Another successful sugaring season with HeRO concentrators
In the demanding world of maple syrup production, where each sugaring season brings its own set of challenges, technological advancements are invaluable allies for producers.
This year, we had the privilege of gathering testimonials from three of our customers about their experience with HeRO concentrators during the 2024 sugaring season. Before delving into their inspiring stories, we want to express our gratitude to these customers for their participation in this article, as well as to all our other customers for their continued trust in CDL for acquiring their equipment. HeRO concentrators offer advanced features, including full automation, multiple available configurations being modular, and the ability to concentrate from 1.5 to 30 Brix, even at the end of the season, with flow rates ranging from 720 to 7200 GPH. Let’s discover how these features transformed our customers’ sugaring season and helped optimize their operations.
Automate concentration in your shack and pump stations!
• Stainless steel pressure pumps (turbines)
• Positive recirculation system that allows operation for several hours without decreasing efficiency. This unique system helps prolong the lifespan of membranes
• Post: Maintenance-free submersible motor reliable for over 15 years
• Low-pressure protection now controlled by differential pressure, facilitating management of filtration
unit changes
• High-pressure protection
• High-temperature protection
New features for 2024
• Concentrate detection reading upon arrival in the tank
• Open drain valve protection on the concentrate tank
• Customized wash configuration
• Starting a tank wash cycle during concentration
• Intelligent management of maple water
if 2 concentrate tanks
• Concentration end at lower flow rate with turbine management
• Shutdown protection based on pressure
control opening
Vallee Farm – Franklin, Vermont
“No more washing and cleaning late at night!”
At the Vallee Farm, a family maple syrup producer in Franklin County, Vermont, each year brings new advancement in technology and operational best practices. One of the improvements of the past two years is the replacement of manual RO by the new CDL Intelligent HeRO automated system.
Jack Vallee told us about his experience with this automated equipment. “We now have three HeROs, one at our sugarhouse and two at pumping stations. Even though there are still performance adjustments to make with our machines, the automation allows us to focus on all the other important aspects of sugaring. We really appreciate not having to drive back to the sugarhouse at 2AM to start a rinse cycle! No more debating of ‘I’ve got the RO tonight.’ That alone almost justifies the added expense of automation.”
Érablière David Dostie – Estrie, Québec
“Remote control is the key!”
David Dostie now operates some 140,000 taps, including 115,000 on public land, mainly in the Eastern Townships – in Notre-Dame-des-Bois, Saint-Robert-Bellarmin and Scotstown, but also in the Laurentians, in Quebec.
According to David, the greatest benefit of his HeRO intelligent concentrator is the fact that he can control it remotely. “Even if you’re in the woods, you can set a wash!
The owner of the maple grove finds the intelligent HeRO reliable and of good quality. “What’s more, when you call for service, they can help you remotely! How convenient! I’d definitely recommend it.”
Adam Maple – Lanark, Ontario
“The HeRO concentrator works on its own!”
This spring, Jeremy Adam and his wife Zoe, maple syrup producers in McDonald’s Corners in Lanark County, Ontario, operated 25,000 taps and experienced the benefits of the HeRO concentrator for the third year. The transition from a manual process to the benefits of an intelligent HeRO concentrator has gone smoothly. Initially, that switch was made to simplify their lives.
“Even though, like most maple syrup producers, we know how to do PEP tests, the fact that they run themselves after a wash is very handy,” but that’s not the only advantage Jeremy finds. “I can keep track of everything on my phone. So, we can leave the camp, go check the pipelines and finish tapping, leaving the work to be done on its own, no need to babysit! This saves time to perform other tasks. We’re very satisfied with this aspect.”
