At the largest agricultural technology trade show in France, Sima in Paris, the ROPA France team presented the latest sugar beet and potato harvesting technology, as well as Albach chipper. The two new sugar beet lifters Tiger 6 and Panther 2 celebrated their premiere at Sima. The heart of both models in the new design is the new 700 hp or 768 hp Volvo engine with pump-nozzle injection and 16.12 liter capacity. The ROPA Keiler potato harvester won people over with its high-quality processing, fully hydraulic drive, and numerous technical unique selling points.
Premiere of the ROPA Tiger 6
The ROPA Tiger 6, the most powerful sugar beet lifter in the world, was awarded a gold medal for innovation for its overall design at the Agrosalon trade fair. The heart of the machine is the new 700 hp or 768 hp engine with pump-nozzle injection and 16.12 liter capacity. Compared to the Tiger 5, power has been increased to 105 kW (142 hp). The new machine design has a perfectly integrated drive system with automatic slope compensation and is extremely gentle on the soil. The more powerful bunker-emptying mechanism provides faster truck loading on the move. The comfort cabin with glass touch terminal, WLAN interface and numerous automatic programs offers top driving comfort for the best lifting results.
Stepless transmission for efficient power transfer
The new stepless traction drive was specifically developed by ROPA, Omsi and Bosch Rexroth for the ROPA Tiger with its high drive power. The "constant variable ROPA" transmission (CVR) consists of three hydraulic motors on a compound gearbox and is located between the engine compartment and the third axle. The maximum speed of 40 km/h can be reached by the Tiger 6 at an extremely economical 1195 rpm. Harvesting in the field can be performed at an engine speed of only 1,100 rpm. Depending on power requirements the rotational speed of the Tiger is automatically regulated up to 1,650 rpm. The multi-disk differential brakes integrated into the axles (protected from dirt) running in an oil bath "tame" the Tiger as required.
Reduced rpm up to 40 km/h, continuously variable and no torque interruption.
Highlight!! – Cabin and operating concept of the ROPA Tiger 6 sugar beet harvester
The redesigned and very spacious R-Cab driver's cabin has been significantly upgraded and is suspended on hydrobushings. The focal point is on the driver, who has the best overview of the redeveloped PR2 lifting unit from a physiologically appropriate and comfortable seating position.
The easy-care, pleasant and attractive interior of the new cabin guarantees the most comfortable operation. There are generously dimensioned shelves, storage compartments and plenty of space around the driver. A cooler and the integrated seat ventilation for hot days and seat heater for colder weather are standard equipment. Extremely powerful fully LED working lights turn night into day.
Ergonomics and comfort with the driver at the center.
Premiere of the ROPA Panther 2
ROPA is pushing forward with the new model of the two-axle beet lifter into a new performance dimension. Sporty modern design with maneuverability and agility combines with a "workhorse" in the new Panther 2 for pure pleasure when lifting beets. There are sufficient power reserves for the most extreme lifting conditions, and using XL lifting attachment demonstrates the centerpiece of it all: the new 700 hp or 768 hp Volvo inline engine with pump-nozzle injection and 16.12 liter capacity. The award winning and soil-protecting chassis system with roll stabilization and automatic slope compensation have been flawlessly integrated into the new machine design. The unloading conveyor derived from the Tiger 6 with a more powerful hopper emptying facilitates quicker loading while driving. The new comfort cabin with the R-Concept operating philosophy and touch terminal along with the numerous automatic programs is the basis for outstanding driving comfort and the best lifting results.
Enlarged cleaning area
In accordance with the higher engine power, the cleaning power has also been adapted in the Panther 2. The RR lifting attachment has an additional seventh lifting roller included and therefore offers a cleaning area which is over 15 per cent larger. A wider inlet to the infeed web channel guarantees an even quicker beet flow to the enlarged strainer wheel area. After the first strainer wheel with 68-inch diameter, two more follow, each with a diameter of 61 inches, before the beets are moved gently into the 39-inch wide bunker elevator.
Extremely long unload conveyor
The new extremely long unloading conveyor was based on the length and concept of the Tiger 6. It is located between both axles, directly after the articulated joint. When loading on trailers driving alongside, the transfer angle is shallower. The unloading conveyer is 63 inches wide and foldable in 3 places. By basing this on the construction of the Tiger 6, the height could be further reduced despite the increased loading width - a major advantage for lifting using a power supply line. The bunker unloading, which compared to the Panther 1 is even more powerful, ensures faster loading on the move. Gentle polyurethane fingers guarantee high feeding capacity with short unloading times of as little as 50 seconds with a full beet bunker holding around 39 cubic yards. The automatic bunker filling allows optimum traction under all harvest conditions by excellent weight distribution. Two ultrasound sensors measure the bunker loads and therefore the load, and save it in the impact database.
Roll stabilization with fully automatic wheel load and slope compensation
The Panther 2 has, like its predecessor, an innovative chassis concept with 2 floating axles in conjunction with 4 stabilizing cylinders. Compared to conventional chassis of 2-axle beet harvesters this reduces the sway of machine by 50 per cent. The reason for the improvement is the hydraulic connection of the stabilizing cylinders at the front and rear axles on one side, so unevenness at one wheel at a different level only affects the frame by 50% compared to the previous system. Thanks to the reduction of the chassis swing, the row and depth control is improved simultaneously, as the frame is averaged to the position of both axles.
ROPA Keiler potato harvester
Innovations in potato technology
At Sima, ROPA presented new wizard systems and additional optional ISOBUS functions for the Keiler potato harvester. Additional attachments for the fully hydraulic drive enable the user to save user-defined machine settings for adjustment to specific field conditions or when switching between table potatoes and starch potatoes. The optional automatic sieve conveyor controls the cleaning elements based on speed. A minimum and maximum speed can be set and the ratio between minimum and maximum can be adjusted. The intelligent automatic overload system is derived from the Tiger sugar beet harvester and reliably prevents the potato harvester from overrunning. The AUX-N function allows harvesting functions to be actuated with the tractor joystick or by additional controls. The Basic task controller records the field documentation for output to the field file in the ISO-XML file format.
ROPA Maus 5
The Maus 5 is impressive with the redesigned R-Concept cabin. Based on the proven euro-Maus 4, the R-Concept, already familiar from Panther and Tiger 5, has been integrated and supplemented with numerous comfort functions. With an overall design that combines capacity and efficiency with the 10.2 m wide pickup system and offers practice-oriented developments and the latest technical innovations. The counterweight arm, over 9 meters long, guarantees absolute stability even with the truck loader at maximum width.
Albach chipper
As the general importer for the company Albach in France, ROPA France presented the Diamant 2000. In France, 85 Albach chippers are already in use. High power, excellent torque, and low speed: the Volvo engine design and the chipping and driving properties of the self-driving chipper suit one another optimally. The Diamant 2000 draws its power from the 768 hp/565 kW Volvo engine, as do the ROPA Tiger 6 and Panther 2 harvesters. With a maximum road speed of 70 km/h, the chipper has now been approved for road travel in France.
Here, we in Sittelsdorf would like to like to praise the whole ROPA France team and thank them for the lovingly and beautifully designed ROPA booth at Sima! The booth was planned and built completely single-handedly. Special thanks to our carpenter Werner Raab for his help with the construction of the wood house!
