2024 marks Plug&Cool’s 7th year as a company that endeavours to provide farmers in the UK and Europe with the best grain conditioning products on the market. Although the company may seem like a newcomer to the industry, they have a long history of working with farmers under the guise of its parent company, Gibbons Engineering Group Ltd.
Founded in 1969 as an electric motor rewinding firm, Gibbons Engineering evolved through the years and in the early 1990s, began the design and manufacturing process of high-powered, energy-efficient grain cooling fans. Working with both steel and aluminium casings, the range of grain cooling fans quickly became popular with arable farmers, and through a network of distributors across the country, the Gibbons fans, combined with Gibbons electric motors became a mainstay within grain stores throughout the UK.
As the company grew larger throughout the coming years, Gibbons continued to support farmers with other engineering services outside of the arable market. With engineers on hand to install irrigation pumps, and rewind and repair electric motors, the firm built up a reputation for supplying an excellent range of products and services. Gibbons’ electrical engineers specialise in building control panels and undertaking electrical services on farms, and their HVAC team has a reputation for excellence in axial fan installation within farm buildings too.
Fast forward to 2017, Gibbons Engineering Group decided to rebrand the agricultural services division, and Plug&Cool was born. With the manufacture of grain cooling fans in their on-site workshops, the base for a successful business was already in place, and in support of the humble grain cooling fan, other products were gradually added to the product range.
With the help of Robydome technology, the Multi-Zone Control panel was first on the list to be designed and manufactured in-house. The Multi-Zone control panel enables farmers to have full control over their cooling fans as temperature probes placed in the grain pile connect to the panel which then shuts off the fans when the grain is at optimum temperature levels. With energy savings at the forefront of many farmer’s minds, this technology is often vital for saving time and money.
Grain-cooling pedestals come hand in hand with cooling fans so Plug&Cool developed a poly pedestal that farmers can rely on year after year. Since its inception, the Plug&Cool team has exhibited at many of the UK’s leading agricultural exhibitions, and this helped to further the connection with the customer base. After speaking with farmers first-hand, it was clear that a durable poly pedestal was necessary for the best results. The Plug&Cool pedestal is a one-time purchase due to its strength and robust design. The engineering genius behind the pedestal adaptor sleeve means that farmers have the choice of using a 150mm or a 200mm top pipe for a more powerful fan.
Plug&Cool has maintained its core distribution network in the UK and Europe, but after developing supporting products for the grain cooling fan, the Plug&Cool online store was launched in 2021. This has given farmers 24/7 access to the entire range, with next-day delivery where possible. The Plug&Cool website has proved a great success amongst the farming community due to its simple design and easy navigation.
Plug&Cool is always keen to expand its product range and in 2023 developed a new underfloor cooling system to incorporate the aluminium grain cooling fans and the poly pedestals. Plug&Cool Outdoor is designed for longevity, with each aluminium fan fitted with a rain canopy on top which protects the fan motor from harsh weather conditions and ingress water. With a standard fan, any water that gets into the fan cowl of the motor can cause damage to the bearings, so the canopy is a bit of a game-changer for farmers who wish to keep their cooling fans outside of the barn. There’s no need to worry about outdoor fans breaking down after a few years of use.
The Plug&Cool Outdoor kit also comes with a one meter poly pedestal with a steel conical cap and a twist-to-lock steel base that fits all standard-sized manholes. The design engineers at Plug&Cool realised that most indoor pedestal bases are solid steel rings and identified a problem with the aeration of grain at the base of the pedestal. The Plug&Cool Outdoor steel base is perforated with 5mm holes that allow the air to flow freely around the bottom of the pedestal and ultimately prevent any moisture, which leads to growth in the grain.
Plug&Cool is continually developing its range of products to ensure that arable farmers can get everything they need from one place, and at a price that doesn’t break the bank.
