Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2021 61 MACHINERY ‘Tough challenges for manufacturers’ MANUFACTURERS of agricultural equipment face some tough challenges over the next few years, according to newly-electedPresident of theAgricultural Engineers Association (AEA) FarmEquipment Council, ShaunGroom. Shaun, who has served two years as Chairman of the council and isGeneral Manager ofMerloUKLtd, has been elected President, said: “In the not-so-distant future, new technical challenges await manufacturers as the pressure to replace fossil fuelswith greener alternatives and sti carbonnet zero targets nd theirway to the sectors ourmembers operate in. As equipmentmanufacturers harness alternative forms of power, the drafting of newregulations and standardswill be required to ensure safety and compliance.” He added: “Aswe all adapt to a digital world, theAEAhas invested in sta and resources to keep the association at the forefront of those changes.” Having spent nearly three decades in the agriculturalmachinery business Shaunhas heldpositions inboth retail andwholesale agriculturalmachinery operations. RuthBailey, Chief ExecutiveO cer of the AEA said: “Shaun’s experience and knowledge will bring a powerful voice to the sector at a timewhenwe face some of ourmost serious challenges, ones that could change thewhole landscape of how the industry operates, both in the immediate and long-termfuture.” Norfolk stone and flint putting destoners to the test NORFOLK grower Wayne Garrett has taken delivery of two new ScanStone EcoStar destoners and says he’ll be putting approzimately 600 acres through them this year. Wayne, of RG Produce Ltd, said: “Because of the varying amounts of stone and int, and the di erent soil types we work with, a star style machine was the way to go for us. e EcoStar has a bank of six stars before going onto a long rear web.” He said so far the beds are a nice shape and the machine is doing a great job of separating. “Looking at the general rate of wear on the webs, for our soils I am over the moon with their current condition which is really helping with low running costs.” Updates to polishing equipment TONG Engineering has unveiled several updates to its range of vegetable polishing equipment. Originally introduced to the market in 2012, the TPS-Pro polisher features an electric direct-drivemotor inside every brush shaft. e latest model of the TPS-Pro polisher has been carefully ne-tuned for 2021 resulting in a more re ned design that maximises performance and makes maintenance even easier. Manufactured in a 14 brushmodel featuring a 3m long x 800mmbarrel, as well as an 18 brush model featuring a 3m long x 1050mmbarrel, the TPS-Pro polisher is suitable for e ective polishing of root crops including potatoes.