Stepless Drive Helps Beet Harvesters Compete (.PDF Download)

May 20, 2017
Stepless Drive Helps Beet Harvesters Compete (.PDF Download)

A combination of global market factors, both in agriculture and in biosciences, is growing opportunities for beet farmers. On the food side, beet sugar has grown to represent more than half of U.S. sugar production, while in parts of Canada, processing co-ops are creating new markets for both new and established beet farmers. Meanwhile, acreage devoted to sugar beets in the EU is expanding, putting the European market on the road to becoming a net exporter of sugar. On the commodities side, the growing world market for sustainable materials will lead to an increasing demand for beet pulp to be used for producing bio-plastics.

All this means that beets will be harvested in increasingly diverse environments—not just tropical climes, but also where temperature and growing conditions can vary widely. That requires harvesting equipment that can be equally productive under all environments—even where terrain is uneven, such as on hillside farms.

The Tiger 5 sugar beet harvester exemplifies the next generation of equipment to be put to work under such increasingly diverse conditions.  This 15-meter-tall machine’s stepless drivetrain and hydraulics enable sure-footed operation, even on slopes. Its engine can perform at 617 hp with displacement of 15.6 l, and can propel it at up to 40 km per hour when empty. Under load it can support a curb weight of 33 tons, and a payload of more than 30 tons.