New Holland has released the new Combi-Grape sorting system for Braud grape harvesters.
A compact sorting system with a roller sorting table under the destemmer, it offers an improved harvest quality compared to a standard destemmer, according to Pierre Cayrouse, grape harvester product marketing specialist at New Holland France.
"Available on the Braud 8030L only, the system offers an intermediate harvest quality between a standard destemmer and the Opti-Grape," he said.
"It has been developed to meet the needs of winemakers looking for destemming and sorting system for premium red varietals."
Since 2002 all New Holland Braud grape harvesters have been able to be fitted with a destemmer, a feature now capable of processing every grape variety in every part of the world.
The Opti-Grape, launched in 2013, was the first New Holland Braud on-board sorting table.
It features a destemmer, two sorting tables with rollers and an air-cushion sorting system to perfectly clean the harvest.
"This system delivers the best harvest quality ever achieved on board a grape harvester," Mr Cayrouse said.
"Our machine is perfectly sized for the needs of medium-sized vineyards. The controls are at the driver's fingertips, making operation easy.
"The new Combi-Grape features a sorting table with specific rollers under a standard destemmer.
"The receiving conveyors feed the grapes into the destemmer. The stems are expelled at the back of the machine.
All the free grapes and the MOG (material other than grape) fall on the sorting table which features open rollers that allow the grapes to fall into the hopper.
"Leaf pieces and petioles are guided by the rollers to the side of the machine and drop down to the floor.
"Depending on the crop varieties, it can process grapes of different sizes. The operator can adjust from the cab the distance between rollers from 14mm to 23mm.
"The sorting table can slide to the side of the machine to facilitate daily washing operation. The Combi-Grape works on the Braud 8030L in most conditions and grape varieties," he said.