New planters and harvesters feature at European launch

The Grimme Prios 440 is a 4-row cup planter with standard 75cm row widths, but an overall transport width under 3m.

Grimme announced new and updated products in its potato and beet planting and harvesting ranges during a product launch event and demonstration, in Germany in late June. David Williams reports.

Four-row cup planter

The Prios 440 is a four-row trailed cup planter which is designed to work in conjunction with a pre-cultivator, and it has a road transport width of below 3m.

An extended goose-neck drawbar allows it to be trailed behind an active cultivation tool such as a power-harrow or rotary cultivator. Because it relies on the goose-neck coupling rather than direct linkage mounting, it is easy to swap the tillage implement without removing the planter each time.

Depth control of the fertiliser outlet discs

The furrow openers, covering discs and ridge shaping unit are all independently adjusted, and overall working depth is set by four feeler wheels at the front of the machine and two ultrasonic sensors in front of the ridge shaping unit which detect the working depth and ensure optimum control for even emergence of the tubers.

Section control

Independent control of each planting section includes the fertiliser box, the barrel system and the planting elements which can each be switched on or o independently. This allows the user to avoid applying nutrients where they aren’t needed, such as in tramline areas or on unplanted land on diagonal headlands, which is better for the environment and saves money.

Innovative ridge shaper

Plastic ridging bodies can be combined with closed ridge crown plates for a smooth nish or cage rollers for a crumbly texture, but a new option is to combine the two elements. Grimme says that the unique ‘hybrid-ridge shaping unit’ creates a ridge with stable, smooth anks and an open pored crown.

The hybrid unit can be converted and adjusted in the eld without tools, allowing it to be adapted to changing soil conditions as well as customer requirements. To increase the water in ltration rate and help prevent soil erosion, the ridge shaping unit can be additionally equipped with the ‘TerraProtect’ pro ling system.

Convenient road transport

The Prios 440 retains the standard 75cm row format, but optional telescopic axles make it easy to reduce the width from 3.3m for working to below 3.0m for transport. In addition, protruding working elements are retracted within the frame. Being able to easily reduce the size for transport adds convenience for all users where travel by road is required, and especially for contractors working at multiple locations.

Simple operation

customers have the option of using either a tractor Isobus-compatible terminal when available, or the CCI 800 or CCI 1200 Isobus operator terminals which allow use on any tractor.

The optional SmartView video system with a 12in touchscreen monitor includes zoom, slow motion, and live image displays of all the machine functions.

Remote monitoring of machine performance and task data is available through the MyGrimme internet platform with links to farm management software through Agrirouter.

Select 200 elevator harvester

Grimme also announced a new tworow elevator harvester with a unique steering system and a transport width under 3m.

In nitely variable main web drives

Optional ‘VarioDrive’ allows in nitely variable speed control and reversing of the main webs – combining bene ts of a mechanical and hydraulic drive transmission. With ‘Speedtronic Web’, the conveying speed of all the main webs is continuously and automatically adjusted in relation to the load and driving speed.

Grimme o ers a unique range of separator options, including MultiSep, double MultiSep, RollerSep roller separators or the HaulmSep ne haulm elevator, and all are available with automatic functions. For maximum separation performance the double separator and TurboSep blower can be combined. For increased crop protection, the separators can now be set at a steeper downward angle so that the conveying capacity increases compared to the separating capacity.

Revised machine operation and monitoring

Isobus is standard, allowing direct control from the main terminal of suitably equipped tractors, or CCI 800 or CCI 1200 displays, to be used. A wide range of settings can be made and adjusted through the terminals, including the automatic SpeedtronicWeb and Speedtronic-Elevator functions.

Connection to the MyGrimme operator interface is standard, allowing machine and task data to be exchanged with farm management software through Agrirouter.

New steering

The ActiveSteer automatic axle steering uses electronic control and hydraulic activation, so it doesn’t require an additional coupling point on the tractor. Headland turning is improved with a tighter steering angle and optimal guidance into the row. When cornering, the target angle of the wheel position is calculated, and the axle is actively controlled. The system is set up from the Isobus terminal, and manual override is available.

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Wide elevator

An optional 1,200mm wide elevator can be speci ed allowing reduced operating speeds while maintaining the same throughput. This makes crop handling gentler and, for onions and carrots, the throughput can be increased.

Comfort packs

New comfort packages include height-adjustable steps for the picking table, ensuring a comfortable working position for operators.

Also available are a waterproof storage box, padding on the picking table, drink holders and a handwash tank. New lighting provides an excellent view of the crop for sorting, even at night.

An optional weather roof is available with or without side panels. Nets on the sides allow ventilation while protecting the crew from dust.

Convenient road transport

The sub-three metre road transport width is achieved using a telescopic rear axle, which is pushed out to the wider position for eld work.

The new Varitron 470.

Third-gen self-propelled

The Varitron 470 features signi cant upgrades for both wheeled and tracked versions.

The four-row self-propelled harvesters feature a new appearance and a 460hp Stage 5 power unit.

The haulm topper has more power for maximum chopping performance. Attaching and removing the topper is easier due to a revised suspension design.

Intake options

Di erent intakes can be tted for optimum performance in potatoes, onions and carrots and, for a twophase harvesting system, it can pick up potatoes and onions from windrows.

Speedtronic Web automatically adjusts the web speeds according to travel speed and crop loading. All the main webs, the ne haulm elevator and the ring elevator can be individually and conveniently reversed from the cab to prevent and clear blockages.

The ability to alter the direction of the extracting unit rollers is new. This allows rotation in either direction in both the extraction and transfer modes, which means the latest Varitron can be set up to perform even better in a wide range of crops with exactly the right degree of separation.

Bunker extension

A 64cm bunker extension makes it possible to load even higher trailers, as well as boxes in the second row, in a safe and simple manner.

The bunker extension is of particular bene t for opening up or starting long elds. Working in 75cm rows, the transport trailer can travel in the spray tramlines and be loaded across four rows without damage or losses.

Improved controls

The new Varitron 470 has a 12.1in CCI 1200 touch terminal as standard. With a new, more intuitive user interface the operator has an excellent overview of the machine

Tough times call for a new kind of reliability.

settings and functions.

The ‘SmartView’ video system with a 12in monitor can operate with a network of up to 13 cameras, making it even easier to continuously monitor and optimise all aspects of the operation.

To document yield information, the Varitron 470 can be equipped with a crop weighing system. Using data from the weigher, yield maps can be created and used to highlight crop performance di erences between various areas, and the information can be used to help create maps for variable rate applications of products including seed, pesticides and fertilisers.

2022 Rexor updates

New Rexor 6200 and Rexor 6300 beet harvesters have been introduced, with 30m3 and 45m3 bunker capacities.

Beet lifting and cleaning performance is improved on both Oppel wheel and walking share versions, and the pre-cleaner roller table features seven rollers as standard.

Oppel wheel upgrade

The latest Oppel wheel lifting unit has four feelers – double the number of previous versions. This improves guidance along the rows and helps maintain optimum working height. Performance when working around corners is improved and driver fatigue is reduced.

The new height guidance means there is no need for a feeler wheel shaft between the chopper and the Oppel wheels. An improved view of the digging unit is provided, and total weight is reduced.

The new Rexor has the CCI 1200 Isobus operator terminal and the SmartView video system which displays up to eight images simultaneously for improved monitoring. The Grimme Digital Interface provides an improved overview of the machine settings and performance.

Remote monitoring is available through telematics and the MyGrimme customer portal. Live information is available to view from anywhere with an internet connection, and includes current task progress which can be used to help plan work commitments and logistics.

A ‘MyJobs’ module automatically documents each job and includes information such as fuel use for accurate costing. Customer data can also be saved and shared for analysis and record keeping with most

Extended warranty

Grimme suggests that extra security provided by an optional four-year warranty will help contractors and farmers invest in the new harvesters in an increasingly uncertain sugar market. Attractive and exible nance and service packages are also available to help x ownership and working costs. FG

New 2022 Grimme Rexor beet harvesters feature improved lifting and cleaning performance, upgraded control and monitoring systems as well as attractive nance packages covering warranty, ownership and service costs.

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