Dewulf has updated the crop cleaning options on its flagship Kwatro Xtreme potato harvester range, promising kinder handling and less quality-knocking tuber damage.

The Kwatro has been on the market since 2010 and the present, second generation was launched in 2016 to cater for growers who plant in 4x90cm, 4x34in, 4x36in or 180cm beds.

Its major selling point is an unrestricted sieving path, which consists of a straight hedgehog unit, immediately followed by a single Flexyclean cleaning assembly.

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With demand for potato-friendly alternative cleaning options high, the Belgian root crop machinery specialist has updated its system to improve product flow.

These options will be available as two new Kwatro variants, under the name Kwatro Xtreme Flow.

Neither will have a hedgehog unit – instead, crop cleaning is achieved by two sieving conveyors and a third, shorter version that is immediately followed by the cleaning module.

Without an integrated hedgehog unit, the Kwatro Xtreme Flow results in no change in direction of potato flow, reducing the likelihood of tuber damage, says the firm.

Cleaning module

In addition to the removal of the hedgehog unit, there has been a redesign of the cleaning module – with two configurations now available.

The double Easyclean module consists of seven active smooth cleaning rollers alternated with nine Easyclean rollers.

To work as precisely and delicately as possible, the Easyclean module is divided into two groups of linked, active smooth cleaning rollers, the first having four and the second three.

A new mechanical regulation system allows users to control the speed, height, opening and direction of rotation of each group of drive rollers separately.

The speed of the Easyclean rollers can also be managed from the cabin. The amount of cleaning can be set by adjusting the inclination of the module between zero and 12deg.

This setup is tailor-made for dry conditions with clods.

Wet conditions

For those plagued by wet conditions at harvest, there is now a second configuration to choose from, and it combines 36 axial rollers with the Easyclean unit.

The speed of the axial rollers is adjustable and, together with the inclination of the Easyclean unit, adjustable between 0 and 12deg.

In turn, the Easyclean module is fitted with two active smooth cleaning rollers alternated with three Easyclean rollers.

Again, the speed, height, opening and direction of rotation of the drive rollers, as well as the speed of the Easyclean rollers can be adjusted from the cabin to accommodate the conditions.

All other aspects of the front harvesting self-propelled Kwatro Xtreme remains, including its market-leading 11t bunker capacity. 

For performance in wet conditions, it also relies on Claas’s 900mm track system combined with a single rear-steered wheel, which offers good manoeuverability and a low maximum ground pressure of 1.4 kg/sq cm.