ROPA Panther - Two Axle Beet Harvester
From Beet Machinery
ROPA has launched its new much asked for 2-axle beet harvester: ROPA Panther. The new model features the latest developments of ROPA's sugar beet topper/harvester resulting in a better yield and daily performance, advanced controls and innovative self-levelling system. Ideal for UK contractors, the new Panther is designed for unloading into trailers whilst on the move. The unique self-levelling frame ensures both a smooth ride and an amazing stable platform for beet lifting / flow through the machine into trailers.
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Product Details
4 hydraulic cylinders provide automated slope adjustment keeping euro-Panther level on slopes while the lifting unit guides itself by following the land contours. Panther incorporates the superb lifting unit from the larger euro Tiger, the world’s bestselling tanker harvester. Lifting units are available with fixed row widths, harvesting 6, 8 or 9 rows. A 6-row variable unit is also available with 45 cm and 50 cm widths.
It has a 28 m³ tank with ultrasound sensors on both front and back to ensure even distribution monitored on a coloured terminal inside the newly designed cabin which also features ROPA’s latest touch screen technology.
Stealth in the beet field: a Lincolnshire operator’s views on the Panther
Paul Rhodes has driven beet harvesters since 1992, including most of the major brands. He has two objectives: “The quality of the harvesting is paramount to guarantee repeat contracts next year… and I like to get home each night in reasonable physical condition!”
Glanford Beet Ltd of Hibaldstow, near Brigg, Lincolnshire lift up to 2500 acres of beet between Barton on Humber, Gainsborough, Grimsby and Lincoln. They are the first contactor to operate ROPA’s two axle Panther beet harvester and happily Paul is achieving both his objectives!
“I have wanted a ROPA for some time but our acreage could not justify a three axle Tiger so the Panther has been a welcome option. We spent three days at the German factory getting familiar with the controls and within the first day of lifting I had settled into them.
“After sales support is a major concern for beet harvester operators and CTM’s has been fantastic. Late one day we had a small problem with Adblu. AdrianMountain, their Service Manager, can out straight away and worked into the late hours. At 1.30 am we were lifting again!”
“The Panther is engineered very, very well” says Paul “as you would expect from a German harvester. Turning is fantastic. Thanks to its articulated design it can practically turn within its own length easily coping with 30ft headlands. The auto levelling and slope compensation copes well with the steep gradients of the Lincolnshire Wolds”.
“The self-steering and row guidance works well and I can clearly see the sheers from my cab thanks to LED lighting across the full width of the lifter. The sheers themselves are automatically kept at a constant distance from lifting rollers and maintain good depth control even in hard soil conditions. The tungsten coated knives are kept clear of the ground at all times so wear is minimal and scalping is consistently good. I can see from my monitor that the beet is handled well by the turbines and I can vary the turbine speed and gate height as I go along to suit conditions”.
“We were able to start work early in hard soil conditions thanks to the pressure I can apply to the individual shares, keeping them in the ground. Each is stone protected.”
Paul particularly appreciates the positioning of the discharge elevator well forward on the 28 m³ tank which means less turning in his seat and saves him a crick in his neck! The tank itself is fitted with ultrasound sensors front and back to ensure even distribution. On the subject of physical wellbeing Paul is also appreciative of the cab’s very effective soundproofing.
Ground compaction is always a sensitive subject for the growers and Panther has been designed for good weight distribution and traction in all conditions, aided by the latest Michelin Ultraflex tyres, front and rear which can be run at lower bar for lower ground pressure and a larger footprint. By ‘crabbing’ down the field, the following wheels avoid the wheeelings of the lead wheels.
Weight distribution is a major design feature and gives near 50/50 front and rear distribution when the beet tank is full, reducing strain and pressure on the axles and land.
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