foundry

Foundry

A Foundry : a bigger inovating potential for developping food-processing and transformation machinery.

Concerning the construction of high performance and long-lasting agricultural machines, the manufacturers need to constantly inovat regarding all aspects of the fabrication procces: lower cost and better quality material supply, maintenance, fabrication, distribution and after-sales service.
Until recently, one of the major issues facing the Songhaï's mechanics workshop is the difficulty in finding high quality raw materials and replacement parts that respond to the custumers needs. More over, the maintenance of all the food processing equipement was becoming more and more problematic. As time passed, Songhaï came to the conclusion that only the total control of the complete fabrication process allows the guaranty of the equipment quality.
Songhaï, with the support of the F.S.D. (Fonds de Solidarité au Développement from the french Cooperation) has therefore build a foundery that today enables it to fabricate each and every piece of agricultural and food processing machinery. Increased flexibility, quality control, and research and development possibilities in the agricultural mecanisation field are the three primary advantages resulting from this new foundry.
any size shaft in Cast iron, Brass or Aluminuium	Other concrete elements also explain the reason why this foundry is a necessity for Songhaï. It allows for the fabrication of spare parts locally, which replaces expensive imported products. It allows for the repare of equipement in a shorter time and at a lower price. It facilitates the creation of new economic activities such as the sorting of industrial waste in order to collect used-metal. It reassures the potential investor regarding the technical capacity available in Benin.
The production at te foundry effectively began at the start of november 2002 with the fabrication of aluminium, brass and cast iron pieces. The range of casted items now ranges from spare parts for agricutural materiel (motopomp, shaft bearing, etc.), to marmites, mill's cogs, arrows, pulleys, plates, screws (for the mechanics workshop and the artisanal sector), spare pieces for the bio gaz system, agro-industries units (burner and its accessory accessoires, etc.), irrigation systems, and artisan objects (artisanal bell, etc.).

The technical innovations that will grow from this new foundry will benefit everyone from the agro-industrial sector of Benin and surrounding regions. Our foundry employees have already developed new equipment parts that are much more efficient. For exemple, a new drum on the manioc grater. When the first version of the manioc grater was introduced, the drum was made of wood. After intensive use, humidity problems arose that made the quality of the final product irregular. Secondly, the lifespan of the part was relatively short, and the costs of maintenance were not negligible.			aluminium's casted drum
A drum fabricated from a recuperated sheet-metal pipe appeared to offer better performance, but issues arose with the rotation that often affected the quality of the manioc flour. After a number of brainstorming sessions and multiple attempts, a new aluminum drum has been conceived and fabricated by the new foundry. The aluminum now comprises an integral part of the current version of the manioc grater and the previous inconveniences have been bypassed.
Every pulley needed for the fabrication of our equipement is also made at the foundry. For exemple, a mixed pulley (aluminium body to reduce the weight / steel's shaft in order to avoid wrenching the keyway) replaces original heavy and weak ones made from cast iron. Equipement bodies, switch commands, and grills, are other exemples of parts that can now be made at the foundery.
Farmers, Women's groups, villager's groups, and installed Songhaï's farmers will benefit from these new possibilities of spare parts for damaged material. Up to now, few alternatives were available to machine owners in case of mechanical breakdown.		original broken piece	final casted piece from the foundery
privileged relationships that Songhaï keeps with a number of installed farmers all over Benin nourrit avec les nombreux fermiers installés sur l'ensemble du territoire béninois has always contributed to the reasons behind Songhaï's actions. It is within this framework that the achievements of the mechanics will continue to respond to the concerns of increasing productivity while remaining technologically viable.

Atelier Technologie Appropriées Songhaï Center BP 597 Porto Novo République du BENIN	Tel : +229 22 50 92 Fax : +229 22 20 50 email : songhai@songhai.org site web : www.songhai.org/mecanique
last update: 5 novembre 2003