The Italian company Dari Ecomeccanica has patented a new cutting system and a new harvesting machine for lamb's lettuce, which will be on the market at the end of 2021. The machine is a mix of innovation and sustainability, thanks to a new cutting system (circular cutting), which allows the harvesting of a product with less soil residue and ensures that it is brought from the field to the processing warehouse much cleaner than traditional harvesters.
"We developed this machine by using the advantages of the circular cutting system which allows the product to be cut below the ground, below the base of the stem, without collecting soil, thus ensuring a cleaner product. It was conceived as a practical machine, without a lot of kinematics on board, but with a double conveyor belt. It is also auto leveling and does not have the classic sliding sensors but guarantees the same performance as traditional machines in terms of sensor reading and self-leveling,” explained Francesco Roselli.
Dari Ecomeccanica is a young, dynamic Italian company, keeping pace with innovation, and making important changes to the state of the art in the world of agricultural mechanics.
"The lamb's lettuce harvesters available on the market today have an alternative cutting system and a sieve that separates the soil from the lamb's lettuce, but this system results in excessive dirt being collected and transported on the conveyor belt, as well as the product," continued Roselli.
"Small leafed herbaceous crops, such as lamb's lettuce, require a specific cutting system due to the botanical morphology of the species. By cutting below the base of the plant and under the soil, a cleaner product can be harvested and delivered to the processing centre with very little soil residue. This is advantageous not only in the harvesting phase, but also in the processing phase, as it makes it easier for the sorting operators".
Dari Ecomeccanica adds innovative features to every machine it produces. It creates solid, practical, ecological and zero-impact solutions, thanks to the absence of a hydraulic system, meeting the needs of producers and of an ever-changing agricultural landscape.
The machine was developed between December 2020 and January 2021 to meet the needs of various manufacturers and will be marketed at the end of this year. In addition, upon request, it can be completed with various optional extras, such as the 4.0 machine set-up kit (see image above), roof, tilting side panels, a conveyor belt for bins, an extension belt for loading bins and much more.
