Nursery Equipment

Steam Sterilising Systems

Features

• Eliminate harmful bacteria and leave beneficial organisms for healthy soil
• Control sterilisation or pasteurisation levels by selecting temperature and soak times
• Fan forced air/steam mixture accelerates temperature rise
• Return air cowling allows steam to be efficiently recycled
• Reduce double handling, simply disconnect from steam unit and tow the soil to where its needed
• Versatile sides of trailer can be lowered to allow for easy removal of soil or to use as a potting bench
• Removable canopy for easy loading
• Canopy can be manufactured to suit any type of sterilising/pasteurising system

Specifications

• Manufactured from 3mm galvanised steel
• Stainless steel perforated base plate
• Front axle pivots for maneuverability
• 14” wheels
• 3 phase 415V
• 750 Litre and 1000 Litre Capacity Units
  • Dimensions – 1m wide x 1.6m high x 2m long
• 1000 Litre Capacity
  • Dimensions – 1m wide x 1.6m high x 2.6m long

Advantages of Electric Boilers

• Licensed operator NOT required by the Department of Industrial Relations (Australia) where an electric boiler of 8HP or less used in NSW
• There are no exhaust gases! Therefore flues, heat exchangers or “clean air” equipment are not necessary
• The system is “pollution free”
• No boiler room required
• No fuel storage space required
• Fast response to demand
• Silent operation
• Re-locatable
• Less space required than a fuel boiler of the same capacity
• Lower CAPITAL cost and low cost of installation
• Minimum maintenance
• No fire risk

Optional

• PLCTemperature Controller
  • 8 inputs
  • 4 heat sensor probes
  • Calculates average temperatures from probes and sends a signal to the fan to adjust temperature
  • Provides a data log of each probe – download to a PC
  • Software for graphical representation of each temperature probe
  • Printouts (see sample graph)

Steam Pasteurisation Information

Why Pasteurise?

Pasteurisation is fast, effective, efficient, safe and environmentally friendly. The ever-increasing competitiveness and drive for excellence within the horticultural industry dictates that all production systems must deliver efficient and effective processes. At the end of the day rapid growing healthy plants deliver the biggest profit.

C-Mac offers a wide variety of horticultural solutions. In particular C-Mac manufactures high quality pasteurisation/sterilisation trailers for the pasteurisation of potting media, tools, pots and propagating trays etc.

Benefits of pasteurisation

Elimination of pathogens including Phytophthora, Pythium, Chalara etc.
Elimination of weed seeds
Safeguard against crop losses
Increasing profits with potentially higher crop yields
Recycle pots and sterilise tools
Elimination of chemical usage, such as Methyl Bromide, and their disposal
Environmentally friendly, help satisfy industry regulations

How the Trailer Works

C-Mac´s Pasteurisation/Sterilisation trailers use a mixture of steam and air along with an energy efficient air recycling system. For pasteurisation the required temperature of between 60°C and 70°C is achieved with a standard boiler (30 – 50kW). For higher temperatures please consult C-Mac. Generally the time needed to raise the media to temperature is half an hour but this can vary depending on the media and the boiler size. Treatment time then takes an additional half an hour depending on the application.

Steam generated by an electric boiler is injected into a fan unit which delivers a steam/air mixture to the under carriage of the trailer. This steam/air mixture is then distributed to the contents of the trailer through a stainless steel perforated sheet. The air within the trailer is then recycled back to the fan unit.

The cool down process is achieved by running the fan with the canopy left on and generally takes between fifteen minutes and half an hour.

Once this process is completed the trailer can be disconnected from the boiler and easily manoeuvred into position (for example a potting shed). Lowering the fold-down sides allows for potting directly from the trailer. Alternatively if the trailer has a tipping mechanism, it can be maneuvered to a hopper and conveyor system.

The best way to reduce lag time is to run multiple trailers in tandem so that as one is being potted from another is being treated. Only the one boiler and fan is required!

Nursery Diseases

Some of the main pathogens of concern within the Australian nursery environment include Pythium, Phytophthora and Chalara. All of these fungi can be successfully controlled using steam/air pasteurisation at a temperature of 60°C for 30 minutes.

Pasteurisation can be considered as one of the most effective methods of disease control as it actually kills harmful pathogens rather than just suppress them like many chemical treatments.

Some of the common sources of disease pathogens include soils and river sand, but were you aware peat moss is also a potential source of harmful plant pathogens?

Knowing many nurseries rely on a river sand and peat moss mix for their propagation, pasteurisation is a method whereby growers can guarantee their infant plants have the benefit of starting in disease free media. Nurseries that have already adopted this method have remarked that there is a definite improvement in plants grown in pasteurised media as opposed to non-pateurised media.

C-Mac has undertaken research into the effectiveness and benefits of steam pasteurisation and has a number of pasteurisation solutions that can be specially customised to suit your individual requirements.

Download Pasteurisation Brochure
Download “Treatment Times & Temperatures”

Pasteurisation Cabinets

Pasteurised soil promotes healthy plant growth by the eradication of soil-borne pests, diseases and weed seeds. This is achieved without harming the beneficial bacteria.

The simplest, cleanest and most effective method of carrying out pasteurisation at 55 – 80°C, is by means of insulated soil pasteurisers.
They are fitted with special aluminium panel elements having large surface areas between which the soil is placed. Uniform Temperature is obtained throughout. The electrical loading remains constant and is unaffected by the nature of the soil.

Consistent results are thus obtained without any special experience of skill. After treatment the soil should be cooled rapidly and stored in clean hygienic conditions

Specifications

Pasteurisation Cabinet – 68 Litres

• Fitted with two specially cast aluminium 1.5kW elements
• Soil is filled at the top and emptied through the bottom by pulling out slides
• Pasteurisation time is about 30 minutes, once required temperature is reached, (max. 90 minutes total run time)
• Fitted with a 2m long x 240 volt 15 amp heat resistant cable and moulded plug
• Supplied with a dial type thermometer

Size:

• Height = 725 mm
• Width = 490 mm
• Length = 700 mm
• Weight: 64 kg

Options :

• 70 Litre galvanised bin with castors for catching product instead of dumping onto floor. (Bracing is relocated to allow bin to fit under pasteuriser).
• Other modifications can be made to suit your application or workshop.

Pasteurisation Cabinet – 210 Litres

• Fitted with six 1.5kw elements
• Soil is filled at the top and emptied through the bottom by levers on the side of unit
• Pasteurisation time is about 30 minutes, once required temperature is reached, (max. 90 minutes total run time)
• Connected to a three phase supply and should be installed by a qualified electrician
• Supplied with two dial type thermometers
• Size:
  • Height = 1,145 mm
  • Width = 745 mm
  • Length = 795 mm
• Weight: 125 kg
• Options
  • Raised frame to allow dumping into a container.
  • Hungry board for loading with a bobcat etc.
  • Other modifications can be made to suit your application or workshop.

200 Litre Mobile Steam Pasteurisation Unit

As C-Mac are the manufacturers,  different sizes and designs can be manufactured to suit your application. Units can be made in:

• Galvanised steel - most economical
• Aluminium (for lightness so units can be pushed around easily)
• Stainless steel for longlife and strength
• Insulated walls and lid - heating efficiency and operator protection from heat
• Tipping units for easy unloading

Below is an example of a small 200 litre Mobile Pasteurisation Unit based on the same priciples as the large 750 and 1,000 cublic litre sterilising and pasteurisation units