Advancing Technology
January 4, 2011 
The International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition (EIMA), which was held Nov. 10 to 14 in Bologna, Italy, was another resounding success. Approximately 25,000 pieces of equipment produced by 1,600 manufacturers from 40 countries covering everything from fertilizer spreaders to transplanters were on display.
The trade show caters to all types of agriculture including the production of fruits and vegetables. According to EIMA, this year’s attendance was 18% higher than in 2008, setting a record.
Out of the 1,600 exhibiting manufacturers, 500 of these companies arrived from abroad as did more than 26,300 visitors from 140 countries plus as many as 47 official foreign delegations.
Bill Reiss, president of B.D.I. Machinery Sales Co. in Macungie, PA, a North American farming equipment distributor, attended the event. What follows are some of his top picks from international manufacturers represented at the show.
Rotary Spader
Falc s.r.l. introduced its new rotary spader. This unit works well in wet soil, allowing the grower to do primary tillage while he is waiting for the ground to dry. Working the soil without hurting the structure, this spader can go fairly deep into the soil for deep tillage, about 15 inches, which is well below the plow pan.
For more information, go to www.falc.eu.
Top 24 Transplanter
Model Top 24 from Checchi & Magli allows one person to plant two rows of transplants at the same time at speeds up to 8,000 plants per hour. In addition, the transplanter can be adjusted to accommodate various row spacings between 2 and 4 feet. The unit also features a device for precise and constant planting.
For more information, go to checchiemagli.com.
Sprayer Technology
The latest sprayer technology from CIMA S.p.A. focuses on new hydraulic/mechanical agitation. The sprayer is driven hydraulically and creates mechanical movement to stir the product inside. The sprayer is mounted on a dual-axle walking beam, which helps to lessen compaction.
For more information, go to www.cima.it.
Soil Block Transplanter
he Rotostrapp transplanter from Ferrari Costruzioni Meccaniche transplants soil blocks with a lateral width of 1 to 2 inches. The distance between rows can vary, beginning with a minimum of 11 inches. Used to transplant lettuces and other vegetables, the unit handles plants with heights up to 4 inches.
For more information, go to www.ferraricostruzioni.com
Sod And Stone Barrier
Italy’s Forigo offers a sod and stone barrier and a triple row bed former all in one machine. In essence, it is three different machines on one tool bar. For use on vegetables, the unit’s process begins by digging into the ground and elevating the soil and rocks over the tilling rotor, and then throwing them against the screening bars behind the rotor. According to the company, the screening bars separate the soil from the rocks and debris, forcing the debris to the bottom of the till depth. Next, the unit buries sod and stone and forms three beds at a time.
For more information, go to www.Forigo.it.
Fertilizer Spreader
A banding attachment on a three-point hitch fertilizer spreader from Italy’s Agrex S.p.A. will help growers keep costs down. This unit fertilizes the left and right side of the row —not the weeds in the middle — hitting its target: the crop. Agrex’s three-point hitch fertilizer spreader can be used on all row crops.
For more information, go to www.agrex.com.
Vacuum Seeder
A 10-row folding frame vacuum seeder made by Agricola Italiana accommodates small vegetable seeds. New this year on the seeder is an anti-bridging seed box designed for parsnips. The box handles raw or pelleted seed.
For more information, go to www.agricola.it.
High-Tech Tractor
This compact Mach 4 articulated reversible quadtrack tractor from Antonio Carraro, an Italian company celebrating its 100th anniversary, can handle some of the most extreme working conditions. For example, this tractor makes a major difference in the area of compaction. The double track machine has at least 50% less compaction than other tractors.
For more information, go to www.antoniocarraro.it.
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