WORLD renowned Sicma olive harvesters are now being distributed by Town & Country Tractors.
The company, which imports and makes a range of horticultural and agricultural machinery and equipment, took on the brand last year.
The Sicma equipment available includes the Speedy and F3 self-propelled harvesters and the new generation MX3.
Harvesting remains one of the most time-consuming and expensive components of olive growing.
The Sicma Speedy is a compact, three-wheel harvester with hydrostatic two-wheel front drive and a third free caster wheel for fast 360-degree turns.
The Speedy is controlled by a right-hand joystick for forward and reverse gear selection.
The service and emergency brake is automatically applied when the joystick is released and a brake is applied automatically when the engine is off. When the machine is in motion the emergency brake is activated by pressing a red button on the dashboard.
The critical component in any olive harvester is the vibrating head. The Speedy features a self-centering head system with high-frequency vibration and self-braking.
Three levers in front of the seat control all the vibrating head movements and the inverted umbrella catcher.
Shaking head vibration is button activated under the joystick.
The Speedy has an open side driver's cab and the vibrating head is mounted on a telescopic arm allowing extended reach to trunks for increased productivity.
The telescopic arm system is secured by anti-vibration supports to prevent the shaking head vibration transmitting to the driver's seat.
The Speedy weighs 3000kg and is powered by a VM type D754TE2 water-cooled engine delivering 70kW to Poclain hydraulic drive motors.
The F3 is a larger three-wheel, all-wheel-drive harvester with two-speed forward and reverse gears.
The vibrating head movement is hydraulically activated, and joystick and lever controlled. Like the Speedy, the driver's cab is open on one side.
The vibrating head is mounted on a telescopic arm and is also secured by anti-vibration supports.
The inverted umbrella catcher is linked to the machine through a quick connection system. The high-frequency, self-braking vibrating system means olives quickly detach with torsional force helping to reduce vibration damage on the tree.
An optional new catcher system allows the inverted umbrella catcher to extend at 50cm above the ground to reduce interference with low-hanging branches and olives.
It can be opened in a high position to channel harvested fruit into the case which can hold up to 500kg.
Sicma has also introduced the MX3 which has a new generation vibrating head. Powered by a 93kW Iveco turbo intercooled diesel providing three-wheel hydrostatic drive, the MX3 has a soundproof cabin for increased operator comfort.
The MX3's hydraulic vibrating head can be detached from the telescopic arm, allowing other implements to be attached. The machine can operate on tree layouts of only 6m x 6m.
- For more detail see tctractors.com.au or phone (02) 9603 8600.
