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This one was built for small applications. Check out our larger machine here: ruclips.net/video/TNVFSf3Nj24/видео.html or at formation-ag.com/ft660

Most of the time the hemp is cut and laid in the field for a retting and drying process that takes 3 weeks depending on the climate. It is then baled for transportation. The FiberTrack 660 accepts 60 inch wide round bales, un-oriented (such as fiber placed on a conveyor belt in-feed), and oriented stalks (again, fed via a conveyor infeed).

Mr Henderson, can I get your e-mail or some contact if You would be willing to assist me with some info regarding hemp decortication. I would be greatful. Thanks in forward! :)

Hi Robert, How can I contact you?

❤❤

Same question!!

Most fabrics within the U.S. are using cotton fiber, called short strand fiber, usually in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 inches in length. Long strand fiber is usually from material such as hemp or flax and can run around 6 inches in length. The longer the fiber, the stronger the end material will be. Our goal with the 660 is to provide fibers that are not cut in the decortication process. Depending on the material genetics, humidity and harvesting method, fibers from the 660 are often up to 36 inches in length, and usually longer than 6 inches even after secondary fiber cleaning. Most rope and fabric manufacturers will cut fibers to an even length in order to be compatible with their equipment. For example, a facility running cotton and hemp fiber blends will cut the hemp fibers to around 1 inch regardless of the original length. Hemp fiber is strong and tough which is great for strong and durable materials, but hard on equipment processes. Overall, the length that is used will really depend on the machinery that will be using it. Hurd is the easiest to use and we offer equipment from the 660 to clean, remove dust, and size it for different applications. Hurd from the FiberTrack system can then be used in hempcrete, animal bedding, and a few other end uses without any additional changes. On the fiber side, we offer equipment to undergo a second cleaning process to remove and comb out more hurd particles and debris. There are a few applications for the fiber directly our of the secondary cleaner, but most fabric manufactures and some rope manufactures may need an additional step to degum (remove the lignin that binds the fiber together), soften (such as a cottonization process), or comb and align the fiber strands prior to using it in their equipment. Most cotton facilities are already set up to do this - but cotton fiber is shorter and softer than hemp fiber prior to going through the additional processes. We are continuing research and engineering to clean the fiber and hurd outputs for easier application. Using hemp fiber in current manufacturing infrastructure is a key to making it an economical solution for a more renewable fiber source.

@@FormationAg fascinating, thanks for all that info!

@@PTNLemay Of course!

Michelle have your installed?

Please email us at sales@formation-ag.com or call 833.849.6633 for current pricing.

Our facility where we manufacture the equipment is out of Monte Vista, Colorado. Most of the footage in the video was taken at local farms. Since starting in hemp, we have provided equipment for harvesting and processing worldwide.

Thank you! We're excited for how this industry is growing and glad that we are able to be a part of it.

Prior to using the material from the stalks of hemp plants, it first needs to be separated so that there are two products - fiber for use in textile applications and hurd, the woody material, for use in hempcrete or animal bedding applicions.

It is a right hand discharge so you would need one that is offset from the center of the tractor but it would be possible. In most cases, we see farmers letting it dry prior to bailing.

Of course! We are actually working on a secondary head to go below this one to cut the stalks in the same pass. Farmers can then windrow and bale it for processing in a decorticator. We have seen the best fiber come from more mass planted fields such as those for grain. Most of the testing we perform on our FiberTrack 660 decorticator is actually a seed variety. Bush style plants typically do not provide good quality fiber because the branch nodes in the stalk grow weak spots. The hurd can still be useful, but large diameter stalks seen in bush style growing are hard on machinery components. We usually only recommend a hammer mill to be used for processing. Check out ruclips.net/video/zZohlBV-Oq0/видео.html for an example of a mass planted field. That field is one grown in Colorado for seed, CBD, fiber, and hurd. They were able to produce up to 8% CBD, reserve seed for the following planting, and we use the stalks that were baled in our facility for decortication.

@@FormationAg do I understand this correctly that you are working on a double cut machine? Does the cleanstrip work for seed harvesting? There is some mention of it but never very explicit. Have you tested to see the trichom loss vs hand harvesting?

@@michaelgraalum381 The CleanStip itself does work for seed harvesting. The seed would then be separated from the flower and leaves prior to putting it into storage - we have several options on equipment for that process. This also collects the small amount of cannabinoids in a grain crop if that is desired as an additional revenue stream. This process just gives an alternate, more gentle option to a combine. You would also have more control for your cleaning and processing options. The double cut machine we are working on is a secondary cutter below the CleanStrip. In a single pass, the buds, flowers, and seeds can be harvested using the upper header, and the stalks can be cut using the lower. The fiber would then be retted in the field and or baled using a second pass for decortication, or tilling into the field. *We have not seen any losses in cannabinoid content when using the CleanStrip. Our testing reports from combines have shown some loss to almost complete losses depending on the field and combine used. The CleanStrip test reports have shown consistent levels between pre and post harvest testing.

@@FormationAg outstanding. I'll be getting a quote soom

This field was a volunteer field and plant spacing varied. The header becomes more efficient with closer together planting to encourage the plants to flower higher off of the ground or to encourage a canopy. In this case, the branches that were left were mostly lower branches which had a much lower CBD content. Collecting them would make the extraction less efficient. Overall, it was better to only collect 95% of the buds at 8 acres per hour than to pay for labor to ensure collection of all of the branches. The 5% loss was more than made up for in the increased efficiency.

@@FormationAg Thanks a lot!

Hater

This was a very early version of the machine. We now offer either a conveyor or round bale infeed as automatic options, or a larger table and additional safety devices to help keep hands clear of the machine.

As the market continues to develop there will be more interested people and companies. For now, that would be dependent on the connections and business proposals that an individual would be able to put together.

Vivek M 👋

A higher density planting is desirable as a continuous feed of plants will keep the plants from rolling down the belt. In addition, we also have larger fingers that can be used to grab the plants and keep them from rolling in lower density fields.

It's true that prices have dropped, but it is still possible to grow with decent returns. It takes a bit more planning and different ways of growing than what was possible the last few years. We work with a few farmers who are able to grow biomass at between $3,000 - $5,000 per acre by streamlining their process and reducing labor costs using equipment for larger scale growing. As a result, they are seeing high enough profits to continue growing hemp this year too.

Oof this just gave me such a bad image in mind.

Tests using un-retted stalks have had promising results depending on the moisture content and the genetics. Raw material does need to be dried for the FiberTrack and it seems that field drying is the easiest and most economical method currently available to most farmers. Retting then is a fairly easy process to add. If a farmer has other drying options, then it would not be needed depending on material quality (genetics and moisture).

It is 480 Volt electric. It can also be packaged with a generator if power is unavailable. It is modular and we are working on several different in-feed and out-feed systems depending on the need. We custom build these to order so pricing changes depending on what you are looking for. You can email us using the form at formation-ag.com/products/processing/decorticator/fibertrack660

@@FormationAg what about the machine in that clip. for an example, how much was that one to the buyer?

@@sharonnewzealand1793 The machine in the video has since been re-designed based off of industry testing and feedback and this model is not available as shown here. We can put together a similar unit, but design these to help match a more specific end goal. Pricing varies depending on the features you are looking for. Send us an email at sales@formation-ag.com or give us a call at 719.849.6633 and we can give you a quick estimate of what you might be expecting for what you are trying to achieve.

We are excited to announce that this machine now has several additional modules now available including a conveyor in-feed, round bale in-feed, a shaker table for further fiber and hurd separation, additional conveyors for collection and transfer of product, secondary hurd cleaning, hurd sizing, and secondary fiber cleaning!

@@FormationAgWhat does it look like? can you share a video?

Hi Jacob, this unit was designed in partnership with Shellbourne. It was designed specifically for hemp as the other stripper units did not work well for hemp.

@@FormationAg they worked fine, your company is full of liars and frauds

Since the hemp industry is new and there are no standards or consistent genetics, it is not possible to test equipment with every growing style and faming method. It is good to hear that the unit you used worked on your crop and we hope that the equipment you are using continues to bring you success.