Two of the biggest names in the UK potato industry came together to launch a new mobile on-farm washing rental service at last month’s Potato Days UK event.
Above: The new washer is proving extremely popular, says Duane Hill
Below: The Haith mobile washer is available to rent or to buy
Haith and Grimme UK teamed up to unveiled the latest high-capacity Haith mobile vegetable washer at the new industry event held at Dyson Farming’s site in Norton, near Lincoln, on 4-5th September.
“Last year, Grimme UK offered our mobile washer to selected customers on a rental basis, which proved incredibly popular,” said Haith managing director Duane Hill.
Good demand
“In fact, there was so much demand for the service that after Grimme UK sold the rental unit, they immediately bought a second mobile washer so growers could continue to use it on a rental basis.”
Alongside the rental option on the Haith washer, Mr Hill said Grimme UK was helping growers bypass factory lead times by having stock machines available to buy immediately.
Haith developed its first mobile washing system in 1979 to help farmers supplying crisp and chip factories deliver a clean washed sample, free from stones and foreign objects.
Today, the latest Haith washers boast many innovative features to deliver low cost running such as high efficiency motors and automatic sludge removal to reduce water usage.
Easy to run
Available on a chassis that can be towed by a tractor or HGV, the washer features an integral stone separation system and an automatic sludge and floating waste system on the outfeed for the removal of hollow heart potatoes, wood, plastic, or any other foreign material.
To ensure machine longevity and ease of maintenance, a special shaft sealing system allows all bearings to be mounted externally. This makes them easily accessible for servicing and extends their life, unlike some machines on the market with bearings running underwater.
The automatic sludge removal system is helps keep water usage to a minimum and contains waste. An HMI touchscreen enables the operator to adjust and control the whole system from one point. CCTV can be fitted to allow the operative to monitor crop flow from the inspection cabin.
Haith and Grimme UK entered into a strategic working agreement in 2020 to deliver complete solutions to their customers. This agreement allows them to easily and efficiently source vegetable handling equipment and in-field root crop and vegetable machinery.
Latest generation box filler delivered
Fenland farmers FF Goose & Sons have taken delivery of Haith’s latest box filler – which removes the need for a cross-conveyor and uses one less drop point at Whaplode Drove, near Spalding, Lincolnshire.
Designed to work across the end of a 2400mm-wide (eight-foot) grader, the Supa Fill 600 Pro XL offers several innovative features, including a patented three variable speed belt system for gentle crop transition.
Haith has also replaced the shaft-mounted motor gearbox units with powered drum motors, and a positive drive rack and pinion arrangement has been used instead of the traditional chain and sprocket transmission.
The result of these innovations is a box filler that can handle up to 60 boxes per hour, which is achieved as one box filling conveyor can be lowered into position while the opposite side is filling. Single belt machines cannot deliver this.
Haith developed the XL version of the Supa Fill 600 PRO at the request of David Goose, who grows potatoes, onions, brassicas and cereals in partnership with wife Julia and daughters Holly and Nenah.
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