Potato equipment innovation on show

Many of the leading potato machinery manufacturers will be exhibiting their latest developments at the ADAS Syngenta Potato Conference and Exhibition in November, with technological innovations covering the whole growing season - from seed to stored tuber sales.

The UK’s major potato industry event for 2012, supported by the Potato Council, will take place at Newark Showground on Thursday 22nd November. The event features a conference addressing key industry topics, alongside the extensive potato machinery and agronomy exhibition.

Herbert Engineering will be showcasing its new Oculus sorting technology for the first time in the UK. The exceptional accuracy of the system’s 360º colour camera vision offers more efficient and accurate sorting, including better detection of greens through the use of infrared cameras. It also enables easier maintenance and more efficient hygiene control, said Herbert Engineering Marketing Director, Jo Herbert.

“This new technology will enable growers and processors to achieve a better and more consistent quality of product, identify rejects more effectively and minimise production downtime,” she added. “After the difficult growing season and challenging market conditions this year, the Oculus gives growers the opportunity to grade and select more effectively and efficiently to optimise returns they achieve from every field. We welcome the opportunity for the Progressive Potato Conference and Exhibition to demonstrate how it can help them to deliver.”

The Haith Group will also be showing the company’s revolutionary new de-stoner, washer, polisher and drier. Designed to present the perfect finished product, the compact unit can be built into a self-contained system to collect and recycle washing water to minimise costs and environmental impact.


At the other end of the growing cycle, Team Sprayers will be exhibiting the latest developments in seed treatment applicators. Team Sales Manager, Danny Hubbard, highlighted trials have shown that existing on-farm spinning disc applicators typically achieve less than 50% surface treatment of tubers, compared to the company’s new CTC2 applicator with rotating nozzle and airflow fans that can consistently increase seed treatment deposition on tubers by 40%.

“More even and complete coverage of the seed tubers will help to get the best performance from the exciting new seed treatment, Maxim, as well as other liquid seed treatments,” he advised. “The Potato Conference and Exhibition gives us the valuable opportunity to talk to seed producers, seed companies, contractors and growers.”