Two-axle and compact beet harvesters: power leader reaches 796 hp
The second part of a review by Poland's farmer.pl covers two-axle self-propelled sugar beet harvesters from four makers. The most powerful is the Ropa Panther 2S with a 796 hp engine.
Polish agricultural machinery portal farmer.pl has published the second part of its review of self-propelled beet harvesters. This instalment looks at two-axle and more compact designs, which combine high output with lower own weight, good manoeuvrability and reduced pressure on the soil. The small circle of beet harvester makers – Ropa, Holmer and Grimme – is joined in this part by the Dutch company Vervaet.
Ropa Panther 2S
It leads the two-axle class in power. Its inline six-cylinder Volvo Penta engine, displacing 16.12 litres, delivers 796 hp (585 kW) and 3,650 Nm of torque. The tank holds 30 m³ (about 20 tonnes) and unloads in under 50 seconds. The machine is 13.4 m long and weighs about 23.5 tonnes. It features hydraulic stabilisation with automatic levelling on side slopes.
Grimme Rexor 6200
The German maker's model is powered by a six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz (MTU) engine rated at 653 hp (480 kW) and meeting the Stage V emissions standard. Its tank holds 30 m³, the length is 13.58 m, the turning radius 7.5 m and the weight around 24 tonnes. A so-called dog-walk layout makes the rear wheels run in a different track from the front ones, preventing repeated compaction of the same path. The Speedtronic system adjusts speeds of the cleaning elements.
Holmer Terra Dos 5-30
The newest-generation machine from German maker Holmer has a 652 hp Mercedes-Benz engine and a 30 m³ tank (21 tonnes) that empties in roughly 40 seconds. It is 12.94 m long and weighs from 27 tonnes. It is aimed at farms and contractors that need manoeuvrability on smaller plots.
Vervaet Q-Series
The Dutch maker's Q-616 and Q-621 share one 530 hp (390 kW) DAF Paccar MX 390 engine. They differ in tank capacity: 16 tonnes (emptied in 50 s) and 21 tonnes (60 s). Both have a turning radius of just 1.6 metres, as the two rear wheels sit side by side on a turntable. Up to 288 configuration variants are available, with several leaf-removal and cleaning systems on offer.
