Platform construction guide

A lightweight aluminium platform for your load bars

The 600mm load bars sit under a weighing platform. This is the platform AgriEID recommends: marine-grade aluminium, low profile, and under 35 kg for a 2000 × 700mm platform, the standard crush size. A local welder or fabricator can build it quickly from this guide. The Extreme 1000mm bars are made to bolt to the steel base under your crush. Download the platform guide (PDF)

50 × 50 × 5mm angle

Marine-grade aluminium angle for the platform edges.

50 × 50 × 5mm RHS square tube

Marine-grade aluminium square tube for the platform spine.

3–6mm tread plate

Aluminium diamond tread plate on top of the frame.

1

Measure

The inside of your crush, with every door opened and closed.

2

Build

The frame, the two plates and the tread plate deck.

3

Fix

The load bars to a concrete pad with dynabolts.

4

Fit

The platform to the bars, keeping the 5mm gap.

Measuring your crush

  1. Take the measurements for the platform size you need, so it fits comfortably inside your crush.

  2. When you measure the inside of the crush, open and close every access door and look for anything that could get in the way of the platform, the load cells or the load bars.

  3. Allow a 10 to 20mm gap between the edge of the platform and the inside edge of the crush, so there is room to install the platform and to open veterinary doors, kick gates and the head bail.

Lightweight aluminium weighing platform fitted inside a cattle crush
Marine-grade aluminium is the recommended material: it is light, and it supports the maximum weight needed for general livestock weighing. A 2000 × 700mm platform weighs less than 35 kg.

Building and fitting the platform

The frame is 50mm angle around the edges with a 50mm square tube spine, and 3–6mm diamond tread plate on top.

Underside of the aluminium platform frame with two plates added over the load bar positions

01 / Add two plates under the frame

Add two 3–6mm aluminium plates to the underside of the frame, one over each load bar.

Holes drilled in the 6mm aluminium plate to secure the platform to the load bar

02 / Drill the plates

Drill holes into the 6mm plates to secure the platform to the load bars.

Two load bars fixed to a concrete pad inside a crush with dynabolts

03 / Fix the load bars

Dynabolt the load bars into a concrete pad before the platform goes on.

The floating top section of a load bar and the gap beneath it

04 / Keep a 5mm gap

When you attach the platform, make sure the floating top section is not damaged as you tighten the bolts. A gap of at least 5mm must be kept between the floating top section and the main structure for the load bars to work correctly.

Aluminium tread plate platform secured in position

05 / Secure the platform

The aluminium platform secured in position.

Alternate platform design with end channels for the load bars

Alternate design with end channels

An alternate design with end channels for the load bars. Structural aluminium alloy (for example 6061-T6 or 6082-T6) for the rails and cross members, with 4–5mm checker plate for the deck.

Load bar measurements

Measurements are in millimetres.

BT ProGuard 600mm load bar drawing with measurements

BT ProGuard 600mm

a
600
b
505
c
80
d
590
e
95
f
180
BT Ultra 600mm load bar drawing with measurements

BT Ultra 600mm

a
600
b
540
c
442.4
d
568
e
90.3
f
100

Why a custom-built platform is recommended

  • Crushes are all different lengths and widths.
  • Crushes have different gates and frame cross-bearer locations.
  • The animals' weight is spread evenly, for the best accuracy.
  • Safer for your animals and workers: no gaps or humps.
  • Less expensive to buy.
  • Aluminium is lighter than steel, so the platform is easier to handle.
  • Quick and easy for a local engineering company to build.
  • No freight bill for a heavy steel platform.
  • Supports local businesses and Australian-made products.
Download

Platform construction guide (PDF)

Eight pages with the materials list, construction photographs and load bar drawings, ready to hand to your welder. Questions about platform construction, or which load bars suit your operation? Email info@agrieid.com.

Download the platform guide (PDF)Contact the local office

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