Powered Sandbaggers

Powered Sandbaggers MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 34-2-29 If flood waters are ever a threat to you or your community, you'll want to take a look at this sandbagger that fills 12 bags at a time. "Our sandbagger is only $6,250," says Roger Sweningson, Progressive Innovations owner. "Stationary sandbag fillers run $24,000 for a four-hole machine. We can take the sandbags to the site or fill them and drop them in a truck or cart to be hauled where they're needed. The bags work great for erosion control, too." The Pro Bagger is basically a large scoop with 12 sets of bag holders on back. Workers clip 12 poly or burlap bags in place. The operator activates a hydraulic cylinder to lock them in place so they'll hold up to 100 lbs. each. The operator then scoops up the sand, gravel or dirt, lifts the scoop, hits a lever and drops the 12 bags ready to be used. "It's designed to be used with any skid steer with universal mounts," says Sweningson. Sweningson also makes the Instee Levee Builder that lays an 18-in. high barrier 400 ft. long in less than an hour. Like the Pro Bagger, it attaches to the front end of a skid steer. As fill material is dumped into the oversize bucket, an auger delivers it to the side where it fills a 6-mil poly sock much like filling a silage bag. It's priced at $12,500. A third machine, the Quik Levee Builder, will create a levee 3 1/2 ft. tall and 200 ft. long in 90 min., replacing 10,000 sandbags. Using dirt, it works even better, forming levees 4 ft. tall. It's priced at $28,000. "Perhaps because sandbags are called what they are, that's what we think we have to use for flood control," says Sweningson. "In reality, dirt is easier to get, easier to use and builds bigger dikes. Plus when the flood is over, it can be spread where it is, not trucked away." Sweningson says his machines are designed and priced for use by farmers and other private landowners, as well as by municipalities or other government entities. "Think of how much grain storage goes under water during floods, all the grain that is destroyed and often the bin as well," says Sweningson. "I've seen grain bins break apart from soaked grain. Ninety percent of all flood damage is done by a foot of water or less." The equipment is also gaining interest among contractors and others for erosion control around work sites. Gravel-filled bags act as filters, trapping sediments. Sweningson suggests the equipment could also be useful for creating secondary retaining dikes around animal manure lagoons. Dirt or sand bags would prevent costly runoff into creeks. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Progressive Innovations LLC, 34064 Hwy. 47 N.W., Cambridge, Minn. 55008 (ph 763 689-4423; cell 612 390-5836; roger@progressiveinnovations-llc.com; www.progressiveinnovations-llc.com).

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