Agritechnica saw a range of updated stone pickers from Finnish manufacturer Kivi-Pekka, distributed in the UK by Dales Agri Sales Agency Ltd.
The company has launched the option of a hydraulic driveline to the rotors, available on its 4m, 5m, 6m and 7m wide machines.
The rotors turn opposite to the driving direction to pull rocks and sticks from the ground and transfer them to the centre, where a drum shifts them to the rear container.
Previous models used a mechanical drive, which the company states will still be preferrable in most circumstances.
“Hydraulic power transmission may be necessary, for example, in cases where the tractor’s power take-off cannot be disengaged when the rotors are lifted into the transport position. In these cases, hydraulic drive eliminates the risk of damage. Hydraulic rotors can also be rotated backwards, for example, if the rotor becomes blocked, says Mikko Lappalainen, managing director of PEL-Tuote, a manufacturer of Kivi-Pekka stone machines.
The Kivi-Pekka range starts with a 3.3m machine, requiring just 70hp and 20 litres/min. With the FlexDrum option, the machines can be used to collect stones up to 50cm in diameter, while the flagship 7m model can hold up to 1,400kg of debris.