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THECOMMERCIAL GREENHOUSEGROWER • MARCH 2017
• IPMMACHINERY
described as a scaled-down version (3.5mwidewhereas
the original version is 8-9m). Also, while the Ter-a-spacer is
designed for handling plants outdoors, the LITE version is for
smaller growersworking in greenhouses.
The camera-guided system, navigates following yellow stripes
on the ground, and should it lose a stripe then themachine
stops automatically. Capable of handling up to 30,000-40,000
x 10cmpots/hour, with a claimed placement accuracy of
2-3mm, most of the fivemachines delivered last year work in
theNetherlands.
Visser Horti Systems took thewraps off a new version of its
Roulette XL fully automatic drum seeder. Called theRoulette
LSL (LongSide Leading), the newcomer is largely based
on the existing XL, themain difference being the 60cmbelt
width (XL 40cm). This provides the possibility to feed the trays
sideways (lengthways only on the XL), which results in a higher
capacity of up to 1,500 trays/hour (XL 800-1,000).
At IPM a year ago, Visser Horti Systems launched the Pic-
O-Mat transplanter. New this year is the Pic-O-Mat Vision.
Fittedwith a new type of gripper, plants are placed in front
of a camera to seewhich ones are suitable for transplanting.
Eliminating the need for gapping up plants afterwards, the
system is availablewith 12, 16 or 20 grippers to pick up a full
row of plugs from a tray. The latter is for growersworkingwith
2-4ha of glass.
MartinStolzeB.V. showed the concept of a new and simply
designed and simple to operate spacing fork. Known simply
as theStolzeSpacing Fork, the demomodel on showwas a
lot more compact than the real machine, which is 2-3mwide
x 1.8m long. One of the big features of the design is that the
loosening of a single bolt is sufficient to allow users to change
between different pot sizes. Also available as a fixed fork, test
units of both versions have successfully operatedwith two
growers, and the company says themachine is now ready for
a commercial launch. £POA.
Dutch firm Javo has a reputation of launching a flurry of new
machines at IPM, and this year’s event was no exception.
Included among themwas a completely redesigned version of
the PPU2.0, which offers a solution for automatic placing of
round and square pots onto transport wagons.
Another interesting development concerns the 2017 version
of theStandard2.0 pottingmachine, and amachine that can
trace its roots back 50 years to 1967! This year’s spec of the
popular machine features a newdrive system, which results
in faster speeds of up to 8,000 pots/hour. Available through
UK agents, Hortec, theStandard 2.0 is suitable for nearly all
pot sizes from5.5 to 25cm, thewidened soil elevating system
ensures a constant compost supply from the 1,000lit capacity
hopper.
Plus, therewere two prototypes on Javo’s stand. The first was
theUltra, an automatic pottingmachine for pot sizes of up to
80cm! Based on theSuper, theUltra can handle asmany as
1,000 pots an hour.
The company is not yet ready tomake toomuch noise about
the second prototype, but visitors could see a couple of units
from Javo’s first seeder.We are informed the concept is like
TheYPS16 (YoungPlant Sorter) isdescribedas thefirst step inFlier Systems’ controlledgrowingapproach.
