Puma 4.0 offers lower consumption and better harvesting quality

For the 2023 season, global farm equipment supplier AVR is planning a major upgrade of the actuation method of the All Conditions Control (ACC) digging unit’s depth control mechanism. With the ACC digging unit, users can harvest either using diabolos or probes, without exerting any pressure on the ridge.

Following thorough review, the control technology responsible for depth control when harvesting using probes is now a lot more accurate. This means the digging unit, and as a consequence the whole machine, can be operated with more stability than ever.

Immediate advantages for the user include:

• More comfort for the driver: the control performs very well under all circumstances (e.g. in case of spray tracks, on inclined terrains etc.), making manual intervention no longer necessary
• More precise control also improves harvesting quality. A potato harvester’s performance is largely determined by the accuracy of the harvesting depth. Harvesting should not be too deep or too shallow, and the less soil enters the harvester, the less processing is required. This reduces the load on the machine, resulting in a higher harvesting speed, less wear and a lower fuel consumption per hectare
• At higher speeds, the control – and as a consequence the whole machine – remains remarkably stable.

All of these advantages are offered by the AVR Comfort Drive, found in the new Puma 4.0. Meanwhile, each Puma is also equipped with the necessary modules for machine connectivity, including AVR Connect.

AVR Connect is an online reporting tool for all machine activities and a repository for both on- and off-field machine data. AVR Connect makes more data available to users, enabling a more effective use of machines and resources. Users can also monitor machines remotely, and there are options for remote diagnosis.

What’s more, AVR offers an optional Trimble NAV900 GPS sphere ex-factory, including a one-year RTX precision subscription. Precision GPS is a must for accurately collecting data, such as yield measurement at the Puma’s picking-off table.

Lastly, at a time when fuel prices remain record high, Puma’s fuel consumption is very low owing to its efficient Volvo engine, sophisticated hydraulic system, lightweight construction and large tire sizes.

This is especially the case when harvesting occurs at slower speeds, such as 1,250 rpm. For example, based on data from all connected Puma 4.0s, the average consumption per engine hour (not just harvesting hours) was 27.6-litres/hr for the 2022 harvesting season.