Potato Review

52 POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2022 MACHINERY Structural 4000 available with new features DEWULF, manufacturer of machinery for potato and root crop cultivation, has unveiled new innovations for the Structural 4000 within its planting range. The four-rowMiedema Structural belt planter is now available as Smart-Float, previously known for the CP 42 cup planter. The updated combination allows for greater control over the total weight distribution and soil pressure and is made possible by an automatic depth control system (Smart-Float). Because the tractor can pull much lower, the weight is distributed evenly across the four tyres of the tractor and movements made to cultivate the soil do not affect the position of the planter. The intermediate piece, the lifting pack, ensures that in this renewed set-up you can adjust the angle as desired. The manufacturer says it is also easy to perform adjustments, as the cultivation depth can be controlled automatically from the cabin, plus the planting depth and the height of the ridging hood from the machine. If desired, the rotary cultivator can be replaced with a rotary harrow or the rotary cultivator raised entirely to temporarily stop cultivating. These options enable users to perform personalised planting with a renewed and homologated Structural 4000 even more than before. As a second innovation, a portal steering system has been introduced for the Structural 4000. The pivoting axles and shorter wheelbase make the machine more manoeuvrable and easier to steer. In this way, the machine can turn over 35 degrees instead of the usual eight degrees. This setup also ensures maximum precision in following the predefined track. The Structural 4000 with portal steering is available with an integrated box tippler (momentarily only homologated in the Netherlands) and the standard bunker. MACHINERY COMPANY PURCHASED FARM equipment supplier Standen Engineering Ltd has purchased Salmac Ltd. Standen Engineering and Salmac, which specialises in the supply and support of vegetable, salad and fruit machinery for growers, have shared a mutual working relationship since January 2020. Over the past two years they have shared sales teams and allowed Standen to offer more niche imports brands to its established UK and Republic Of Ireland customer base. Salmac Ltd has been running for around 18 years. Its Managing Director of Salmac, Tom Jones, has more than 30 years in the industry and will stay on for a period of time as a consultant during the transfer of the business before moving on to pursue other interests.