Advanced Sod Harvesting Machinery

Kramer Simpson

Introduction

• Harvesting Specs• Types of Equipment• Advantages• Video Links

Sod Harvesting• Can be Harvested in several ways• Small Rolls- range from 12”-24” wide and 4’ long• Big Rolls- from 24”- 48” wide up to 125 foot long• Slabs- from 12”- 24” and up to 4’ long

• First tractor mounted was made by Gerry Brouwer in 1966

Sod Harvesting

• Average price of sod is $0.25 per square foot • Pallets range from 450 sq. ft to 500 sq. ft

Crop Price Yield Net Profit

Sod $0.25 sq. ft Quality $10,890/acre

Corn $6.50 bushel 170 bu/acre $1,105/acre

Wheat $7.00 bushell 110 bu/acre $770/acre

Equipment Diversity

• Walk behind units• Typically can harvest 150-200 sq.ft/hour• Standard 16 in. cutting width

Tractor Mounted Models

• Usually takes 2-3 man crew, an operator, stacker and a roller on certain models• Can cut 600- 800 square feet an hour• Fixed head

Advanced Tractor MountedBrouwer Robomax

• Operator only• Capable of cutting 1600 square yards per hour• GPS

Advanced Tractor Mounted

• Robotic Arm • Automatic Pallet Injector• Hydraulic Driven Cutter and Depth Control

Advanced Tractor MountedKesmac Slab-Matic 3000

• Up to 1350 sq./yds per hour• Choice of 3-16” rows or 2-24” rows• Slabs only

Advanced Tractor MountedKesmac Slab-Matic 3000

• Ability to eject poor turf• Clamp system interlocks whole section

Self-PropelledTrebro Auto-Stack II

• Two 24” cutting heads• Electronic adjustable length of cut• Stacker has 88 spears

Self Propelled Trebro Auto-Stack II

• Up to 3,000 sq. yds per hour• On the go adjustments of Pallet size, length• Can hold 18 pallets

Advantages of Advanced Harvesters

• Less labor required• Speed• Efficiency• Environment

Video Links

• Brouwer Robomax- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4FK_1behE4

• Kesmac Slab Matic-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7l8y67dZU

• Trebro Auto Stack-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur_maE1TB7A