SK Farm Systems is developing the Smart Bin Opener, a remote lid-control system and app for swine operations. Drivers and farm staff open bins without climbing a ladder, and the farm gets a record of who opened which bin and when.
Launching with the swine industry. The system is still being built and tested, and hardware is not yet available to buy.
Feed trucks visit farm after farm. Research and industry guidance tell the same story: keep delivery people and vehicles away from the pigs, make deliveries from the perimeter, and keep good records.
Studies have found swine virus genetic material on feed-truck pedals, floor mats, and steering wheels. In a study of livestock trailers, contamination was more likely when plant staff stepped inside.
Read the research summary →Many bins still have to be opened at the top. Safety guidance warns about falls from bin ladders, especially when rungs are wet or icy.
Read about bin safety →In one outbreak investigation, feed-delivery records showed dates and stops but not which bin was filled. That made it harder to rule feed delivery in or out.
Read the investigation summary →The driver stays at the truck and at ground level instead of climbing the bin ladder to open the lid.
An authorized driver or farm staff member opens the lid remotely. Access is controlled by user, farm, and bin.
When the delivery is done, the lid is closed from the app. The system is designed to show lid status, so a lid left open is easier to catch.
Each opening made through the app is recorded with the user and time. If a lid is opened manually instead, the system is designed to detect and log that as a manual-override opening.
The Smart Bin Opener is in development. Features are described as they're designed, and details may change during testing.
Decide who can open which bins. Get a record of each opening, and see when a lid was opened manually instead of through the app.
Give drivers one way to open lids across the farms you serve, with access set per customer, site, and bin.
Cut down on ladder climbs during a route and keep drivers at the truck, which is where biosecurity guidance prefers them to stay.
We are launching with the swine industry. Poultry is a market we plan to serve later.
The Smart Bin Opener combines a lid opener mounted on the bin with a web and mobile app. The opener communicates over cellular. We plan to add GPS and Wi-Fi. The app handles users, access, and activity records across all your sites.
Explore the Smart Bin OpenerPlain-language summaries of published studies and industry guidance, each with links to the original sources.
What studies of feed mills, trucks, and drivers have found.
BiosecurityBoots, vehicles, and other carriers, and what the studies can and can't show.
IndustryPRRS losses in the US and the global spread of African swine fever.
SafetyLadder falls, slippery boot covers, and convenience for drivers and farm staff.
A demo starts with a conversation about your farms or delivery routes, followed by a walkthrough of the app. We'll show hardware as development and availability allow.