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Nexat a 270-degree rotating cab allows the unit to be driven manually between jobs and a prime position for monitoring in the paddock.
While popular in horticultural operations for harvesting over the past few decades, many growers have switched from gantry layouts in favour of very large self-propelled machines.
German company Kalverkamp is now looking to give the gantry a new lease of life. It recently took out the only gold medal for innovation offered by the Agritechnica Event.
Featuring autonomous operation, an electrical power source and modular construction – allowing operating widths from 6 to 24 metres – the machine can take care of tasks including cultivating, drilling, spraying and harvesting.
Called Nexat (next generation agricultural technology), a 270-degree rotating cab allows the unit to be driven manually between jobs and a prime position for process monitoring in the paddock.
While hydrogen power is planned for the future, currently the vehicle is fitted with twin 545hp (400kW) diesel engines that power electrical generators. This in turn powers the four rubber tracks, which rotate through 90 degrees for transport.
With the NexCo combine harvester module fitted, the vehicle is said to offer outputs of 130- 200 tonnes/hr, using a 5.8m-long dual axial rotor mounted transversely to the direction of travel, and a cutting width of 14 metres.
A 32 cubic metre grain tank is said to be large enough for most paddocks, with a 600 litre/ second unloading speed taking around one minute to empty at the headland.
Several manufacturers are involved in the development of implements for the system, such as Swedish company Väderstad, alongside German sprayer builder Damman.
Twin rotor swathers have become the ‘go-to’ for forming swaths to feed hungry harvesters and balers, however, the design layout often means that crop located between the two rotors is not picked up, turned over or incorporated into the swath formed for subsequent harvesting.
Operating large tractors became more expensive back in March due to the ongoing Strait of Hormuz conflict, meaning contractors had to introduce fuel surcharges and farmers had to adjust their budget forecasts.
Close to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, Motueka is known for apples, pear and kiwifruit orchards, alongside specialised crops such as hops. Indeed, that specialisation, saw the area being the New Zealand centre of the tobacco growing, until the early 1980s.
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Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
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Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
