Dear Editor,
One of the explanations given for the delay in commissioning the Skeldon Plant is reported to be the failure of the mechanism that lifts the entire punt and its contents.
This unfortunate incident raises the spectre of under design, and a simple part replacement may not suffice in terms of correcting the situation.
Beefing up the failed component would also not cure the problem, since this could transfer unintended loads to other areas of the lift assembly, exceeding design parameters.
It seems likely, that new throughput guidelines may be issued, which could negatively impact factory capacity.
Crop mechanization has greatest economy with field operations, including sowing (if applicable), weed and disease control, harvesting and transport. Critical requirements for drainage on coastal soils have always influenced the design and shape of fields, making it difficult to use established harvesting equipment of the type used in Brazilian sugar cane cultivation, for example.
It would be interesting to see how the Skeldon field operation cost per unit of production compares with production figures elsewhere.
Yours faithfully,
Patrick Scott
