Shannon McLellan - Walla Walla (NSW)
When it comes to grain storage, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—especially when considering Australia’s extreme climate. For farmer Shannon McLellan, maintaining grain quality meant facing the challenge of high grain temperatures, which can lead to insect infestation and rapid spoilage. To tackle this challenge, Shannon turned to Kotzur to retrofit an aeration solution for his existing silos.
Shannon's silos weren’t supplied by Kotzur, but that didn’t stop the team from stepping in to adapt and install an aeration system. “Previously, I didn’t have aeration. I had a bit of an insect problem, and the grain got hot, so I had to find a solution” Shannon explains. “Kotzur set up an aeration system that was easy to operate and let me better control the conditions of the silo.”
Kotzur’s National Sales Manager, Bevan Austin, states “Shannon was clear about his main concern—the heat and the insects. He needed a reliable way to maintain low temperatures in his silos for extended grain storage. We knew an aeration system could solve this, but with the unique setup of his silos, a custom retrofit was necessary.”
After understanding the exact requirements, the Kotzur team proposed a tailored aeration solution that would be easy to operate and efficient for Shannon’s setup. The system Kotzur designed would not only work with Shannon’s non-Kotzur silos but would also adapt to the existing structure to maximise airflow and maintain cooler temperatures.
“We understand that every farmer’s setup is unique. Retrofitting an aeration system into existing silos—whether Kotzur or not—extends the life of the grain and maintains its quality. For us, it’s about offering specialised, adaptable solutions to protect farmers’ investments” explains Bevan.
With Kotzur’s aeration expertise, Shannon’s storage process became much simpler. “The system is easy to set up—just set the controller, and the system comes on and off when the conditions are suitable” Shannon adds.
What truly sets Kotzur apart is their commitment to designing systems for Australian conditions. Shannon highlights, “Kotzur is right up there. They’re built in Australia, for Australian conditions, and they really understand the importance of keeping grain cool here.”
After the installation, Kotzur reached out to Shannon for a follow-up visit to make sure the system was working effectively and that he was satisfied with the retrofit. Bevan notes, “For us, it’s not just about setting up a system—it’s about ensuring it works exactly as the customer needs. With Shannon’s silos being another brand, we wanted to double-check that everything integrated well and was giving him the cooling he required.”
The check-in confirmed that the aeration system was not only functioning smoothly but was already making a noticeable difference. Shannon was impressed with how quickly the grain cooled once the aeration was in place. “I was really surprised at how fast it worked,” Shannon said. “Even though it wasn’t a Kotzur silo, they made it fit perfectly, and everything just clicked.”
Now, with an aeration system installed and functioning seamlessly on his farm, Shannon can store grain longer and with greater peace of mind. “Even though they weren’t Kotzur silos, it fit up easy. I’d recommend Kotzur to anyone. They’re leaders in this field and are the team for the job,” he says.