NP Seymour, the UK’s leading provider of specialist orchard and vineyard machinery, is thrilled to announce its partnership with German manufacturer ERO GmbH as the first UK dealership to supply the renowned ERO Grapeliner 7000 series mechanical grape harvesters.
Known for exceptional harvest quality, low fuel consumption, and superior operator comfort, the Grapeliner 7000 series exemplifies ERO’s motto of “no less than best,” setting a new standard in vineyard machinery.
These state-of-the-art self-propelled harvesters, alongside ERO’s vine trimmers and defoliators, are now available from the Kent-based dealer to UK vine growers looking to elevate their harvesting efficiency and grape quality.
Arriving in the UK just in time for the 2024 harvest, the first ERO Grapeliner 7000 has already been used in several vineyards across the South East.
Since early October, NP Seymour, in collaboration with viticultural contractor SJ Barnes, has been offering vineyard managers and owners the opportunity to see the machinery in action, with a main demonstration day scheduled for Tuesday 22 October at Greyfriars Vineyard near Guildford.
“We’ve been proudly supplying ERO’s range of vine trimmers and defoliators for many years and have always been impressed with the quality and reliability. The harvesters they produce are no different, and the Grapeliner 7000 series is packed with innovative features that distinguish it as one of the top choices for mechanical grape harvesting worldwide,” said Claire Seymour, director at NP Seymour. “We are already thoroughly impressed with its capabilities and performance, even with the wet weather conditions we have had recently. We know that taking on this new product range will continue to allow us to provide UK vineyards with cutting-edge solutions that enhance productivity and improve harvest quality.”
For more than 40 years, ERO has been building and selling self-propelled harvesters. The self-propelled machine also features a unique three-stage harvest cleaning system to deliver the purest grape yield with a cross-air nozzle and leaf rake ejecting up to 70% of leaves before they reach the conveyor belt, reducing juice and fruit loss.
The destemmer and VITIselect sorting system carefully sort grapes while adapting to the terrain, ensuring consistency and even distribution of the fruit. It offers in-cab touchscreen controls for adjusting sorting speeds based on grape variety and ripeness, optimising every harvest.
If the destemmer is not required, it can be quickly and easily switched off by reversing the direction of the cross conveyor belt. The harvested grapes are conveyed directly into the tank without further mechanical processing.
The spacious, sound-insulated cab offers over 3m³ of space and automatic air conditioning, providing ideal comfort for long hours in the vineyard. Unlike other self-propelled harvesters, which feature an offset cab, the ERO Grapeliner cab is centrally mounted and also features a glassed-in floor which means the operator has a better perspective of where the machine is in relation to the rows.
For easy operation, the Grapeliner was the first grape harvester to feature a one-sided unloading conveyor. NP Seymour has further modified the chute to better suit UK growers, allowing them to fill one bin at a time. An external camera system has also been fitted to allow the operator to see exactly where the fruit goes when unloading into bins.
The ERO Grapeliner 7000 mechanical grape harvesters were also the first to feature an automatic steering system, which allows operators to focus on the fruit to get the cleanest sample. Despite being self-propelled, the harvesters offer excellent manoeuvrability as the inside rear wheel remains stationary when performing tight turns.
If you would like to experience the ERO Grapeliner 7000’s capabilities in person, please get in touch with Claire Seymour at NP Seymour on 01580 712200 or by emailing sales@npseymour.co.uk
