Technical base - what does it really mean?

Preparing the technical base for grain acceptance of the new harvest is no less important than the acceptance season itself.
Missing something important or unreasonable savings means the risk of failures at the most important moment of the elevator operation. It is important to realize that the technical base is a kind of "restart" of the elevator. One season of grain reception is over, and it is immediately necessary to prepare for the next one. Some companies do not separate these periods and start thinking about the new season during harvesting, as it is done at Agrocity-Invest elevators.

Getting Started. Planning
Planning of works on the preparation of the technical base is a key aspect that determines the success of the next season.
Roman Lukashenko, an engineer-technologist at Agrocity-Invest, notes that during the operation of a grain harvesting enterprise, periodic inspections of equipment are carried out, problem areas are recorded and the causes of malfunctions are analyzed. This allows to make a preliminary plan of works on replacement, reconstruction and modernization of equipment.
Sergey Nazarov, head of the elevator of Signet Holding LLC, points out that the preliminary scope of work is determined at the end of the calendar year, in November-December. Based on this, the next year's expenses are included in the development and repair budget.
Formulating the list of works
To avoid trouble during the acceptance season, it's important to think through all the details in advance. Our experts have provided some practical advice:
- Assessing equipment depreciation. It is important not only to know the current state of the equipment, but also to predict its wear and tear.
- Condition of buildings and structures. At new Agrocity-Invest facilities, monthly geodetic monitoring of silos, visual inspection of foundations, metal structures for cracks, deformations and settlements is carried out.
- Transportation and gravity-flow equipment. Special attention should be paid to checking the condition of belts, buckets, elevator connections, chains, conveyor rollers, bearings, drive belts, grain lines, valves, gate valves, limit switch settings, cable lines and automatics.
- Lining of gravity-flow systems. One of the most effective methods of increasing the wear resistance of gravity drains is polyurethane lining, which has been used by Agrocity-Invest and Signet Holding for several years.
- Airtightness of dryers. This will help to save energy resources and avoid losses of coolant.
- Speed of grain acceptance. It is important to check the serviceability of weighing, laboratory equipment, as well as the condition of auto-acceptance and access roads.
- Cleaning and aspiration system. Aspiration systems, laboratory equipment, electrical system should be checked to ensure smooth operation of the elevator.
- Staff training. Techbase training is also a time for staff development through seminars and trainings.
- Pest control. The protection of cable systems against rodents remains an urgent problem.


Work on schedule
Sergey Nazarov, head of the elevator at Signet Holding LLC, notes the importance of adhering to the work schedule. First, tenders are held for the purchase of equipment and spare parts, in particular, taking into account the terms of delivery, warranty and service.
After that, work begins on repairing those transportation lines that are not involved, and work is completed on shipping lines and shunting equipment.
Work execution
Preparation of the technical base for grain acceptance is performed mainly by the elevator's employees. However, if the work requires special permits or is more complicated, contractors are engaged.
From the serious to the curious
The preparation of the technical base is not without curiosities. For example, in one of the grain elevators, it was decided to temporarily cover frayed gravity drains with fencing tape with the inscription "Watch out for gas". While this was a quick fix, it did not solve the problem permanently.
