From processing feed for farm animals to mixing recycling plastics for road surfaces, there is a huge and diverse demand for the precision and dynamic mixing mechanism that the KEENAN machine offers. Here’s a whistle-stop tour of the materials the KEENAN ProMix can, and is, handling.

Author: Michael French, Area Sales Manager

Since its beginnings over four decades ago, KEENAN’s core competency has always been to process forage and feed for livestock, with a mission to advance animal health and overall farm productivity.

There are now thousands of the highly recognisable and renowned ‘big green machines’ all over the world, contributing to production sustainability on all sorts of farming systems.

But KEENAN doesn’t stop at feeding cows!

KEENAN machines can now be found working in many different industries; a trend that’s on the up as sustainability grows momentum and businesses look to combat rising costs of production:

• From waste matter to power
• From waste matter to compost
• From rubber to equestrian surfaces
• From manure to bedding
• From plastic to road surfaces
• From slurry to fertiliser
• From raw ingredients to animal feed

From waste matter to power

Biogas production is the result of bacteria breaking down organic matter, such as animal manure, municipal waste, plant material, food waste or sewage, into an environmentally friendly energy source. It’s a cyclical process that captures potentially harmful gases from materials that, in the most part, would have naturally decayed and released environmentally harmful gases in the process.

According to the National Grid, the first U.K. Biogas plant commenced production in 2011, and there are now 109 biogas plants in operation.

The leading anaerobic digestion (AD) trade body the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) has recently laid out claims that biogas could play a ‘key role’ in the U.K energy crisis; a crisis that has spiked an increasing interest in this form of renewable energy.  

However, biogas production comes with some tricky production challenges. To many, mixing the material into a homogeneous mixture, sits top of the list.

The KEENAN ProMix machine offers a unique paddle mixing action shown to produce a physical structure that is more efficient to process and covert into electricity.

Trial work has indicated an increase in average profit per day between £114 to £157*.

*Click here to find out more.

From waste matter to compost

Another mechanism for reducing the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill, is the production of compost from a treated and safe organic matter.

The process is dependent on the correct balance of physical, chemical, and biological properties for plants to grow and flourish. These blends include raw materials such as:

• Peat
• Coir pith
• Wood fibres
• Bark

Mineral constituents like perlite, pumice, clay and vermiculite can also be added along with additives, fertilisers and lime.

The KEENAN ProMix plays an important role in bringing these multiple input ingredients together into a homogeneous and consistent mix.

The gentle mixing action breaks up and thoroughly mixes ingredients without damaging particles. Furthermore, materials can be soaked in liquids for any length of time, as the mixing chambers of the KEENAN ProMix range are completely sealed.

Several garden centres use the KEENAN ProMix to mix peat with micro-ingredients, linking the machine to the bagging plant to streamline the production line.

KEENAN has also manufactured four ProMix machines to process mushroom feed.

From rubber to arena and track surfaces 

In the world of horses, long lasting performance hinges on the menage, racetrack or arena boasting a quality surface.

A quality surface is one that offers a safe, uniform, and cushioning platform for horses

Silica sand, rubber and wax-based surfaces processed by the KEENAN ProMix are credited by award-winning companies from the U.K, Ireland, France, Spain and America to be:

• All-weather
• Lower compacting
• More stable
• Require less maintenance compared to traditional dirt or sand

There is even a yard in the UK using the KEENAN ProMix solely to mix stable waste for even spreading onto paddocks.

From manure to bedding

Increased comfort, reduced running costs and increased environmental sustainability, are compelling many farmers to look at recycling various input materials (manure in the main) into bedding. 

A KEENAN ProMix enables the consistent mixing of various input materials into a good quality bedding to ensure:

• Moisture control
• Low odour retention
• Traction for animals rising or lying down
• Reduced time on cleaning maintenance

From plastic to road surfaces

We produce 300 million tonnes of plastic each year worldwide.

Once sorted, cleaned and processed into flakes, pellets, compounds, or a powder, the recycled plastic material requires homogenising to achieve a consistent melt index, colour value and additive distribution, so that it can be transformed into a bitumen replacement.

The KEENAN ProMix coupled with the InTouch control system offers a gentle and precise mixing action to achieve these quality controls.

MacRebur is the plastic road company that creates robust and flexible roads from plastic. The granulated plastic waste is mixed with a specially formulated activator to extend and improve the bitumen liquid binder which holds asphalt together. Intensive studies have revealed plastic roads to be more robust and flexible, improving the lifespan up to 60 percent.

From slurry to fertiliser

KEENAN works with utility companies to mix sewage sludge with lime to make it safe to apply on land. This helps to minimise the negative impact on the environment and to support economic growth for the sludge sector.

The KEENAN ProMix ensures a homogenous mix quality with optimal viscosity. Lime can be incorporated quickly and easily, with minimal contact, to neutralise odours and optimise viscosity.

From raw ingredients to animal feed

The business of processing raw ingredients into rolls, nuts, pellets, meals and compounds for feeding to dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry is no small one.

When the feed mill sector was in its infancy, KEENAN was approached to build a heavy-duty industrial mixer that could mix feed mill ingredients quickly.

Over the years, KEENAN has built numerous custom mixing solutions to help maintain quality, consistency, and integrity for a wide range of applications including feed mills, premix houses, TMR bagging centres and milk powder mixing plants.

Over the years, GLW Feeds, Jim Peat Agriculture, NWF, and Frank B Forman & Sons to name a few, have processed thousands of tonnes of high quality feed through the KEENAN ProMix.

What to look out for when selecting an industrial mixer

Here are some key considerations for selecting a mixer to convert your raw or waste materials into an end product that is more valuable.

1.     Mix consistency

The KEENAN ProMix features end-to-end paddles that rotate in a gentle tumbling motion. All the materials in the chamber are moving all the time. As all materials are being continuously processed, there are no “dead spots” in the mixer.

2.     Processing control

The KEENAN ProMix comes with the InTouch control system fitted as standard to precisely weigh in materials and accurately control the mixing process. The system also logs and reports on historic loads. Each user can have their own unique set of logins for greater operator transparency.

3.     Build customisation

• All KEENAN ProMix machines are made to order
• Available as both static and trailed models
• Ranging from 14m³ to 28m³ in capacity
• With a range of specialised fittings for depositing into mechanical transportation or bagging units
• Optional ‘Bomb doors’ for rapid emptying with full length feed-out direct onto conveyors
• Secondary equipment and fittings, like dust lids, also available.

4.     Strength and reliability

The KEENAN ProMix comprises many heavy-duty components to handle the most wearing of workloads. The machine is a very simple design and is easy to service and repair.

Should the KEENAN ProMix encounter any problems or need servicing, KEENAN has a longstanding reputation for unfaltering back-up.

5.     Power requirement

The low horsepower requirement means that the KEENAN ProMix requires less horsepower and less energy to run. A further benefit of the KEENAN range is in the ability to accurately mix small loads if necessary, as low as 10% of the machine capacity.

Explore the KEENAN ProMix range and contact a specialist here keenanindustrial.com/