Which potato harvester should I choose?

Trailed potato harvesters are used in most farms engaged in industrial potato growing. This equipment is offered by both domestic and foreign brands. In this article we will consider the models of foreign manufacturers.

GRIMME potato harvesters

In the area of trailed machines, the German company Grimme offers one- and two-row SE series harvesters, two-row EVO and SV series harvesters as well as 2- and 3-row GT diggers. The smallest Grimme harvester is the single row SE 75-20 with 2 tons hopper or platform for in-field bagging. It is equipped with two main conveyors, two sorters, a finger cross conveyor, a sorting table and a folding elevator to unload the potatoes into the hopper. The S series also includes the 2-row SE 260 harvester with 6 ton hopper.

The machine allows you to store potatoes in the hopper or continuously load them on transport. Depending on the harvesting conditions, the manufacturer offers two types of sorters. The machine can be controlled with a digital terminal with touch screen. The largest Grimme trailed machine is the three-wheeled, two-row, trailed EVO 290 with a 9-ton hopper. The machine is equipped as standard with ISOBUS, which enables operation by joystick and terminal, including the latest CCI 1200. The combine is characterized by the "VarioDrive", which allows infinitely variable speed adjustment of the main conveyor.

Dewulf potato harvesters

The Dutch company Dewulf is the manufacturer of the Torro and R2060 two-row trailed harvesters. The younger model is equipped with a hopper with a capacity of 5,500 or 6,000 kg. The combine uses a 3,200 mm long screen belt, the intensity of which shaking can be adjusted on the machine or optionally from the tractor driver's cab.

The harvester design uses two toothed conveyors with adjustable speed. There are deflector rollers on each of the conveyor belts to guide the potatoes to the conveyor and then to the sorting table. In front of the sorting table is a sorting device consisting of five rollers, which separate small and large-sized potatoes. The functions of the harvester are controlled by a joystick and a terminal.

The R2060 is a two-row machine available in six configurations to suit specific harvesting conditions. In the design of the combine behind the digger the manufacturer used a wide screen conveyor belt with a length of 1800 mm. Immediately behind it, another sifter with adjustable shaking intensity was installed. Behind the third sifter conveyor belt there is a ring belt. Immediately behind it the manufacturer placed a cleaning unit.

In the "RQ" version, the manufacturer used a long sifter conveyor with a sifter and a ring belt inside. The "RQ" version also has a cleaning block inside the conveyor. The "RJS/RJA" models are equipped with a J-shaped transport elevator. In these designs, the manufacturer used a flat ring conveyor belt with a finger part to separate potatoes from lumps of soil and stones. All harvester variants are equipped with an elevator that transports the potatoes upward. Like the Torro, the R2060 has a terminal and joystick to control machine functions.

AVR potato harvesters

The Belgian company AVR offers five models of potato harvesters. The smallest machine in the manufacturer's offer is the Spirit 6100, equipped with a 6-ton hopper. Behind the digging unit are an 80 cm wide sieving belt conveyor, a second sieving belt conveyor, a cone separator with stop roller, a cross cone separator with finger scraper and a harvester table. Four people (plus two working on the haulm conveyor belt) work behind the re-harvesting table.

The largest machine in the manufacturer's offer is the Spirit 9200, equipped with a hopper with a capacity of 8 tons. The manufacturer offers one of several configurations of screening conveyors. One option is an arrangement with two shorter conveyors behind the digger. Instead, the manufacturer installs a single long conveyor. A sifter or set with cross rollers is also available. In the Spirit 9200, the manufacturer used a finger sifter equipped with a rotary cleaner or a set of rollers. All harvesters are equipped with hydraulics with its own pump, operating from the PTO of the tractor.

ROPA potato harvesters

Trailed potato harvesters from Ropa, also known as the manufacturer of beet harvesters, are also available on the Russian market. The German manufacturer offers two models called "Keiler". The first is a one-row machine with 6 ton hopper ("Keiler I"). In the construction of the machine behind the excavator, the manufacturer installed an adjustable sifting belt conveyor with adjustable speed and intensity of shaking. Just behind it there is another conveyor belt inside the conveyor belt surrounding the finger conveyor. From this belt conveyor, the potatoes are redirected to a second conveyor belt. From there, the potatoes are directed to the unloading conveyor, from which the crop is unloaded into the tank.

The Keiler I can be optionally equipped with "ISOBUS" and controlled via joystick and terminal. The machine is equipped as standard with a hydraulically controlled pivoting drawbar, which can be used as an option. Similar design solutions (e.g. a haulm conveyor surrounding the second main conveyor belt and the first finger conveyor) are fitted to the Keiler II. This is a two-row machine with an 8-ton hopper. This harvester uses two additional finger conveyors in front of the sorting table.

Unia potato harvesters

There are three trailed potato harvesters in the range of the Polish company "Unia". One of the machines is the well-known one-row model "Bolko", which harvests potatoes from beds of 62,5-75 cm spacing. The machine is available in three variants. One version is equipped with a 1,25 t hopper. In another version, the potatoes ("Bolko T") are loaded directly on a trailer. The next version ("Bolko S") has a 500-kg platform and an unloader instead of a hopper. In the "Bolko" and "Bolko S" versions, the third conveyor comes with a rewind table, where the two-man crew removes stones and tops.

For larger farms there are Pyra 1600 and Pyra 3000 harvesters. The first machine has a hopper capacity of 1600 kg.

The hopper of the second machine holds 3000 kg. "The Pyra 1600 is also available with platform and unloader (platform capacity 1000 kg). Both machines are equipped as standard with their own hydraulic system with oil tank and PTO driven pump as well as continuously variable conveyor speed.

Akpil potato harvesters

Another Polish manufacturer of trailed harvesters is "Akpil". The "Kartoffel", equipped with a hopper with a capacity of 3500 or 5000 kg, collects potatoes from beds spaced from 60 to 90 cm. The unloading height is 3,85 m. The machine is equipped with its own hydraulic system with a pump driven by the tractor PTO.

The hydraulics are usually controlled by a control panel from the tractor cab. The hydraulic drive of the potato separating conveyors from soil and impurities has a speed control system. The harvester drawbar can also be controlled hydraulically. In addition, the machine has a hopper for small potatoes with a capacity of 500 kg and stones (700 kg). The required tractor power is 80 hp.

Sator potato harvesters

The Polish company Sator, operating since 2008, offers four harvester models for potato harvesting. One of them is a trailed tractor-mounted double row harvester "Sator Double Z", equipped with a steering wheel as standard. The machine has its own hydraulic system with its own pump. The harvester structure consists of independently operating digging sections, two sifting conveyors (with adjustable intensity of shaking), roller multiseparator and hydraulically controlled feeder, which transfers the potatoes to the trailer. Electronic control of the harvester functions is performed by joystick and terminal with display.