Robydome introduce new text controlled remote store monitor‏
Revolutionary mobile telephone technology means potato growers can now record crucial information from remote storage facilities, without the time consuming and expensive rigmarole of repeated visits. With the new RobyText Alert RT300 installed, store managers can send a text message to the temperature monitoring device at any time, and receive back real-time information on the status in the stored crop. By linking the text service direct to a computer, the results can be automatically recorded for storage audits.
The RT300, launched at British Potato 2007 in Harrogate this week (28 - 29 November), will automatically text managers should any critical shift in temperature occur, as well as alerting in the event of a power failure. Any changes in crop temperatures can be quickly identified and rectified, before damage to the stored crop occurs.
In addition to the unique text-in results on demand facility, the system can also create daily automatic reports of temperature status throughout the store.
Peter Watts of Robydome highlights that, following the wet summer, there was a high level of Black Dot infection reported on tubers going into store this year, as well as tuber blight that could cause rotting. "Getting the temperature down, and maintaining it at below 4ºC, is considered essential to limit the development of Black Dot in store and protect tuber skin quality. Sensors will quickly detect if temperatures start to rise as a result of crop deterioration.
"Constant monitoring of storage conditions is crucial to identify any problems early. But with increasingly large-scale growers often utilising stores on farms many miles from a central base, the cost and time involved in visiting and recording information on a daily basis can be prohibitive.
"The dial-in facility of RT300 gives flexible convenience for managers to check information whenever they want. It can alleviate time-consuming recording, and enable growers to concentrate more time on other aspects of store management and marketing of individual crops at the optimum time."
The system, which is available with up to eight sensors and to cover up to 250 metres, can be completely set-up and controlled from a mobile phone. The RobyText Alert RT300 also features a battery back-up facility to alert store managers in the event of a complete power failure, when some other warning systems would also be disabled and leave managers unaware of the potentially disastrous break down.
The RobyText Alert RT300 is designed specifically for in-crop storage situations, and is suitable for potatoes, onions, carrots and a range of other applications.
