Our machine is more fuel efficient because it consumes XX gallons of diesel per hour. You’ll usually hear this claim from manufactures that have included a smaller engine in their quote in order to reduce their price and appear more competitive. Most manufacturers can install any size engine you want. But the only meaningful measure of the fuel efficiency of a turner is the units (gallon/liter) of diesel consumed per unit (ton/tonne) of compost turned.

SCARAB has offered a large auger style drum for over 10 years. This style drum has many advantages over smaller drums in certain applications. We also sell machines with smaller drums to customers whose feedstock/operation require the level of distructiblity only achievable with this drum. Many larger operators use both types of drums. They use the smaller drum to begin the composting process, the larger drum to add air in subsequent turnings and then the smaller drum again in the final turning when a more refined product is desired.

SCARAB can provide this option but discourages it because applying water with a machine is at least 3-5 times more expensive than more common methods. Operators using this system complain that it can take over 2 hours to water a 300-400 ft windrow and consume over 40 gallons of diesel. Factoring in the cost per hour for the turner, plus labor and fuel translates to over $400 just to water a windrow one time! Only the manufacturer benefits from selling you a watering system. A good business partner won’t take you down this path but will help you understand and select the best watering option for your operation.

Don’t be mislead-make sure your specifications accurately and completely reflect what you need. In an effort to appear competitively priced several manufacturers frequently quote a smaller machine and smaller engine than other competitors. For example, they will claim their machine is an 18ft machine (the machine size specified) but it is actually about16ft wide and has scrappers/track clearers on each side that “draw in” the other two feet of material. Most manufactures can equip their machines with scrappers. To ensure you are being quoted comparable machines be certain to specify the width of the tuner’s tunnel. And be certain to specify the engine horsepower you need.

This statement is usually made by manufacturers using a steel plate frame. SCARAB has many machines STILL IN USE TODAY that were built many years before these companies produced their first turner. The truth is tubing used in our machines is welded closed which prevents corrosion. Further, the tube frame is much easier to keep clean than the plate steel designs available today. An examination of the steel plate designs reveals an endless number of pockets and crevices that capture and hold debris and moisture. Keeping these pockets clean is problematic.