DESFABENG COMPANY LIMITED was established in order to solve the problem of farmers by developing efficient and affordable agricultural and allied machines. The company also engages in design and development of farms and farm structures.
The Company has designed and fabricated several machines and equipment that are currently utilized by farmers, private and government organizations. Over the years, some of our clients in Nigeria include:
• Shell Petroleum Development Company LTD, Warri
• Nigeria Agip Oil Company LTD, Portharcourt
• Bank of Industries (BOI), Nigeria
• FCT-Abuja Family Support
• Amipego Groundnut Oil Production Company LTD, Bida
• DAN ABU Farms LTD, Bida
• Bayelsa State Government, Yenagoa
• MA Cooperative Society, Shongai – Ilorin
• Useni Farm LTD, Lantang
• Ogbe Farm LTD, Makurdi e.t.c.
COLLABORATORS:
The Company is collaborating with the following organizations:
• AfricaRice on the development and dissemination of rice mechanization technologies and training of artisans on fabrication of machines
• National Cereals Research Institute on development and fabrication of agricultural machines and equipments
• Japans International Corporation Agency(JICA) on fabrication and modification of rice processing machines
• Bayelsa state government on maintenance and sustainability of the School to land and Burma rice farms
ACTIVITIES
The Company engages in the following activities:
• Design, fabricate, install and test-run agricultural and other industrial machines and equipments
• Train clients on the operation, maintenance and repair of the installed machines
• Design and construct residential and farm structures (buildings)
• Offer specialized training services for fabricators on design and fabrication of machines and equipments
• Undertake consultancy services on Agricultural Mechanization and production activities
• Undertakes feasibility studies and advice farmers and clients on agricultural production and allied ventures
MACHINES AND EQUIPMENTS
The following machines and equipments have been fabricated by DESFABENG COMPANY LTD:
1. GRAIN THRESHERS: these machines thresh and clean harvested rice, soybean and guinea-corn by dislodging the seeds from the panicles.
Three types have been fabricated:
i) Axial flow type ASI thresher: This model works by feeding the panicles at one end of the machine for the seeds to be dislodged with the aid of beaters as the panicles are conveyed horizontally on a concave screen. It has a mobile carriage with tyres that can enable it to be transported easily to any farm site.
Performance indices and Specifications:
• Capacity = 1.2tons per day
• Winnowing or cleaning efficiency = 98%
• Seed retention efficiency = 99%
• Whole seed (non damage) Percentage =100%
• Straw throwing distance from machine = 3.5m
• Power requirement (diesel engine or electric motor) = 5HP
• Air flow rate of winnowing fan =
• Reciprocatory speed of screen=
Features:
• Adjustable air flow rates to suit cleaning of different grains
• Simplicity in the design of the reciprocatory system
• Low power consumption
Performance indices and Specifications:
• Capacity = 7,500kg per day
• Threshing efficiency = 99%
• Winnowing or cleaning efficiency = 95%
• Seed retention efficiency = 98%
• Whole seed (non damage) Percentage =99%
• Straw throwing distance from machine = 12m
• Revolution per minute (R.P.M) of threshing drum = 850
• Power requirement (diesel engine) = 20HP
• Air flow rate of winnowing fan =
• Reciprocatory speed of screen =
ii) Centrifugal flow thresher: This machine threshes the seeds and throws the straws with the aid of a drum fabricated to have both threshing tines and fan blades that rotates above a concave screen. Unlike the axial flow model, materials that are fed though the hopper are threshed by the tines on the drum and while the straws are thrown out directly in front of the hopper at an angle of 1800. A reciprocatory screen and blower assembly further cleans the seeds.
Features and Specifications:
• Capacity = 5,000kg per day
• Threshing efficiency = 99%
• Winnowing or cleaning efficiency = 95%
• Seed retention efficiency = 95%
• Whole seed (non damage) Percentage =99%
• Straw throwing distance from machine = 5m
• Revolution per minute (R.P.M) of threshing drum = 700
• Power requirement (diesel engine) = 10HP
• Air flow rate of winnowing fan =
• Reciprocatory speed of screen =
iii) Pedal thresher: This is a manual thresher which has pedal that is operated by leg. It has a solid threshing drum which has beaters. The materials are fed into the thresher by holding them against the beaters as the drum is actuated with the aid of the led on the pedal.
Performance indices and specifications
• Capacity = 500kg per day
• Threshing efficiency = 99%
• Seed retention efficiency = 95%
• Whole seed (non damage) Percentage =99%
• Revolution per minute (R.P.M) of threshing drum = 450
• Grain cleanliness = 85%
Features:
2. Winnowers/Cleaners: These machines clean threshed grains i.e. rice, soybean, guinea- corn, beni-seed and millet
Two types have been produced:
Description:
i) Motorised reciprocatory Winnower/Cleaner: This cleans grains by using three sizes of screens inclined at different inclination angles and directions. An air blower is also incorporated to generate a stream of air tangentially across the grains to carry away impurities such as chaff, fine sand, unfilled grains and grass seeds as they fall through the screens.
Performance indices and Specifications:
• Capacity = 6,500kg per day
• Winnowing or cleaning efficiency = 98%
• Seed retention efficiency = 99%
• Whole seed (non damage) Percentage =100%
• Straw throwing distance from machine = 3.5m
• Power requirement (diesel engine or electric motor) = 2- 5HP
• Air flow rate of winnowing fan = 0.16m3/sec
• Reciprocatory speed of screen = 0.25m/sec
Features:
• Adjustable air flow rates to suit cleaning of different grains
• Simplicity in the design of the reciprocatory system
• Low power consumption
ii) Manual winnower: This is essentially is made up of a hopper and a manually operated air blower. An air speed control device is also incorporated to regulate the air flow rate.
Performance indices and Specifications:
• Capacity = 500kg per day
• Winnowing or cleaning efficiency = 95%
• Seed retention efficiency = 99%
• Whole seed (non damage) Percentage =100%
• Straw throwing distance from machine 1.0
• Air flow rate of winnowing fan =
• Reciprocatory speed of screen=
Features:
• Adjustable air flow rates to suit cleaning of different grains
• Suitable to work in rural areas without electricity
• Low manual energy requirement
3. RICE PROCESSING MACHINERIES: This set of machinery produces high quality parboiled milled rice. The set comprises the following equipment:
i) Wet cleaning system: This equipment cleans paddy before parboiling by using water as a medium to separate the impurities from the paddy.
Description: It is a cylindrical vessel having removable stirring assembly and drain valves. Cleaning is done by introducing winnowed rice in batches into the vessel containing water. Impurities that float on the water are removed with a plastic mesh.
Performance indices and Specifications:
• Capacity = 2000kg per day
• Cleaning efficiency = 98%
• Seed retention efficiency = 99%
• Whole seed (non damage) Percentage =100%
• Approximate R.P.M of stirrer = 60
Features:
• Stainless cylindrical vessel
• Detachable stirrer for easy discharge of cleaned rice
ii) Parboilers : This equipment pre-treats rice using hot water and steam before milling in order to obtain higher total milling yield, head rice recovery and improve the cooking and storage qualities of rice.
Description: This equipment is comprised of two units: boiler and soaking/steaming chambers
Performance indices and Specifications:
• Capacities = 250kg, 500kg, 1000kg, 2000kg, 3000kg and 5,000kg per day
• Parboiling efficiency = 99%
• Percentage white belly = less than 1%
• Steaming duration = 30- 45 minutes
• Source of heat = Firewood, oil burner and gas
Features:
• Material for boiler construction is 3mm mild steel plate
• Heat exchangers fitted into boiler for higher heat utilization efficiency
• Bricks oven for firing of boiler
• Self controlled pressure relief system on boiler
• Stainless 2mm steel sheet for soaking and steaming vessels
iv) Rotary dryer: The machine dries grains such as paddy rice, parboiled paddy rice, soybeans, maize, millet, guinea-corn, groundnuts etc to appropriate moisture levels.
Description: The dryer uses steam raised in a boiler as heat energy to dry agricultural materials. The steam is transferred through pipe into the rotary drying chamber powered by electric motor. The steam is channelled into the steam jacket through a central pipe and distributed to the steam pipes which act as heat exchangers. The whole drum is insulated with rockwool to minimise heat loss. Drying is accomplished in two passes with a tempering period between the passes.
Performance indices and Specifications:
• Capacity = 1000kg, 3000 and 5000kg per day
• Drying efficiency = 95%
• Seed discharging efficiency = 99%
• Seed drying period for first pass = 2hrs 30mins
• Seed drying period for second pass = 2hrs
• Minimum seed tempering duration between the two passes = 4hrs
• Revolution per minute of rotary drum = 8 rpm
• Electric motor power requirement = 15HP
• Gearbox power requirement = 15HP
• Power requirement for dryer fan = 0.5HP
• Air flow rate of dryer fan = .12m3/sec
Features:
• Efficient self discharging mechanism
• Efficient auto grain raking mechanism with the aid of louvers
• Incorporation of steam condensate outlet
• Even drying of grains
• Ability to load dryer while in working
v) Rice Mill: This machine de-husks and polishes both raw and parboiled rice and effectively separates the various physical fractions of the grain.
Description: The mill uses steel roller rotating inside an external steel cylinder to de-husk parboiled or un-parboiled paddy rice. Removal of the husk is made possible by the incorporation of screens at the lower half of the external steel cylinder. An aspirator attached at one end of the machine assist in evacuating the husks while a fan at the exit of the milled rice blows away rice bran and light impurities.
Performance indices and Specifications:
• Capacity = 5,000kg per day
• Milling efficiency = 99%
• Cleaning efficiency = 97%
• Seed retention efficiency = 98%
• Percentage total milled rice recovery compared to standard = 98%
• Percentage head rice recovery compared to standard =96%
• Husk throwing distance from machine = 10m
• Revolution per minute (R.P.M) of milling cylinder = 750
• Revolution per minute (R.P.M) of aspirator = 2,500
• Power requirement (diesel engine) = 15HP
• Air flow rate of winnowing fan =
Features:
• Incorporation of an aspirator to siphon or evacuate the husks
• Lower milled rice grain temperature due to cooling effect by the aspirator
• Longer lifespan of milling parts due to cooling effect provided by the aspirator
• Cleaner milled rice due to external bran and impurities blower
vi) Grader/Cleaner: This machine cleans and separates rice into various sizes according to degree of brokenness.
Description: This is comprised of a reciprocatory screen unit and a blower. Three screens of varying sizes set at different inclination angles reciprocate to enable milled rice to be graded as they pass through the screens. In the process of grading the rice into broken and whole grains, sand and rice bran are separated with the aid of the combined effect of the screens and air current provided by the blower.
Performance indices and Specifications:
• Capacity = 6,500kg per day
• Grading efficiency = 85%
• Cleaning efficiency = 98%
• Seed retention efficiency = 99%
• Whole seed (non damage) Percentage =100%
• Impurities throwing distance from machine = 2.5m
• Power requirement (diesel engine or electric motor) = 2- 5HP
• Air flow rate of winnowing fan = 0.35m3/sec
• Reciprocatory speed of screen= 0.18m/sec
Features:
• Adjustable air flow rates to suit cleaning of different grains
• Simplicity in the design of the reciprocatory system
• Low power consumption