Ropa’s new Euro Maus 4 self-propelled sugar beet loader/cleaner was the main attraction at the company’s annual open day when more than 5,000 farmers and contractors visited its Sitteldorf factory in Bavaria, Germany.
This year the Ropa factory built and sold 75 Euro Maus cleaner/loaders bringing the total to 850 since manufacturing commenced, making it the world’s top selling machine, by far.
First seen at Agritechnica in November 2009, the latest generation of Ropa’s self-propelled cleaning loader follows the company’s concept of combining performance, efficiency and practical experience with the newest technological innovations.
The most striking feature of the Euro Maus 4 is its 9m long counterweight arm, guaranteeing total stability even with a fully extended loading elevator and guaranteeing good traction in the wet.
The comfortable cab, which can be elevated up to 5.1m, provides the machine operator with an all-round view of the working area. Driver safety is promoted by an extremely clever set of hydraulically controlled steps which flatten to a level platform when the cab is not elevated.
All operational processes can be monitored and optimised using a clearly laid-out colour terminal. A newly designed control panel with logically arranged operating controls, a rotary selector switch as well as two new multi-functional joysticks on the arm rests make the machine highly user-friendly when loading.
The robust collecting system starts with a 10.2m working width (the industry’s widest) header. It features 18 cleaning rollers – with a hard-welded finish – creating a smooth flow that has been proven to ensure efficient soil removal. Depending on the level of cleaning required, the cleaning system can be adjusted in length and intensity from the operator cab.
The increased intake width means that as much as 50 per cent more beet can now be stored in the beet pile – a significant advantage for longer fields with short headlands and in deep frost conditions.
The economical 326hp Mercedes-Benz engine now meets the Stage 3B emission standard with the help of AdBlue. The drive system has been optimised for efficiency so that even when loading the Euro Maus 4 operates at a low engine speed, maintaining ample reserves to cope with extreme conditions. Thus, throughput capacity has been increased significantly while maintaining reduced fuel consumption.
Powerful load-sensing hydraulics ensure the highest possible oil utilisation and a swift response from the entire operating system even when idling.
The elevator is made from high-grade steel, contributing to the impressive performance of the Euro Maus 4 when loading, while maintaining high machine stability. The counterweight arm extends up to 9m long and 4m high and can be swung out together with the fuel tank that serves as a counterweight to the loader. This ensures total stability for the machine even with a fully extended elevator.
Electronic measuring systems continuously monitor and display the weight distribution. For road transport the Euro-Maus 4 can be easily and automatically folded from the cab achieving a transport width of 3m and a total length of 14.5m. Two hydraulically sprung additional axles coupled with a heavy-duty braking system permit safe manoeuvring of the 31,000kg Euro-Maus 4 and optimum driving comfort.
Ten of the new Euro Maus 4 machines were built this year with the intention of testing them to their utmost limits. Full introduction to the market is planned for the 2011/12 sugar beet campaign when they will be available through UK distributor CTM Harpley Engineering.
For more information visit: www.ctmharpley.co.uk.
