Machinery in practical operation and personal encounters characterised ROPA's trade fair presence on 9 and 10 September at Rittergut Gestorf 1 in Springe near Hanover. From potato planting through harvesting and storage to sugar beet loading, ROPA showcased a comprehensive machinery range for professional farms and contractors. At the stand and during the field demonstrations, visitors were able to get to know the machines up close and discuss their requirements with the ROPA team.
The combination of exhibited machinery and practical operation made it easy to understand how the individual solutions work together in day-to-day use. Alongside output and gentle harvesting, the focus was also on precise operation, driver relief and adaptability to varying operating conditions.
Potato technology
Planting technology with Leguan and GECKO at the ROPA stand
ROPA Leguan
With the ROPA Leguan, ROPA presented its latest development in potato planting technology. Following extensive field trials of the first prototypes, the machine will enter pre-series production for Central Europe for the 2027 season. Its concept combines precise planting work with efficient control and a high level of operating comfort.
The planting units are driven entirely electrically via brushless servo motors. Together with the integrated 48 V on-board electrical system and the CAN bus control, this provides the basis for highly precise speed control and accurately adjustable planting distances. Precision farming functions such as Section Control, Variable Rate Control and Tramline Control allow the planting work to be adjusted with precision. Planting units, the seed treatment system and the micro-granule applicator can be controlled individually on a GPS basis. Automatic depth guidance via ultrasonic sensors helps maintain a consistent planting depth even under changing soil conditions.
ROPA Gecko
In addition, the ROPA GECKO was on display as a planter for pre-sprouted potatoes. A haulm topper and a windrow pickup rounded off the exhibition programme. The windrow pickup illustrated the versatility of the Keiler range: with the ROPA quick-change system, the range of application can be adapted to different crops and harvesting methods, for example onions, carrots or celery.
Lifting technology in practical operation
During the potato demonstrations, ROPA presented three machines with different areas of focus: the single-row trailed Keiler 1, the Keiler 2 RK22 DoubleSelect with an additional picking station, an additional trash track and overloading bunker, and the Keiler 2 RK22 Classic with XL bunker. This range covered everything from the compact premium single-row harvester to two-row harvesting technology for high throughput.
ROPA Keiler
The Keiler 2 RK22 range combines high lifting performance with gentle separation and thoughtful operation. Its equipment includes the fully hydraulic drive, ISOBUS operation via a 12-inch CCI 1200 terminal and large-volume 850/50 R30.5 tyres. The telescopic axle enables a transport width of 3.00 m and a working width of 3.50 m in the field. Automatic hydraulic slope compensation helps ensure even cleaning performance on side slopes. The standard bunker holds 7.5 t, while the XL bunker on the Keiler 2 RK22 Classic holds 8 t.
One technical highlight was the Keiler 2 RK22 DoubleSelect. Its additional triple UFK unit on strainer wheel 2 increases separation performance, particularly under cloddy and stony soil conditions. Early separation of clods and stones relieves the downstream cleaning elements and reduces damage to the potatoes. The DoubleSelect is available with an optional additional picking station and trash track, also in combination with the XL bunker or overloading bunker. Each UFK unit can optionally be equipped with rotating brushes (UBK).
In Springe, the DoubleSelect was demonstrated with the overloading bunker. An additional transfer roller and a sieve conveyor in the truck conveyor provide further soil removal. Since the overloading arm and bunker floor can be metered separately, the material flow can be controlled with great sensitivity. The demonstration illustrated the gentle transfer to transport vehicles while on the move.
The Keiler 2 RK22 Classic with XL bunker added a variant to the demonstration programme whose strengths lie in high throughput and on soils suitable for sieving, for example in the enriched process. Another highlight was the new intelligent trailing steering system for the Keiler 2 RK22. It steers the trailing axle autonomously, allowing the harvester to follow the tractor precisely on track and supporting the driver when reversing. This makes work at the headland and manoeuvring easier. The intelligent trailing steering system can be retrofitted to all ROPA Keiler 2 RK22 models.
Storage technology from Bijlsma Hercules
ROPA mapped out the post-harvest process chain together with technology from Bijlsma Hercules. As sales and service partner in Germany, ROPA presented solutions for cleaning, sorting, loading and storage. The stand featured, among other things, a clod and stone separator as well as a crate filler. A loading line from Bijlsma Hercules complemented the programme in the adjoining area.
This allowed visitors to follow the potato's journey from the field right through to storage. A consistent material flow, reliable separation of foreign matter and gentle crate filling were just as much in focus as efficient loading. The solutions on display demonstrated how gentle product handling can be continued well beyond the harvest itself.
Sugar beet technology
Maus 6 in cleaning and loading operation
ROPA Maus 6
During sugar beet loading, the ROPA Maus 6 demonstrated the interplay of high-performance cleaning, controlled material flow and driver comfort. The demonstration machine was provided by Maschinengemeinschaft Calenberger Land GmbH.
The 10.20 m wide pickup system works with 18 cleaning rollers. Cleaning intensity can be fully adjusted from the cab, and the overloading width is up to 15 m. Balance during loading operation is ensured by the counterweight arm, which can be extended out more than 9 m.
The height-adjustable comfort cabin offers all-round visibility and supports the driver with two 12.1-inch R-Touch terminals, a digital camera system and an integrated weighing system with CAN bus load cells. For road transport, the Maus 6 folds down fully automatically to a transport width of 3.00 m and an overall length of 14.97 m. Travel speed is up to 40 km/h.
Tiger 6S in lifting operation
ROPA Tiger 6S
ROPA demonstrated the Tiger 6S in lifting operation. This self-propelled, three-axle sugar beet harvester stands for field-proven top performance, extremely high operational reliability and maximum soil protection. The self-propelled, three-axle harvester was provided by Rübenrodegemeinschaft Külf GbR and demonstrated the ROPA concept for high harvesting performance combined with consistent soil protection.
Power is provided by the Volvo Penta TWD1683VE, with 16.12 litres of displacement, 796 hp (585 kW) and a maximum torque of 3,650 Nm. As much as 3,550 Nm is already available from 1,000 rpm. These power reserves enable smooth, fuel-efficient operation at low engine speeds, even under changing harvesting conditions.
The patented chassis featuring R-Soil Protect, R-Balance and automatic slope compensation combines high traction with soil protection. On side slopes of up to 10 per cent, the chassis can be held hydraulically level. This reduces ground pressure and track depth while also improving ride comfort and slope stability. R-Trim for automatic defoliator height adjustment and R-Contour for automatic adjustment of the individual row coulter depth help ensure consistent harvesting quality. Two 12.1-inch operating terminals as well as R-Connect telematics and remote diagnostics round off the specification.
Taurus working in tandem with the Tiger 6S
ROPA Taurus
How harvest logistics in the field affect the performance of the harvester was demonstrated by the Taurus working alongside the Tiger 6S. The overloading vehicle was provided by Zuckerrübenrodegemeinschaft Mansfelder Land GbR. It takes on large quantities of beet while on the move, allowing the harvester to continue working without interruption.
With a bunker volume of around 50 m³, the patented chassis featuring R-Soil Protect, crab steering and 1000-size Michelin tyres, the Taurus is designed for high output and soil protection. As the harvester no longer needs to stop to unload at the pile, its performance can be increased. The lateral unload conveyor allows piles to be created in the usual way without additional compaction beneath the pile. The robust scraper floor technology and the proven unload conveyor allow the bunker to be completely emptied in around 50 seconds.
Customer closeness and hospitality at the ROPA stand
As varied as the technical highlights in Springe were, for ROPA the focus was on the people who work with the machines every day. Direct customer contact, personal conversations and open exchange hold a special place at ROPA. This close, collaborative partnership generates important impulses for continuously developing machines further and adapting them to customers' needs. The trade fair provided the ideal setting for this: experiencing machinery in action, discussing questions directly and sharing practical experience with one another.
This closeness also characterised the hospitality at the stand. Juicy steaks and Bavarian sausages were grilled for customers and the team alike. The entire team pitched in, including staff from customer service, development and sales. The two managing directors, Dr Eberhard Krayl and Dr Josef Weinzel, also put on Keiler aprons and grilled for the customers and the whole team. This gave visitors a chance to get to know the people behind the machines on a personal level, beyond the technical discussions.
On the evening of the first day of the fair, the sense of togetherness continued at the stand party, to which all customers were warmly invited. The day drew to a close over shared food and conversation in a relaxed atmosphere. Amid the impressions from the demonstrations and the personal exchanges, there was still time for what underpins a true partnership: listening to one another and getting to know each other beyond technical details.
ROPA would like to thank all customers and visitors for the encounters in Springe, the machine syndicates for providing the demonstration machinery, and the entire team for their commitment. What remains are machines that brought their technology to life in the field, and a trade fair stand that made people want to stay a little longer.