Original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Bell Equipment’s UltECO 6 sugar cane slew loader was designed to be the lowest-cost, controlled-traffic loading tool globally and incorporates a slewing cab and boom.

The 4×4 unit can travel up to 26 km/h, enabling it to cover long distances easily.

Through its design, operators need only to look in front of them from the comfortable, air-conditioned cabin, says Bell Equipment OEM product manager Ettienne Terblanche.

The loader offers many wheel-track options, ranging from 2.1 m to 3.8 m, thus ensuring every row spacing is accommodated. Customers also have the choice between a push piler and dangle grab, or the traditional fixed grab.

“Our local South African cane farmers are aware of the impact of soil compaction on their yields. “In recent years, we have noticed a steady increase in the number of commercial growers who have converted their cane fields to facilitate controlled traffic infield,” says Terblanche.

Many customers invested in Bell Equipment’s smaller UltECO 5, which was the first model produced. While the UltECO 5 did not have 4×4 capability, it performed extremely well and was well received in the local market, he explains.
Building on the success of the UltECO 5, the company upgraded and fine-tuned this machine, superseding it with the UltECO 6, which is larger machine with 4×4 capability to provide better traction in poor underfoot conditions.

The UltECO 6 is better suited for higher production requirements as the South African sugar operations move more towards controlled traffic.

Fit for Industry
Terblanche says the sugar industry is unique compared to other industries because the harvesting season is about eight months.

Therefore, during this time, farmers need the utmost reliability from their equipment to ensure that they can deliver their crop to mill according to the allocation rate set for them for the season by the mill.

Further, low cost of ownership is an important requirement of equipment, owing to the high input costs – such as fuel, labour and fertilizer – against relatively low profit margins, compared to many other crops.

Taking the requirements of the local sugar industry into consideration, Bell offers a variety of equipment to the industry.