Recently an inquiry was received that highlighted the need for information in quoting a manure separator. The e-mailed inquiry read: "Please quote the price for a manure separator to handle 100,000 liters of manure."

Here are questions that we asked in order to select the proper size machine, with the right screen and drive motor:

What animals does the manure come from? Cows or pigs?
We avoid poultry layer manure, although broiler grow-out house litter can be pressed.

By chance, is the manure actually sludge from a bio-gas digester?
Capacity goes down significantly on such sludge.

Assuming it is dairy cow manure, how many cows are on the farm? Are they confined (100% of the manure is captured), or is the manure only from a milking parlor or feeding barn?
Is a flush barn or scraped barn system used to collect the manure? This will tell us the dilution to expect.

What is the gpm capacity of the manure pump?
How many hours a day is the manure separator expected to run? Some farms want to run only four hours a day, while others run up to twenty four hours a day.

What kind of bedding is used?
Sawdust will require more horsepower than straw. Sand must be separated before the manure is pumped to the separator.

What is the power supply at the farm, single phase or three phase? What voltage?
Most small farms are single phase 220 volt, while some large farms have 440 volt three phase power.

Is compressed air available for use with the manure separator?
The large Model KP-16 has a discharge door that is actuated by an air cylinder. This feature is an option with the smaller 6" and 10" machines.

Is the manure currently being separated? If so, how? What is the cake used for?
Reviewing these questions will result in a much more satisfactory machine selection.