Hawe shows prototype
Potatoes overloaded with 120 tons/hour
At the Agritechnica, transfer specialist Hawe is showing a prototype transfer truck for potatoes. The German Hawe notices an increasing interest in transshipment among potato growers and is looking for the best working machine.
Hawe is best known for its grain transfer trailers and fertilizer spreaders. It previously built a sugar beet transfer truck together with Grimme. Both German machine specialists are now working on a machine that is suitable for transferring potatoes without damage. This year 3 prototypes were built to gain experience.
Bottleneck capacity
Existing concepts all have drawbacks, Hawe believes. Capacity is therefore a bottleneck. Customers are therefore obliged to purchase 2 cars, with all the associated costs. The current KUW 2000 prototype can load a maximum of 100 to 120 tons of potatoes per hour. According to the manufacturer, this should be sufficient to keep up with 1 large bunker harvester. The standard loading volume is 22m³. This can be increased to 30m³ with add-on bulkheads. The maximum permitted weight is 24 tons.
Hawe's 3 prototypes are running in Germany and Belgium. One of them also turned over the Dutch border. By gaining as much practical experience as possible, the company hopes to develop a machine that meets the wishes of the farmer. The Belgian machine is also used to load carrots, but it can also be used to load onions and similar crops. Grimme already has several transfer trucks in its program. However, they are too wide for European roads. Hawe's machine measures 3 meters.
Unloading behind is not an option
"There are 2 principles possible with overloading. Via the rear or with a side elevator," explains a Hawe employee. "Unloading via an elevator is preferable, because as a driver you can then follow the process well. This is a requirement, especially with potatoes. With a rear unloader you have to get out and stand by. With a side unloader you compromise on capacity. In practice However, 120 tons is sufficient. The loading volume may need to be even higher. The bunker now has a bottom with steel slats. This causes damage for table potatoes. That is why we can also install a plastic bottom. We deliberately did not opt for a tipping bunker, because the product flow is more difficult to regulate."
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The car has steel slats as standard. A plastic bottom is also available.Product cleaning
Before the product ends up on the elevator, it is cleaned by 8 PU cleaning rollers. The speed, fall and angle are hydraulically adjustable from the cabin. 2 straps divide it over the 120 centimeter wide discharge elevator. The cleaning surface measures 2 square meters. Even on sticky loamy soil, the cleaning unit works well, according to Hawe. Soil and rubbish are collected in 2 bins. You release it hydraulically while driving.
The car is now on 710/50R26.5 tires. The maximum size. However, Hawe, together with Claas, is testing a caterpillar undercarriage. The Terra Trac system is used for this. This system produces a maximum of 200 hp and can drive 40 kilometers per hour, according to the manufacturer. The manufacturer sees more in this than larger tires. The track system is currently being tested under a grain transfer wagon and silage wagon.
spicy price
Another option is the option of a swap chassis. Allows you to assemble a grain transfer bin and then build the potato bin. Hawe already offers that option on other machines. Versatility may be required to get enough hours. The KUW 2000 is in the price list for €139.000. Net that still remains a ton and that is spicy.
8 PU cleaning rollers clean the product. The KUW has its own hydraulic system.
Niels van der Boom
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