WHOLE-CROP CANE TRANSPORTATION: INTRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LIGHTWEIGHT HIGH VOLUME ALUMINIUM BINS

THE change to whole-crop harvesting in NSW has resulted in a harvested product with very different properties from the previously ‘cleaned’ cane. New larger, light-weight road transport containers with an integrated automatic tarping system have been developed and other changes in the supply chain have been made to maximise the efficiency of the whole crop collection. Specifications of the new containers, the development process and a construction program to meet tight delivery and implementation program are explained in the paper. A servicing schedule, the results for the first full year of operation and plans for on-going development are given also.