Power and flexibility for the onion and potato harvest

Ever more farmers and contractors are relying on the ROPA Keiler for harvesting onions.

In addition to the gentle separator units, the "one-man" quick-change system for changing from ridge to swath pick-up in just a few minutes is a special unique selling point among potato harvesters. An especially practical solution for potato farmers who also grow onions and red beets who may need to change their pickup system several times a day. This is how things go on this farm in Bavaria, which has been using a ROPA Tiger for onion harvesting for many years. In the meantime, the ROPA Keiler has been added to the fleet, and it is used flexibly in the potato and onion harvest.

Visit to Thomas Batz with the Keiler 2 Classic

At the beginning of September 2021, we visited Thomas Batz and his family during the potato harvest. This family operation is in Landkreis Eichstätt in Bavaria. In addition to grain and sugar beets, the primary crop there is table potatoes, and they also grow potatoes for the cultivation of seed stock. In total, they plant approximately 60 hectares of potatoes.
A gentle harvest is extremely important for the sale of the table potatoes. "Our table potatoes are washed and sent to various packing operations, which is why our potatoes have to be perfect." explained Thomas Batz. The same applies for the seed potatoes since damaged tubers can introduce pathogens and viruses.
To fulfill these high demands for the potato harvest, in 2020, Thomas Batz selected the ROPA Keiler 2 Classic. Another reason for this farmer to purchase a ROPA machine was proximity to the company and to a dealer he trusts, the company Bachmaier in Menning. "ROPA and Bachmaier, with whom I have only had good experiences, are almost directly next door, which is what made the selection of a ROPA Keiler easy."
This year, the ROPA Keiler will serve its second harvest season for Thomas Batz. Looking back, the farmer was won over by the technnology, long service life, and quality of the ROPA machine. He hasn't had to avail himself of the purchase-critical customer service yet "since the harvester has not had any problems the whole time."

The Rettenberger family's farm is in Dillingen, in the beautiful Egau Valley, and consists of two parts: their own farm and a contracting company.
Johann Rettenberger selected a ROPA Keiler 2 with 4-hedgehog separating system. So that dirt and clumps do not stick to the bunker, the Rettenberger family uses a Silver Edition for the bunker.
With the ROPA Keiler, they would like to harvest mainly starch potatoes, as well as french fry potatoes on their own farm. In addition, the ROPA Keiler will be used for contracting for the Rettenberger family's customers.

The potato cooperative Regensburg Ost has been harvesting with a Keiler 2 since 2019. For Georg Kramer and Markus Peutl, a gentle potato harvest and harvest quality are foremost. On largely homogeneous fields along the Danube, they know how to exploit the potential of the fully hydraulic drive. The individual sieve conveyors, pintle belts, deflector rollers and UFK are set gently and individually with the goal of maximum product protection. Furthermore, they report that the machine is quiet and that there is much less noise on the sorting conveyor.