Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW JANUARY 2022 45 MACHINERY Newly-developed store loaders GRIMME’s SL 900 and SL 700 series store loaders have been newly developed for the 2022 season. The new SL 900 series belt width has been increased from 800 mm to 900 mm. The trough shape of the conveyor belt has also been optimised with regard to the conveying cross- section so higher throughputs can be achieved. Alternatively, a reduced belt speed can be used for smaller throughput quantities, which has a positive effect on crop protection. The SL 900 series, which includes the SL 916 with conveying lengths from 9.7 m to 16.5 m and the SL 919 with conveying lengths from 11.2 m to 19.5 m, has an optional “Quantum feeding conveyor” for constantly low drop height, regardless of the swivel angle. It enables swivel widths of up to 180°. The Quantum feeding conveyor increases the conveying length of the SL 916 to 17.7 m, resp. to 20.7 m when the SL 919 is in use. The new SL 700 series of store loaders are equipped with a 66 cm wide and 16.5 m long conveyor belt so a maximum conveying length of 17.7 m can be realised. Like the SL 900 series, the SL 700 series now also has the new store house filling functions and a new, intuitive operation. With the new warehouse fillers, three new store filling functions are available: • StoreMatic-BASIC: With this store filling function, the change of the swivelling direction takes place as soon as the optical sensors on the chassis detect the freely-positionable limiting tables. For an even height of the crop when bulk storing, the pause time in the corners can be adjusted manually. • StoreMatic-PLUS: This function is able to detect store walls or obstacles with the help of ultrasonic sensors at the upper end of the conveyor. In addition, the automatic system detects inconsistent heights when loading the crop and levels them out by reducing the swivelling speed. Alternatively, the store loader can automatically retract the telescopic conveyor belt at the reversal points or lift it independently. • StoreMatic-PRO: This option includes the functionalities of both the StoreMatic- BASIC and the StoreMatic-PLUS and is supplemented by further intelligent functions. The setpoints of the swivel width can be set independently on the right and left and can be adjusted in the storage process via the operator terminal CCI 800. Corner filling, an automatic level change as well as a continuous adjustment of the crop- discharge height and the individual setting of a maximum storage height are available. New Spot Spray Sensor unveiled EXXACT Robotics, a subsidiary of the Exel Industries Group, has unveiled the 3S Spot Spray Sensor® technology at a virtual event. It is a technological solution for collecting and analyzing images in real time through artificial intelligence to detect biological aggressors such as weeds, diseases, pests and also determine fertilization needs. The high-precision on-board sensorsused by the 3S Spot Spray Sensor® technology allow instant data acquisition and real time analysis. Then, the information is sent to the sprayer product control system to deliver the right dose to the right place. EXXACT Robotics has succeeded in developing a fully integrated technology in the spray booms of the equipment manufactured by the brands of the Exel Industries group, which can be used on weeds on bare ground as well as on field crops, day and night and up to a speed of 25 km/h. The first booms equipped with the 3S Spot Spray Sensor® technology will be on the market at the end of 2022 for herbicide use. This solution will then be progressively advanced and offered on all the equipment of the EXEL Industries group brands.