The checker plate on the 18-year-old rotary steel platform was worn and the concrete the staff were walking on was also becoming slippery. Rubber mats were used on the concrete for a few seasons but last winter Russell, who milks 620 Friesian and crossbred cows, heard about Carboguard 635 HAR from Altex Coatings. He had it applied about 300mm from the edge of the platform where the cows’ back legs stand and also on the concrete where staff walk. It solved both problems.
“Honestly, we didn’t have one cow slip over for the whole of last season and the staff liked walking on it on the concrete too. It was a lot safer for everyone,” Russell said.
Carboguard 635 HAR is an epoxy which is sprayed onto either concrete or steel and, although was designed for the fishing industry, is becoming more and more popular in dairies.
Altex Coatings Otago and Southland sales rep Brent Davies said sealing the concrete or steel and then three coats of Carboguard 635 HAR took about three days so had to be done in the off-season.
Local contractor Palmers Mechanical, of Dunedin, did the work which cost about $4200. It included abrasive blasting prior to the sealant going on.
The platform was getting some more coats before this season started to replace where it had worn off against the cross hatching.
“Eventually it will be thick enough not to have to be re-touched each year,” Davies said.
