“A few years ago, I received a call from my uncle, Johan Booysen. He told me that his pivots are being stolen.” And just like that, a farmer’s spirits sink once again.
These words from Arno de Ridder, owner of AJ Design & Services, are certainly not new news. As Arno also agrees, we know that there is almost nothing these days that is safe from theft.
After Arno spoke with his uncle, he decided it was time to come up with a plan! He and Johan put their heads together and came up with this smart plan for pivot farmers.
“I designed a box that goes around the motor of the pivot. On the outside of the box, there are no bolts or locks visible; everything is inside the box. At the bottom, there is a hole where the lock is placed. You simply use a padlock of your choice. Inside, a bent piece of metal is added, so a thief will not easily cut the lock with a bolt cutter. The only way to open the box is with a grinder,” Arno explains.
After designing the prototype for the box, they had it installed for the first test run. From there, it was just a matter of time before farmers came knocking on Arno’s door to get boxes for their pivots too!
Arno says one of the great advantages of the boxes is less downtime for farmers. “If a motor is stolen, the pivot stands still, and the farmer cannot irrigate.”
Arno de Ridder designs and installs boxes to secure your pivot.
Sleep soundly with the smart sensor
A farmer’s worst nightmare is lying in bed at home while a thief breaks open or cuts into their pivot box using a grinder. Luckily, technology is just as much a weapon for the farmer as it is for the crook!
Arno uses a sensor that he installs inside the box. Any vibrations, tampering, or hammering on the box activate the sensor, which immediately sends a warning to the farmer’s cell phone. This way, you will know what is happening in places where you do not have eyes.
“The sensor works via satellite, so even if the power is out, it does not affect the security mechanism. The sensor can also be used to tag animals! It is attached to the animal’s ear, and if the animal moves outside a designated area, you will receive a message to alert you,” Arno explains.
The box is sandblasted and then powder-coated in any colour you choose – bright orange, green, yellow, blue, or whatever you prefer!
Farmers can also choose between the following material thicknesses for the box: 2 mm, 3 mm, or 4,5 mm mild steel, or stainless steel, with pricing varying accordingly.
There are no bolts visible on the outside of the box, making it nearly impossible for thieves to break it open. At the bottom of the box, there is a hole through which a lock is placed.
Thief-proof in only two weeks!
If you are interested in one of these boxes, contact Arno at (+27)72-207-0111 or ukwa.ar@gmail.com.
It takes about two weeks to manufacture the box at the factory, making your pivot thief-proof! If you prefer, you can even install the box yourself using the instructions Arno provides.
