New updates for planter and self-propelled harvester

AVR shares details of fresh updates for 2023, including the new combination of the Ceres 450 hydraulic planter and power harrow – plus a series of additions to the Puma 4.0 4-row self-propelled harvester.

The new combination of the Ceres 450 hydraulic planter and the power harrow allows for a different type of soil cultivation that can be used in stoney areas and is more suited to the UK market.

The planter itself is characterised by its precise planting element with accurate digital planting distance setting, automatic GPS control of the planting element itself and a high-capacity bunker. The biggest advantage is the many planter combinations, such as fertiliser applicators, powdering units, micro granulators, spray kits and an anti-erosion and tramline kit, AVR says.

Due to the trailed set up in combination with the soil cultivator, soil preparation, fertilisation, spraying and planting can all be done in one go, with one driver managing the whole process. GPS-based control of the planter takes care of the controlled switching on and off of the different elements.

Meanwhile, AVR’s 4-row self-propelled harvester, the Puma 4.0, has received a series of updates for 2023.

At the end of 2022, AVR launched a major software upgrade of the ACC digging unit’s depth control mechanism.

Immediate advantages for the user include:

• Driver comfort. The control performs very well under all circumstances (also in case of spray tracks, on inclined terrains, etc.), meaning manual intervention is no longer necessary
• A more precise control improves the harvesting quality
• At higher speeds, the control – and as a consequence the whole machine – remains remarkably stable.

As an option, it is now possible to reverse the direction of the digging web, allowing any blockages in the digging unit to be quickly resolved and avoiding loss of potatoes between the sieving and digging web when reversing the rotation direction of the sieving web circuit.

To avoid soil sticking to the roller above the pintle belt in heavier harvesting conditions, a PUR scraper option is also available that keeps the roller clean. This prevents the loss of potatoes and general wear on the pintle belt.

The Puma’s fuel consumption is very low thanks to an efficient Volvo engine, a well-thought-out hydraulic system, a lightweight construction and large tyre sizes, AVR says, particularly when harvesting at slower speeds (1,250rpm). Average consumption per engine hour was 27.6 litres/hr for the 2022 harvesting season.

Driver comfort is improved with the new Autosteer option. A sensor unit mounted on the haulm topper between rows one and two steers the front wheels, allowing the machine to automatically follow the rows.

To ensure a smooth transition from the digging webs to the sieving webs on 4*90-Pumas with ACC digging units, an active narrowing system was developed. Two driven rollers on the side of the channel smoothly guide the entire product flow to the sieving webs. As a result, the machine runs more lightly, pressures remain lower, there is less chance of soil sticking under and/or to the narrowing plates, and consequently less wear and tear.