Learning that offshore aquaculture net cleaning was one of the highest costs behind feed at
and was a surprise and motivation for aquaculture net cleaning development at LP.
Research revealed that aquaculture net cleaning was normally done using high pressure water cleaners. Obviously cleaning aquaculture nets this way was inefficient with most of the power wasted in mechanical, viscous, and turbulent losses that calculate at over 80% losses. But if you don't mind the maintenance and fuel cost, and nothing else is available it's OK. Furthermore, it is not very good at taking off mussels, shells, and kelp necessary for good aquaculture net husbandry. Moving the aquaculture net cleaner around with thrusters was a first try we but found it to be inefficient. Tracks to move aquaculture net cleaners were not new but had a poor reputation and if adequate features were added to improve performance netting could be torn. And none of the current technology would clean the water line.
Lindgren-Pitman has several engineers with the creativity and resources for R&D. However, there is no offshore farming in south Florida to do testing. Testing of ideas on fouled nets started in a quarry In the Florida Keys dug by Henry Flagler of Standard Oil while building the railway to Key West. There was no permit necessary to install the net required, but it was populated with lemon sharks among other fish. A long list of ideas failed but generated more ideas. Later testing was done on salmon farms in Washington State and the net friendly Safetrak testing was done initially in the president’s swimming pool prior to testing on farms. It all took years of dedicated work.
To remove fouling we press directly on the net with a special low speed propeller. It was designed by Greg Platzer from the team that designed the quiet nuclear submarine propeller. The electric driven propeller efficiently sucks fouling thru the aquaculture net wall using a raked blade that does not damage the net. On the perimeter are specially designed knuckles / cams that shake the net sufficiently to remove fouling without damage as the propeller sucks aquaculture fouling away. Read more about our Breakthrough Technology.
Safetrack's net-safe design has a urethane rubber track with articulated stainless-steel studs to engage the net and propel the aquaculture net cleaner. The studs are mounted on a flexible rubber stump that will bend and allow the articulated stump to bend and release at a design force well below the force where it could damage the net. Yet it is stiff enough to pull the aquaculture net cleaner above the water line to clean. Read more about Safetrak
The environment and fish welfare has been a focus of the industry and the public in recent years of the aquaculture industry. The Stingray electric aquaculture net cleaner reduces CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to similar cleaners. The Stingray 2-meter uses only an 11 kW generator. (link to efficiency page) The stress of the fish from the high decibel noise of high-pressure cleaners is eliminated, as our quiet brushless DC motors do not produce noise that disrupt the fish.
The Stingray is a proven aquaculture net cleaner with multiple patents. The benefits of efficient energy use, low operational costs, and high reliability will be a great addition to the operation of maintaining healthy and profitable fish in aquaculture net pens. We look forward to our continued growth and working with current and future customers to offer the best aquaculture net cleaner for their specific needs. (Read about our cost saving technology)
North America & Europe
Shaughn Hollcroft
shaughn@lindgren-pitman.com
+1 (360) 305-1520
South America
Christian Manriquez
christian@lindgren-pitman.com
+56 9 6669 1556
Technical Support and Engineering
Joshua De Santiago
joshua@lindgren-pitman.com
+1 (954) 943-4243 ext 212
sales@lindgren-pitman.com
http://www.lindgren-pitman.com/
2615 NE 5th Avenue, Pompano Beach, FL 33064 USA
954-943-4243 phone / 954-943-7877 fax
