tower grain dryers can be applied in both small and commercial farms. This makes it a very reliable choice when it comes to choosing the perfect grain dryer for your specific application. Within the tower grain dryer range, there are multiple variations that can fulfil different requirements. Pricing for tower grain driers do vary depending on the type of tower grain dryer you decide to opt for. It is advisable to shop around between brands and providers to find the best price possible. 

How Much Does a Grain Dryer Cost? 

As there are a wide variety of grain dryers available for different sized farms and different types of grains there is a large price range. GSI specialises in grain dryers and can assist you in choosing the perfect dryer for your specific applications and requirements. They will also be able to guide you in finding the best option to suit your budget.

To find out more about grain dryers and what GSI can offer you, visit our directory.