According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, global food prices hit an all-time high in 2022. This case study explores how a vegetable farm in Hokkaido, Japan, managed to boost production efficiency and cut costs by implementing in-house automation. Why Hokkaido? Well, Hokkaido occupies nearly a quarter of Japan’s total arable land. It leads the nation in the production of many agricultural products like wheat, soybeans, potatoes, sugar beets, onions, pumpkins, corn, raw milk, and beef. The farm we’re focusing on today is part of a larger group operating throughout Japan. They’ve started cultivating vegetables hydroponically and own a solar-powered greenhouse covering approximately 355,000 square feet. We spoke with the president of the company about the equipment that uses Oriental Motor products, as well as the reasoning behind their decision to “automate agriculture.” Behind the Scenes “Automation of work was essential.” This image shows a mobile planter bed system for hydroponics culture. These beds can be moved over 30 meters to create work aisles, making it easier for operators to work without obstacles underfoot. The beds are driven by World K Series single-phase AC gear motors, known for their constant speed, easy wiring, and ingress protection. A look at the greenhouse reveals rows of these mobile planter beds. Each bed can be driven left or right using AC motors. Previously, we used rollers to move the beds, but this method required laying rails on the ground. This presented several challenges: it was difficult to avoid tripping on the rails, running the work cart became cumbersome, and installing a large number of horizontal rails was impractical. After reviewing the design, we concluded that having just enough space for people and work carts to pass through was sufficient. Next up is the automatic sieving wheel for removing debris. This machine removes roots, dirt, and dust from harvested baby leaves and mixes multiple types of leaves. Before this machine was introduced, these tasks were done manually, which was physically demanding. Employees often remarked, “I can’t go back to the time before the machine was introduced.” The sieving wheel is connected to a brushless gear motor via a chain and sprocket system. The motor is both dustproof and drip-proof, allowing for easy operation and speed adjustment with its push-set driver. The compact gearmotors minimized the footprint, while the high IP rating protected the motors during periodic washdowns. For a closer look at how these motors work in action, check out this video. Unfortunately, English subtitles aren’t available. The OM Experience “Reasonable and reliable delivery times were the first attraction.” Why did you choose Oriental Motor? “I used to buy AC motors from other companies, but they were inflexible regarding delivery times, and I often faced problems due to unreliable delivery schedules. In such cases, Oriental Motor came to mind. Reasonable and reliable delivery times were the first attraction. I’d heard of the company several times before, which gave me a sense of security. Research showed that their after-sales service was excellent, so I chose OM.” The sales engineers are motion experts and can provide valuable advice on motion control. Not only is the after-sales service free, but the support is also timely. Their engineers assist from the initial design stage, making it easier to apply Oriental Motor’s products comprehensively. As a small team of engineers, we’re very grateful for their support. Even when working with major manufacturers, it’s often challenging to get the immediate assistance we need. Looking Into the Future “Keep improving our automation.” What are your future plans for automation? “I want to improve and automate the leaf reaper. Employees are currently reaping manually, but at one location, for instance, there are 144 hydroponic beds, so operators have to do this all day long. Since we aim to enable anyone to start a profitable agricultural business quickly, we’ll continue improving our automation.” Numerous moving components in agricultural automation can be driven by motors, such as AMRs, harvesters, sieving machines, sowing, and even automated windows and doors. Since production efficiency requires minimizing downtime, products with long life, high performance, and high ingress protection will help ensure cleanliness, uptime, and profitability. Recommended Products World K Series Single-Phase AC Induction Motors These motors are rated for continuous duty and are easy to use. Various gear ratios are available for either a parallel shaft or right-angle gearhead configuration. IP54 and IP67 rated motors are available. BMU Series Brushless Motors & AC Input Drivers Multiple speeds can be easily set and controlled using the plug-and-play driver. Advanced features include closed-loop speed regulation, a digital speed display, and stored data. IP66 and IP77 motors are available. Contact our team to see how OM can help!

Y Type Pressure Reducing Valve

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Pressure reducing valve can automatically reduce the high-pressure input to a stable low-pressure output, and is not affected by the flow rate or input pressure changes. The output pressure is maintained within a preset range through a precise pressure regulating pilot. When the output pressure exceeds the set range of the pressure reducing valve, the pressure reducing pilot and the main valve will automatically close to form a tight seal.

If the optional check feature is selected, when the reverse pressure is generated, the backflow fluid will enter the upper chamber, closing the valve and preventing the flow back


Pressure Reducing Valve,Pressure Reducing Control Valves,Adjustable Pressure Reducing Valve,Pilot Operated Pressure Reducing Valve

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