Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 43 MACHINERY International show postponed THE international agricultural machinery and technology show, SIMA, has been postponed. Due to take place in February, the show would have been celebrating its 100th anniversary. Instead, the event will be held in November 2022. Organisers said it had been a di cult decision, particularly with many exhibitors having already committed to the event, but it was felt to be the best option, in view of the current global economic climate and the many uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic e next edition of SIMA will take place from November 6th to 10th, 2022. “ e uncertain and extremely constrictive public health situation did not o er the guarantee of total safety to exhibitors and visitors, in particular those travelling from abroad. Furthermore, these circumstances were a hindrance to the organising teams in the smooth and e cient preparation and organisation of this new edition,” a statement from the show’s organisers said. e rescheduled show will feature a meeting for innovation thanks to the “SIMA TECH” sector (a central forum for talks, workshops and networking, a Startup village, an exhibition section bringing together all the New Technology o erings in the show, competitions such as the SIMA Innovation Awards and the SIMA Farming Awards, etc.). Advice on jobs and training, a programme of talks, workshops and meetings will also feature. SIMA will also hold a programme of digital events and meetings throughout 2021 and 2022. Standen Engineering launches re-engineered T2xs model STANDEN Engineering has launched a new T2 Model. e T2xs sees the popular T2 two-row trailed harvester re-engineered for 2020. e overhaul has delivered a 15% increase in the separation area, new haulm roller design, new touch screen controls, a wider choice of separators, improved service access, wider choice of picking table options and 45% more machine levelling. Standen has focussed the transformation on the rear of the T2 model. is has been improved to o er increased strength with a simpler ROTO axle design as well as more separation and levelling capability. e result of these changes is an increased harvest output whilst maintaining crop condition. Standen has kept the front end of the T2xs similar to the previous model in terms of digging web and shares con guration, albeit now with a wider chassis throughout the machine which further improves service access. David Robertson of Cookston Farms has been putting the new T2xs through its paces. Cookston Farms, based in Angus, crops 195 acres of potatoes split between home seed, salads, whites and specialist varieties on a mix of medium to heavy and loamy-sand land. David said he was impressed with driver visibility and found the new control box is user-friendly with “a very clear screen”. “Adjustment of the roller table and Omega separators from the control box is so simple,” he said. “ e VariSep o ers another separation point and the ROTO Axle is great for opening up. Plus it is easy and quick to set up the web speeds and ram functions. In conjunction with our New Holland T7.245, it was a pleasure to be able to lift with an entirely British built system.” Sales and Marketing Director of Standen Engineering, Edward Gilbert, said the T2xs model had been well received in a variety of eld trails run throughout the model’s development. “We believe that we have made some great improvements to the already popular harvester that growers will really appreciate when in operation on farm,” he said.