Journalist Fergal O’Sullivan of the Irish Farmers Journal spoke to our sales manager Fokke de Boer about the development of Flingk.

Flingk Machinebouw: innovative machines for feeding and bedding

Flingk Machinebouw was founded in 2011 by Niels van den Berselaar and Marijn Berben. However, the foundations of the current company were laid as early as 2008, when they developed their first machine: a silage pusher.

As this market soon became saturated, the company decided to broaden its activities. Today, Flingk manufactures a wide range of machines for feeding and bedding on livestock farms. The company currently employs 26 people and moved to larger premises last year, a development that underlines the machine builder’s growth and ambitions.

According to Fokke de Boer, customers regularly come to Flingk with practical problems they encounter on their farms. Flingk then investigates how these problems can be solved and develops a suitable machine. This approach is at the heart of the company philosophy: solving everyday challenges on the livestock farm with innovative, solidly built machines.

The company name reflects this philosophy too.

Fokke explains that the name ‘Flingk’ refers to the Dutch word ‘flink’, meaning sturdy and robust. Every machine that leaves the factory is designed and built for years of intensive use in the demanding conditions of a livestock farm.

A fresh silage face to preserve forage quality

According to Fokke, the quality of the winter ration starts at the silage face.

“As soon as a silage pit is opened, exposure to air and rain can increase the risk of heating and nutrient loss. Ultimately, this can lead to the development of mould and undesirable bacteria.”

That is why the design of Flingk silage shear grabs plays an important role in preserving forage quality. Cutting into the silage pit in a controlled way limits the exposure of the silage to air and weather. The longer silage is exposed, the greater the risk that its feed value deteriorates.

According to Fokke, most livestock farmers in Europe put a great deal of effort into producing good silage.

“They apply fertiliser at the right time, cut the grass at the right growth stage and at the right height, take the sugar content into account, wilt the grass sufficiently and ensure good compaction in the pit. Everything is aimed at optimal preservation and high-quality winter feed. But what we see in practice is that far less attention is often paid to unloading the silage.”

According to Fokke, there are therefore still gains to be made in the way farmers unload their silage and maintain the silage face.

He compares it to top-level sport.

“A professional footballer or elite athlete trains optimally, eats high-quality food and gets enough rest. You wouldn’t give someone like that food that has been lying outside for days, exposed to air and moisture, would you? It could make them ill, and their performance would suffer.”

Yet some farmers expect top performance from their high-yielding dairy cows, while the ration sometimes contains silage that has lost quality through heating or spoilage.

“The same attention we pay to producing good silage, we should also pay to unloading it. Our customers see the benefits of that in practice.”

Controlled silage unloading

According to Fokke, there is little to be gained from pulling a large block of silage of, say, 1,000 kilograms out of the pit and then dropping it into the mixer wagon in one go.

That puts an unnecessarily high peak load on the mixer wagon’s driveline and on the tractor’s PTO and clutch.

Flingk’s philosophy is therefore to control the feeding process better right from the start. The silage shear grabs are designed so that the silage is cut out in a controlled manner and can then be unloaded in measured amounts.

The larger Flingk KHXL silage shear grab goes a step further. This machine combines a large grab height with a relatively shallow grab depth. This prevents large chunks of silage from being torn loose and stops protruding edges forming in the silage face.

Thanks to this method, a larger part of the silage face can be refreshed regularly. According to Flingk, this can significantly reduce the risk of heating and feed loss.

“The shallow grab depth combined with a large cutting surface means the silage face is refreshed faster and more often. This makes the silage less susceptible to heating, nutrient loss and the development of mould and bacteria.”

Instead of tearing the silage loose and leaving an uneven surface, Flingk uses finely toothed blades. These cut through the silage with relatively little force and leave a smooth, compact cut surface.

“The principle is simple: take only the silage you need from the pit and disturb the remaining silage as little as possible. You want to prevent layers being lifted and air getting into the silage.”

An additional benefit, according to Fokke, is that farmers can put together a more consistent ration. Because the silage shear grab works over a large part of the pit height, several layers of silage are taken at once.

The combination of a clean cutting action and a large cutting surface is at the core of the design.

According to Fokke, farmers need to realise that the preservation process does not stop once the pit has been covered. From the moment the pit is opened, preserving forage quality requires constant attention.

Regularly refreshing the silage face, without disturbing the remaining silage unnecessarily, is essential. It also limits the risk of unwanted mould growth and possible contamination with mycotoxins.

“The shallow grab depth of 35 centimetres makes it possible to cut a large quantity of silage cleanly in one movement, without tearing the material loose. The result is a silage face that looks almost as if it has been sheared.”

A clean silage face starts with a clean cut

According to Flingk, smaller, sharp blades need less force to cut the silage.

In addition to silage, several of the silage shear grabs can also cut into round bales. The material can then be loaded into the mixer wagon or placed directly in the feed passage.

Several models in the range are also multi-purpose. This means the farmer does not have to keep changing attachments when, for example, he wants to load concentrates.

These silage shear grabs can also be used as a bucket, made possible among other things by the fully closed floor. Unlike traditional silage shear grabs with tines, the material stays in the bucket and less silage ends up in the yard.

Flingk supplies silage shear grabs in various sizes, suitable for articulated loaders, telehandlers and front loaders, among others.

The inside of the bucket has a strongly rounded shape. This allows the silage to be unloaded easily, and the material breaks up gradually instead of landing in the mixer wagon as one large, compact block.

The Flingk KHMII, for example, is equipped with hardened steel front knives, a Hardox 500 lower blade and replaceable cutting blades.

Less labour when bedding cubicles

The same philosophy of solving practical problems can be seen in Flingk’s range of bedders.

The Flingk SE250 is an electrically powered, hand-pushed bedder and lime spreader. It was developed to make the daily bedding and maintenance of cubicles less labour-intensive.

According to Fokke, farmers particularly appreciate its manoeuvrability and its ability to handle different types of bedding material.

The machine is specially designed for materials and mixtures such as sawdust, chopped straw and lime, without them easily causing blockages.

The electrically powered SE bedder runs on two 12-volt batteries and is supplied with a battery charger.

An electrically driven stirrer in the hopper prevents bridging and blockages. With an adjustable conveyor belt and a mechanical metering shutter, the quantity and layer thickness of the bedding can be precisely controlled.

According to Fokke, it is not just about mechanising manual work. The machine also ensures an even, controlled distribution of the bedding.

This prevents too much or too little lime being spread in certain places, an important advantage for tasks that are carried out daily or regularly.

Whereas workers bedding by hand have to decide for themselves how much material to spread, the machine ensures consistent metering.

The result is even coverage of the cubicles, which can contribute to better udder health and a lower risk of problems such as mastitis. At the same time, the physical workload is significantly reduced.

The right bedder for every application

Flingk’s extensive range of bedders reflects the great diversity of housing systems and bedding materials in modern livestock farming.

Flingk develops machines for a wide variety of materials and applications, from sawdust, sand and straw to different kinds of bedding mixtures.

According to Fokke, that flexibility is a key principle in the development of new machines.

Rather than expecting every farmer to adapt their working methods to one particular type of machine, Flingk develops machines that suit the different housing systems and working methods on livestock farms.

A broad range of feeding, bedding and straw spreading technology

In addition to silage shear grabs and bedders, Flingk produces an extensive range of machines for processing and distributing straw.

The Flingk SVV straw spreader, for example, was developed to process large round and square bales.

Depending on the application, the machine can be fitted with different distribution systems, including a conveyor belt or spreading discs.

Flingk also offers various solutions for bedding cubicles. There are machines for light materials such as sawdust, but also for sand and heavier bedding mixtures.

The breadth of the current range shows how far Flingk has come since developing its first silage pusher.

Premium machines with a practical purpose

Flingk explicitly positions itself as a manufacturer of premium machines.

According to Fokke, however, ‘premium’ is not so much about price as about the quality of construction, the choice of materials and well-thought-out technical solutions.

“Our aim is to build machines that last, work efficiently and genuinely solve a problem for the farmer.”

This philosophy shows, among other things, in the technical details of the silage shear grabs.

Examples include the replaceable blades, wear-resistant parts and easily accessible pivot points.

Flingk also uses flexible ball joints on the main pivots and hydraulic cylinders of the silage shear grabs. This design helps absorb external forces and reduces the risk of damage.

The sharp, milled Hardox blades on the underside of the bucket and the shallow grab depth also contribute to how the machine performs.

“Thanks to the sharp blades and the shallow grab depth, the silage shear grab can be pushed into the silage with relatively little force. This puts less strain on the machine’s hydraulics and hydraulic hoses.”

According to Fokke, these are details a farmer may not notice straight away when looking at a machine in a brochure.

“But after a few years of intensive use, it’s exactly these kinds of technical solutions that prove their worth.”

Further growth in the Irish market

Flingk is already active in the Irish market, but aims to expand its presence there further in the coming years.

An important part of this ambition is building a larger and stronger dealer network.

According to Fokke, it is not enough for a machine manufacturer simply to build a good machine.

“Farmers also need to be able to rely on dealers who understand the machines, can advise which version best suits their farm and provide support once the machine is in use.”

For some machines, for example, it is important that the correct attachment parts are used for the wheel loader, telehandler or front loader in question.

The available hydraulic oil flow or electrical power supply can also be decisive for optimal performance.

Fokke stresses that both farmers and dealers can contact him directly via the Flingk website. He is happy to help them find the right machine and the best solution for their specific application.

The main benefits of Flingk machines

Silage shear grabs

• Specially designed to keep the silage face as fresh as possible.
• A smooth, compact cut surface helps limit heating and feed loss.
• Preserving forage quality contributes to livestock health and performance.
• Suitable for processing round bales.
• Lower peak load on the mixer wagon driveline and the tractor PTO.
• Several models can also be used as a bucket.
• Sharp blades mean less hydraulic force is needed.

Bedders and straw spreaders

• A broad range for a wide variety of materials and applications.
• Controlled, even distribution of bedding.
• Less physical labour and greater efficiency.
• Developed for different housing systems and farm sizes.

Construction and durability

• High-grade steels and Hardox on wear-prone parts.
• Wear-resistant, replaceable blades and components.
• Well-thought-out designs for long-term intensive use.
• Durable two-layer powder coating.