How to get the most from your Topsoil Screening…

The term ‘Topsoil’ refers to the top 2-12’’ of ground that makes up the top bed to help plants and grass grow as it is full of the essential nutrients. The beautiful thing about screening topsoil is that it is an excellent way to gain and create revenue from waste material that would just get sent to landfill.

In its raw form topsoil is more often than not just used to assist with landfill as it is normally heavily contaminated with elements such as rocks, water, plant roots, sticks and weeds. In order for the material to actually be of any benefit to plant production these contaminants must firstly be removed, hence the need to introduce the screening process. This is where the Anaconda Screening range comes into play.

Once screened topsoil is a very useful addition to gardening applications or operations that actively work to promote plant growth be it on a small or industrial scale. With the improved usability of the product once screened it is possible to charge more which helps generate revenue for the processors pocket. Topsoil can be made to various grades and by rule of thumb usually is the finer the product the more expensive the end product. Therefore, it is very important to assess what grade of topsoil will suit your market. This is to make sure you can sell it at a certain price or ensure you have invested in the appropriate screener to allow for the desired grade to be reclaimed.

When it comes to selecting a machine for your topsoil screening needs Anaconda Equipment can provide 3 different options.

Scalping Screens

Fine Screens

Trommel Screens

Before any commitments are made in regards to a screener for your operation there are a number of factors that must be considered, these are as follows:

1. The capacity of topsoil you will hope to screen.

2. How easily transportable the machine will need to be for moving around different areas/sites.

3. How much money you are prepared to invest.

4. Supply/Demand for screened topsoil in your locality, will there be enough to facilitate screening and once screened will the demand be there for the product.

There tends to be reasonable demand in areas for units that can screen topsoil from smaller processors that can’t take the hit of the initial investment which will offer the opportunity to put the machine out as a rental in order to recoup some of the investment quicker before you begin to make pure profit.

Scalping Screens for screening topsoil

Scalping Screens are quite often over looked when it comes to topsoil screening. Most operations tend to go for the Trommel screen which is more suited to organic screening or the fine incline screens that are capable of making a finer product. However, this does not rule scalping screens out essentially when it comes to topsoil production. These vibrating downslope screens are very versatile and can be tailored to suit topsoil production when the correct meshes are introduced. It is very important that you discuss with an application professional what will work best for you. For instance opting for a top deck of heavy duty mesh or punch plate followed by a bottom deck square or slot mesh will mostly be the right combination to produce a large fines pile rich in nutrients and to your markets desired specification.

Fine Incline Screens for screening topsoil

A popular option for topsoil screening is the Incline Screeners such as the Anaconda SR Range. These screens are designed around their upwards sloping screen box which makes them very versatile and better suited to a smaller feed material where the user wants to generate as many fines from their product as possible. This is perfect for topsoil screening especially for the applications where the grade of topsoil required has to be very fine to suit the end customer. Facilitated with the high energy upsloping screen box the plant can then be tailored further dependant on the feed material. Typically, the processor will tend to go with a square mesh on the deck and then either smaller square, slot or harp mesh dependant on what you require and the material you are processing.

Trommel Screens for screening topsoil

The most common option associated with processing organic material has always been the trommel screen or the drum screen. Trommel screens boast a circular drum style screen which continuously spins as it pushes material down the drum towards the tail conveyor. As the material passes the finer material drops through the slots on the drum and transferred to create a dedicated fines pile. Predominately when trommel screens are being used to screen topsoil you would see the drum configurated with either square or punch plate mesh. However, there are circumstances where a slot mesh can be implemented. When is comes to customers that directly want to focus on screening organic matter such as topsoil then one of the Anaconda Trommel Screens will be the ideal solution.