DROTSKY – THE WAY TO THE FUTURE

Milling is the process of breaking up or crushing material into smaller pieces to make it more palatable for human and animal consumption. In order to enable users to do that Drotsky has been manufacturing hammermills since 1962.

How does a Drotsky hammermill work?

Material is fed into the milling chamber via a gravity feed hopper having an adjustable slide to control the feed material. In the milling chamber the material is struck by hammers (rectangular pieces of hardened steel) attached to rotor arms which are attached to a shaft. This rotor rotates at a high speed inside the milling chamber and the material is crushed by repeated hammer impacts. A perforated metal screen covers the full circle of the milling chamber and this allows properly sized material to pass as finished product while the course material remains in the milling chamber for further grinding. The M-range has blowers running on the outside of the screen which through negative air flow will draw the material towards the screen.

The screen size determines the finished size of the product. 

Commercial hammermills

The company started with the PC24 (now M24) of which more than 35,000 units were sold in Southern Africa over the years. The smaller M16 and bigger M36 followed. These machines have blowers on the outside of the screen and discharge through a cyclone. The advantage of this unconventional design is  that the milled product comes out of the machine at a far higher rate than the conventional designs thus generating less heat while milling the product.

The M-range produces milled maize from 750 to 1,500 kg per hour using a 0.8 mm screen. These machines have a high capacity and required power from 15kW (20hp) up to 45kW (60hp).

All these models are available on wheels or three point hitch with a PTO shaft. They can also be stationery and driven by electric motors or diesel engines.

The M-range was basically developed for any type of roughage such as lucerne and grass types, but also for grain.

Smaller hammermills  

 The S-models are used for milling grain, sugar, tobacco, salt, spices and other products that need reduction.  These models are powered by three-phase electric or diesel engines from 2,2 kW (3hp) up to 15kW (20hp) and are ideally suited for farmers and smaller millers. The S-range consists of the S1, S4 and the S8. These machines have a high capacity and low running costs. The S-range is a semi-portable machine and can process a wide variety of feeds for commercial and industrial use.  

Anyone can become a miller

What ever the capacity required, there is a Drotsky-hammermill that can do it! The small S1 can do 150kg per hour of milled maize, whereas the M36 will do up to 2 tons per hour. One has to choose the right hammermill for what you want to do.
 
Farmers, big and small millers, government institutions, schools, NGO's and various other groups use these products.

Cost efficiency

For the small farmer or any other user wishing to add value to his operation, the small hammermill presents a sensible and practical option.  The benefits are low capital and low running costs, minimal maintenance, faster milling times and more hygienic milling conditions.

These products have been distributed to  Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mauritius, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, Gabon, Lesotho, the DRC, Brazzaville Congo and Egypt – supplied directly from the factory to various agents.  Through export agents these machines have also been exported to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Support

Drotsky provide a full technical back-up service.  Spares for all the products are available at the factory and agents in other parts of Africa.  Where necessary, foreign agents are trained at the factory and local agents are assisted to give the  necessary back-up in terms of spares and product-knowledge.

Advantages

The user can immediately start earning an income with the hammermill.  Where an organisation or group uses it, it will have an immediate effect on the quality and speed with which the milled product can be delivered.

These Drotsky machines are designed and built in Africa for African conditions.  For a  small investment a big return can be obtained in terms of monetary advantages if used as an income producing asset, or in the improvement in the quality of life if supplied to groups or communities to mill for food for their daily needs.