Thursday, 03 June 2021 15:55

Italian jobs get the pick of the bay

Written by  Mark Daniel
Ten new Landini orchard tractors were recently delivered to kiwifruit growing, packing and distributing company Seeka. Ten new Landini orchard tractors were recently delivered to kiwifruit growing, packing and distributing company Seeka.

BOP Tractors recently delivered 10 new Landini orchard tractors to kiwifruit growing, packing and distributing company Seeka.

The tractors formed part of an upgrade to Seeka’s tractor fleet that saw several two-wheeled drive and older machines being replaced, which under the company’s current health and safety guidelines, were no longer deemed safe for purpose.

The Landini 2-Series were chosen for their strength and capabilities. Despite a small stature, they are ideal for Seeka’s requirements – largely centered around towing bin trailers to and from the orchards and packhouses.

They are powered by 4-cylinder, Tier 3, 45hp Yanmar engines, mated to a 16 x 16 speed transmission, and comes with 4WD and four-wheel braking. The tractors’ unbraked towing capacity is 1,500kg, comfortably meeting the safety requirements set by Seeka.

Specified on 360mm wide, 20-inch wheel equipment, the tractors use a low centre of gravity and a tare weight of around 1,600kg. They offer exceptional traction, particularly on steep inclines.

Meanwhile, the 730mm seat height offers good access even in orchards running older pergola systems with mature vines.

Not limited to just pulling bin trailers, the Series-2 will also be used post-harvest for orchard maintenance work – including mowing or spraying, with the option of fitting a front-end loader if required.

As part of the supply agreement, installation was accompanied by a familiarisation day that looked at the operation, daily maintenance, driving techniques and health & safety requirements, which was attended by both operators and the Seeka management teams.

“The Landini 2-Series’ compact size should not be mistaken for it being a compact tractor, as in all aspects it’s simply an ag tractor built to special dimensions – making them ideally suited to environments where footprint and manoeuvrability are key considerations,” says BOP Tractors general manager Gayne Carroll.

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