Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW JANUARY 2022 43 MACHINERY Digital dry matter weigher gets update FIFTEEN years after Martin Lishman introduced the Weltech PW-2050 Digital Dry Matter Weigher to the potato industry, the weigher is being put out to pasture to make way for a new model. The PW-2050’s introduction was a significant step forward in the practicality of measuring potato dry matter and starch levels and has proved to be one of the easiest and most accurate ways to do so. Compared to traditional dry matter measurement devices, the electronic measurement process of the Weltech unit helped make large scale batch testing of potatoes much more efficient. This year will see the end-of-life cycle for the PW-2050 as Martin Lishman prepares to launch the new version, the Weltech PW4. Offering some significant upgrades to its predecessor, the new PW4 brings with it an easy-to-use button panel, a large colour LCD display with 5 language options, USB export as standard, improved battery life and an all-new software-based user interface. “We are very excited to announce the new PW4 Potato Dry Matter weigher,” said Managing Director Gavin Lishman. “The current model has been a huge success in the industry and has proven itself to be a very valuable quality control tool to potato processors and growers all over the world. The new and improved PW4 model will continue this trend into the future.” The PW4’s multi-lingual user interface combined with the new large LCD screen will increase the ease of use considerably. Calibration and weighing process are easy to follow with on-screen prompts and the new results layout gives the user all the information they need without the need to scroll. Exporting XML data to USB now comes as standard on the PW4 and upgradable firmware also brings the added benefit of additional features being added in the future. Richard Swan, Agronomist with PepsiCo UK, was brought on board during the testing of the new PW4 unit. New planter model launched THE newly-launched Standen SR 200 Planter offers an easy to set-up, two-row, cup planter for growers with a new cup design capable of handling longer and larger seed. Fast forward speeds of up to 10km/h are achieveable with the new planter. The updated in-cab touch screen controls operate the hydraulic space selector and the stainless steel hood design with hydraulic pressure adjustment forms perfect ridges even at high forward speeds. Optional equipment on this new planter includes a hillside kit which includes a steering and vibrating seed return system as well as an automatic depth control. Sales and Marketing Director at Standen Engineering, Edward Gilbert, said: “The SR200 planter is a great addition to our machinery range. The significant change on this planter is that the new cup designs can handle longer and irregularly-shaped seed very well, something which cup planters have always struggled to do, whilst maintaining fast forward speeds.” The two-row models will be in production for the 2022 season while three-row and four-row offset models are in development for 2023.