Advanced Vegetable Handling System Aims to Enhance Efficiency and Reliability
Tong Engineering, a leading UK-based manufacturer of advanced vegetable handling machinery, has introduced a new Stinger Hopper tailored to meet the specific requirements of the U.S. and Canadian markets. This innovative even flow hopper system is designed to optimize the unloading process of live-bottom trucks and semis, ensuring enhanced efficiency and reliability.
“With our dedicated Tong USA division in Michigan, we’ve worked with many customers throughout the USA and Canada unloading crop with Stinger elevator solutions that feed our even flow hoppers. What we have developed now is the ultimate Stinger Hopper; one fully integrated even flow machine with a built-in stinger elevator, resulting in a complete unloading solution that can receive crop direct from trucks,” said Charlie Rich, Sales Director at Tong Engineering.
The standout feature of the new Stinger Hopper is its deep-flighted 6ft wide stinger elevator at the infeed, which is hydraulically adjustable to match the height of unloading trailers, offering unparalleled versatility. The stinger elevator is equipped with the “Droop Snoop,” an innovative feature that allows the end of the elevator to lower into the hopper for gentle handling, similar to Tong’s popular box fillers.
“We’ve fitted the stinger elevator with what we call a Droop Snoop. Like our popular box fillers, the end of the elevator lowers into the hopper for the gentlest handling. Both the stinger and the hopper are fitted with sensors that automatically detect the level of the crop in the hopper, keeping the Droop Snoop in optimum position as well as controlling the hopper speed according to the level of the crop. This ensures there is always a constant flow of product onto the handling line,” added Rich.
The new Stinger Hopper is versatile enough to be used for mobile grading and sizing or for offloading onto a static handling line. It can be specified on any Tong even flow hopper and can be easily transported to new locations. The addition of a Stinger elevator to a mobile even flow hopper enables the machine to be hydraulically pushed into a transport position within seconds.
Constructed with heavy-duty materials for robust performance and longevity, the Tong Stinger Hopper is engineered to withstand the most demanding conditions. The hopper floor is covered with reinforced rubber belts that facilitate thorough load movement while minimizing crop tumbling and scuffing.
“The new Stinger Hopper from Tong does transform our proven even flow hopper systems into the perfect, single machine for unloading live-bottom trucks and semis. It brings significant time and labor savings; there’s no unnecessary set-up time getting separate elevators aligned with the hopper. It’s one fine-tuned machine that delivers streamlined and gentle unloading whilst providing maximized throughput of up to 150 tons per hour,” Rich concluded.
Initially, the new Stinger Hopper from Tong will be available to customers in the U.S. and Canada. However, it is expected to attract interest from vegetable producers worldwide who utilize live-bottom trucks and semis for unloading harvests into handling lines.
