Hillers Engineering release new "high" bed former and poly layer

AH Hiller & Son have been producing top fruit and soft fruit for the last 92 years. To date they have approximately 200 acres of mainly Cox apple orchards, 60 acres of Victoria and Marjories seedling plums and 30 acres of strawberries. The farm first started developing highi beds for their strawberry production three years ago, the increase in root growth allowed by higher bed, their picker friendliness, together with the ability to reduce splash and create a more even spread of water through the bed and drainage attributes were the main deciding factors. Farm manager Russell Duggan was responsible for sourcing the equipment needed to make and cover the beds. Though there was plenty of choice, he wasn't convinced that any of the "off the shelf" models were suitable; all the products they had been offered need some sort of modification before he was happy with the results. The only was to get what they wanted was to develop their own bed maker and poly layer.It has taken twelve months of trial and error, working with an engineering consultancy to design and build the equipment that fulfilled their needs; so happy are they with the results that they have decided to actively market the products to other growers.

They have developed two individual machines, one to form the bed and one to lay the poly. Though some manufactures combine the operations, Russ is adamant that they are very different in processes and in order to be done correctly, should be treated as such. To achieve the "perfect" bed and the forward speed needs to be quite low and allow for accuracy and firmness. Whilst in contrast a relatively high speed is needed to lay the poly tightly.

The Hiller bed former works very differently to most conventional machines, the rotors are parrallel to the bed, rather than peerpendicular to the bed. This means that there is no compaction or smearing caused by the bedformer in the area of the bed where the strawberries grow. The standard bed is a uniform 45cm high, but it is infinitely adjustable. The bed maker is designed to fit into existing tunnels and work with a 1.5 metre bbed centres; a 5 bed or 4 bed tunnel could convert to the system quit easily. A relatively low horsepower requirement of 75hp is needed for the bed former, in comparison other "high bed" formers need in excess of 100hp. An optional extra on the bed former is the drip tape layer, usually this is combined with the poly layer (and the Hillers poly layer can also have this as an optional addition) but Russ believes that combining the drip tape layer with the bed forming process creates a much more consistent depth and central alignment. "In the past when laying the drip tape, whilst laying the poly we found that the tape could move whilst the poly was being laid."Although such a simple alteration to the process of bed making, Russ believes that this alone is a massive leap forward.

The Hillers poly layer has been designed to work in conjunction with the bed former, but is not mutually exclusive, the poly layer can be used to cover lower beds, but it works at its best covering the high - 45 cm - bed. Again the equipmentis infinitely adjustable, limited only by tractor clearance. The poly applicator is able to adjust to various polythene widths, but Hillers recommend using 1.7 metre wide poly for the high beds "1.4 metre poly is not wide enough to cover them". Just like the bed former the drip tape layer can be added as can share coulters.

Both the bed former and poly layer are made to order, turnaround time is approx 4 weeks. Hillers are happy to give demonstrations at any interested grower sites. If you are interested in receiving further details you can contact Russel Duggan on 07785 912 999 or email russelhillerfarms.co.uk

Winter 2003

Crop PRO-TECH Ltd the UK leading supplier of Spanish Tunnels, Polytunnels, Greenhouses, Bed formers, Poly-layers, Poly winder, Horticultural Machinery, Table Tops, Growing Systems, Agricultural nettings, Agricultural Polythene.