Machinery Agri Force Recycling has invested in a self-propelled sugar beet cleaner-loader this season, to provide the best possible service to its customers.
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to a minimum. We are loading into 14–16 of our own lorries and those of other haulage contractors too, and farmers using our service have expressed how pleased they are with the results.”
Beet loader improves customer satisfaction
Tailored cleaning
Suffolk-based agricultural contractor and haulier Agri Force is using a state-of-the-art Holmer Terra-Felis 3 self-propelled sugar beet cleaner loader, to support its fleet of lorries which are fulfilling a British Sugar beet haulage contract this year. Until three years ago, the Rendleshambased company offered a contract beet harvesting service alongside its haulage business, but gave up the harvesting to concentrate on transport. This season it is transporting approximately 160,000t of beet, representing a four-fold increase on the 40,000t it transports in an average year. To improve efficiency and ensure it provides the best service possible to farmers, the company is loading the crop by self-propelled cleaner loader.
Exceptional work rates The Holmer Terra-Felis 3 offers impressive loading capability at rates up to 560t/hr. It’s powered by a 354hp Mercedes engine and has a 9.5m pickup with 18 rollers, feeding a 900mm wide conveyor. Cleaning is fully adjustable to suit the crop conditions and can be set so that the beet travels between 24.4–32.0m as it passes through the system. Agri Force specified an optional water spray system, which helps achieve better beet cleaning and keeps the rollers clear of dirt
accumulations, which has proved especially useful in the muddy conditions this year. The loading conveyor has a maximum 15m reach and up to 6m loading height, making it ideal for filling lorries on roads above field level and for reaching over high hedges. The conveyor can be used in any position around a 332-degree arc, making it exceptionally versatile and ideal for operation in areas where space is limited. It’s very easy to move around the county too; with three-speed hydrostatic drive and a maximum 40kph travel speed.
well and have confidence in the backup if issues occur. “This year is particularly challenging as it has remained wet, so being able to offer a service where farmers and harvesting contractors can keep tractors and trailers, or chaser wagons on the field and off the road has been a help,” he continued. “Obviously the headlands are wet, which makes loading more difficult, but the Holmer lifts the beet cleanly and the large flotation tyres keep ruts
Adjustment of the cleaning intensity means that the operator can set the cleaner to suit the conditions, so for cleaner crops and loose soil the action can be more gentle – helping avoid damage and retaining as much of the tap root as possible. The loading conveyor has an adjustable cover, which can be pulled back to expose more of the cleaning spirals, or extended when aggressive cleaning isn’t needed for gentler beet handling. Operator Toby Stace said the Holmer loader is rewarding to use. “I have used other makes in the past, but the Holmer cab is excellent, there is plenty of adjustment to achieve the best results, and the camera system makes it easy to monitor everything going on around the machine. “It’s great on the road too, with excellent all-around vision.” FG
Preferred brand “We have worked alongside other hauliers using all brands of loader in the past, but particularly like the Holmer’s design,” explained company director John Howe. “We used to use Agrifac beet harvesters which are handled in the UK by the same importer, so we know the company John Howe (left) is pictured with operator Toby Stace
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