Screw conveyors—also referred to as spiral conveyors, auger conveyors, or augers—are conveyance systems that consist of a rotating helical screw within a trough or tube. They are suitable for transporting a wide variety of bulk dry or wet materials, such as rocks, powders, and grains, on horizontal or inclined pathways. This quality makes them an effective conveyance solution for many industries.
Below, we highlight the role of screw conveyors in the agricultural industry. We discuss what grain augers are and how they work.
What is a Grain Auger?
A grain auger is a screw conveyor designed to handle agricultural grain products. It is used to deposit grain into a bin or silo for storage purposes as well as retrieve grain from a bin or silo for further processing or distribution. Agricultural professionals use it to facilitate various grain harvesting and transportation operations.
How Does a Grain Auger Work?
Similar to other screw conveyors, grain augers are made up of a rotating helical screw component—known as flighting—contained within a trough or tube. A drive motor connected to the system turns the screw, which picks up and moves any material fed through the inlet to the discharge end. Depending on the configuration of the system, the material can be moved horizontally or diagonally to accommodate different material handling operations.
Custom Grain Augers at Reinke & Schomann
Grain augers are essential for any grain farming operation. By allowing users to adjust the elevation and angle of conveyance, they make transporting grain from one location to the next easy. Custom ones offer even more benefits as they are tailored to the exact needs of the application.
Looking for custom grain augers for your agricultural facility? Reinke & Schomann is here for you! We have extensive experience engineering and manufacturing custom screw conveyors for a wide range of industries and applications. Our design capabilities include:
- Style: We construct screw conveyors in both horizontal and inclined configurations. Other style options include a tapered shaft, variable pitch, and non-standard diameter.
- Shaft Type: We offer centerless pipe, solid, and tubing shafts.
- Direction: We provide right-hand and left-hand screws.
- Screw Diameter: Our standard screws come in sizes ranging from 2–24 inches (51–610 mm). However, we can produce custom sizes depending on the needs of the customer.
- Construction Material: Our conveyors are made from durable materials that can withstand the harsh conditions typically found within agricultural applications. Materials options include abrasion-resistant alloys, Hastelloy, Inconel, mild steel, Monel, nickel alloys, and stainless steel.
- Finish: We offer the following finishing options to increase the durability of our systems: flame spray, galvanizing, hard surfacing, and custom painting.
- Resistances: By carefully choosing the material and finish, we ensure each conveyor system exhibits the proper resistances to damage. They can have abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and/or wear resistance.
- Features: Our experts customize each screw conveyor to the needs of the customer. Some of the feature options we offer include trough liners, wear shoes, standard and special bearings, and standard and special drives.
Why Choose Grain Augers?
The use of grain auger conveyors brings numerous benefits to farming operations. First, they significantly improve efficiency. Moving grain manually can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, but a grain auger system can handle large volumes quickly, allowing farmers to focus on other tasks.
Grain augers also save on labor costs. By reducing the need for manual labor, farmers can direct their workforce to other important tasks, improving overall productivity. Grain auger conveyors can also operate in tight spaces and cover long distances, making them versatile and adaptable to different environments.
One of the key advantages of investing in a grain auger machine is the reduction of grain damage. The smooth, continuous flow of grain in the auger system helps prevent bruising, cracking, or spilling, which can result from manual handling. This makes sure that the grain reaches its storage or transport destination in the best possible condition.
Maintaining Your Grain Auger
Regular maintenance is important to keep a grain auger operating efficiently. One of the most important components to check is the grain auger flighting. Over time, flighting can become worn or damaged, reducing the auger’s ability to move grain effectively. Periodically inspecting and maintaining flighting can help avoid costly repairs and downtime.
Cleaning the auger system is also important to prevent grain residue buildup that could lead to blockages or damage. Reinke & Schomann’s after-sales support includes offering parts and services to help you maintain your equipment.
Move Grain Faster, Smarter! Upgrade Your Auger Today with Reinke & Schomann
For more information about our high-quality replacement parts for grain augers, contact us today. Our team can help you find the right components to keep your equipment running efficiently. To discuss your specific needs with one of our experts, request a quote.
