Two in One Harvester

The 2in1 harvester innovation is a retro-fitted device attached to the front of a cane harvester that changes the standard single-row configuration to a wider swath width of two rows of sugarcane. 

Generally speaking, most modern harvesters (since 1995), are over-engineered and have sufficient capacity with their power-plants to harvest two rows of sugarcane planted under conventional row spacings.   

After three years of development through several prototypes, the design is now commercialised and as evidenced in the 2005 harvest in the Herbert Region is capable of harvesting stands of cane up to 140 t/ha (Castellani 2005 pers comm. & Quabba 2005 pers. comm.).  The intellectual property of the design and concept is protected by Australian patent No. 200 390 2542.

Two harvesters in the Herbert fitted with 2in1 attachments were assessed by BSES over the 2003 and 2004 seasons.  Di Bella et. al. (2005) demonstrated that the cane quality and harvest job were comparable to single-row harvesters.

With one machine there were recorded harvesting cost-benefits of around 20% reduction in fuel consumption per tonne of cane harvested and major savings on labour and maintenance because of reduced travel in the paddock afforded by multiple-row capability. 

Quabba pers. comm. (2005), has quoted fuel efficiency gains of 30% (approximately 0.4 L per tonne of sugarcane), compared to the regional performance benchmark of single-row harvesters.  Additionally, the two contractors who are using this technology in the Herbert are passing on benefits in the value chain to their contracted growers by either negating fuel surcharges in the 2005 season, or providing discounts of some 10c per tonne.   

These contractors are also attracting considerable interest from other growers to enter their contracts because of the competitive service price position they now occupy.  This is the first indication of harvesting sector rationalisation and movement towards economies of scale within contracts as an advent of this technology.

POWER POINT PRESENTATION AVAILABLE ON "The Corradini Two in One - Achievements and Issues to date"

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