©Copyright Benthic Solutions Limited 2005
Wilson AutoSiever ©

Wilson Auto Siever

The Wilson AutoSiever  is a semi-automated sieving table for reducing benthic sediment samples offshore in a routine and controlled manner. Following trials in 1997 by an NMBAQC workshop, the system was recommended as “best practice” by the resulting publication (Proudfoot et al., 1997). 

Wilson Auto Siever System

 

 

  • Reduces laborious sample handling in the field
  • Reduces time required to process most sediments
  • Reduces personnel numbers required for benthic processing
  • Reduces damage to biological material during processing
  • Well proven field performance on benthic surveys worldwide
  • Standardises sample processing
  • Robust stainless steel construction
  • System dismantles for storage or freighting

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    The system has the following features

    • Control valves for direct control of water flow/pressure
    • Additional valve outlet for hand-held deck wash
    • Discharge chute for disposal of sieved sediment directly over the side of the vessel
    • Container well for ease of sample handling (typically 1 litre jars)
    • Can be used with almost any mesh size, but typically 250, 500 or 1000µm apertures
    • Comfortable height to prevent bending by the operator
    • Heavy polyethylene lid for high pressure operation
    • System runs of most vessel deck washes or supplied with stand alone water pump (no electricity required)

    Cleaning a sieve over a Wilson Auto SieverThe Wilson Auto-Siever , or WAS, was initially designed in the late 1980s by Ian Wilson, but was implemented from the early 1990s as the preferred benthic processing tool for all sampling operations by Gardline Environmental Limited (formerly Gardline Surveys). The system was made available for purchase to all users following the success of the trial at the NMBAQC workshop in 1997. The WAS system was designed to standardise all sieving operations between surveys and personnel, and to  increase the efficiency of the sample handling and processing without compromising the quality of the biology recovered. Its simple, yet unique and revolutionary design enables its employment in a variety of different sediment conditions, from coarse heterogenic substrates, down to soft clays and silts.

    As “best practice” for biological processing, the WAS system has become the preferred tool for a large number of organisations  that routinely carry out benthic surveys. Systems are currently being employed throughout the UK, Ireland, Norway, Netherlands, Germany and Australia in the following areas:

    • Survey Companies
    • Fish Farms
    • Government Institutes, Agencies and Laboratories
    • Universities
    • Environmental Consultants

    For more details contact enquiries@benthicsolutions.co.uk.

     

    Proudfoot, R.K., Elliott, M, Dyer, M.F., Barnett, B.E, Allen, J.H., Proctor, N.L, Cutts, N.D., Nikitik, C., Turner, G. Breen, J. Hemmingway, K.L.and Mackie, T., 1997. Collection and Processing of macrobenthic samples from soft sediments; a best practice review. Proceedings of the Humber Benthic Field Methods Workshop, Hull University 1997.

     

    © All rights reserved by Ian Wilson & Benthic Solutions Limited. Unauthorised reproduction and/or manufacture of these designs are strictly prohibited.

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