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Rotationally molded loading hatches for HydroSeeders are 40 lb lighter than their welded-steel counterparts and better resist corrosion from fertilizer as it's loaded into the landscaping machines. |
The switch from fabricated steel to rotationally molded polyethylene let Fin Corp., Fairfield, Ohio, drop the weight of its HydroSeeder's loading hatch by 40 lb. Better yet, it slashed costs by 60%. With the help of Meese Orbitron Dunne Co. (MOD), a plastics design and molding house in Madison, Ind., the rugged, yet lighter loading hatch minimizes fuel use without compromising mechanical performance.
MOD rotomolded the hatch as a two-piece assembly from polyethylene. Unlike welded steel hatches, the plastic version won't corrode over time as fertilizers are loaded into the landscaping machine. The MOD hatch attaches to the tank with brass inserts that also resist attack from the fertilizer slurry as it agitates inside the tank during transport. In addition, a tongueandgroove-beaded joint molds directly into the plastic to keep the lid closed.
Other molded-in features include a durable hasp to attach a lock, and a ledge and insert that lets bag cutters bolt on to the machine. Rotational molding also let Fin spruce up the looks of the hatch. It has a sleeker, rounded and lower profile with the Finn logo molded-in.
MAKE CONTACT
Meese Orbitron Dunne Co., (800) 772-7659, rotomolding.com