GK3 offers 50 percent boost in capacity

Dewulf, a leading manufacturer in the world of agricultural machinery, proudly introduces a new trailed top lifting harvester. The GK3 is set to deliver a substantial improvement in efficiency and productivity for root crop farmers, according to the Belgian machine manufacturer. This 3-row harvester, with its compact design, offers a transport width of less than 3 metres and increases capacity by 50% compared to a 2-row trailed harvester with a width of 3.3 metres. This makes the GK3 unique in the market and not subject to any European homologation regulations.

Unloading on the move and storage in boxes

The GK3 is a 3-row trailed top lifting harvester from Dewulf, designed to unload while harvesting. Tailored for customers who unload their product directly into boxes for long-term storage, and therefore have no need for a hedgehog unit, the GK3 is built to provide maximum product friendliness. Thanks to its versatile and intuitively adjustable cleaning options, the desired amount of soil can always be transported with the product into the box. With its telescopic wheel axle and three individual harvesting elements with independent shares, the GK3 provides optimal stability, even when operating at high driving speeds. These 'Floating Shares' are also unique in the market.

Compact, easy to use high-capacity machine

With a width of three meters and a rotatable elevator for road transport, the GK3 is simple to transport by road. This makes it the first 3-row trailed top lifting harvester with full EU type approval for these dimensions. Thanks to the inclusion of a third harvesting element within these compact dimensions, the GK3 harvester provides 50 per cent greater processing capacity than a 2-row trailed harvester with a width of 3.3 metres. With this new, powerful machine, Dewulf helps growers address limiting factors such as increasingly shorter seasons and reduced available labour. Alongside its cutting-edge technology and narrow design, the GK3 concept focuses on the user, featuring intuitive controls and a robust build that ensures a long lifespan and low maintenance needs.

Features & functions

• Harvesting belt elements:

  • Standard equipment includes 14-meter-long harvesting belts with a super-grip profile. The hydraulic drive for the torpedoes is mounted on bearings at both the front and rear. The flat design prevents the haulm from reaching the motor.
  • Additionally, the harvesting belt element comes standard with automatic steering and depth control.
    • The depth control system (ADC) for each row features integrated, shielded angle sensors that can be managed from the cabin, ensuring precise tracking of the ridges or beds.
    • The dual auto-steering (DAS) allows the operator to harvest any sowing pattern. Each element is fitted with two powerful sensors that detect the haulm. The middle element corrects the position of the cylinder on the drawbar. The first element adjusts the sideways shift from element 1 to element 2, while the third element adjusts the sideways shift from element 3 to element 2. With the GK3, it is possible to harvest three rows without any issues, even for a four-row sowing plan.
  • The Dewulf harvesting belt element also features a double tensioning system for the rollers. This dual tensioning results in more pressure on the belts, which makes it easier to harvest in very difficult conditions where a lot of soil may cling to the carrots.
  • Dewulf can equip each element of the GK3 with two or three cleaners that have 44 long fingers, to provide extra cleaning capacity. The manufacturer also offers another variant with 15 shorter fingers. With the optional Rotary Cleaner Control, the cleaners are adjustable from the cabin.

• Cutter set:

  • An improved version of Dewulf's cutter set was rolled out on the recently launched second generation ZK4 (self-propelled 4-row top lifting harvester) and is now also being used on the GK3. With this new generation cutter set, cutting can be done faster than ever, with the utmost respect for the product.
  • The material from which these cutters are made is extremely resistant to wear. Moreover, this cutter set is reversible, allowing the set to be turned when the front part is worn out. This doubles the life of the blades as well.
  • The cutter set is driven via a maintenance-free gearbox, which is completely sealed and filled with grease. Dewulf drives it with a single powerful motor, favouring this approach over two smaller motors, which can lead to one motor working against the other.

• Elevator:

  • In the final stage of the harvesting process, a 90 cm wide cross conveyor transfers the product to a 120 cm wide elevator for unloading. The elevator is fitted with active side plates. With this arrangement, Dewulf prevents product damage as the root crops slide along the sides of the elevator. While the elevator could have been made wider, at this width it is possible to unload directly into the boxes. Dewulf also optimised the product distribution to accommodate the capacity of three rows.
  • For long products, Dewulf recommends rubber fingers to boost capacity and enable operation at slightly reduced speeds. The new finger principle allows replacement of individual fingers without having to replace the entire canvas along its full length. For more rounded products, a full flights option is also available.
  • Furthermore, the elevator can be controlled remotely, allowing the driver of the tractor alongside the machine to operate the elevator. This allows the driver of the tractor with the harvester to fully focus on the harvesting parameters.

• Rear axle:

  • For optimal stability, the rear axle can be extended by 50 cm. When not extended, the left wheel of the harvester follows in the track of the tractor's right wheel. When the rear axle is extended, the left wheel of the harvester runs between the tractor's wheels. This allows the trailer with the boxes to consistently follow a set track, ensuring even distribution of ground pressure. Particularly in wet conditions, this is a significant advantage. Moreover, the rear axle is equipped with wheel drive as standard.

• Operation:

  • The machine is fully ISOBUS controlled and available with the 12-inch Topcon display. The colour touchscreen is compatible with the Topcon ISOBUS joystick. The ISOBUS control can also be operated without an additional display, via the tractor screen, and the tractor joystick buttons can be linked too.

• Drive:

  • The GK3 is equipped with a compact but accessible gearbox. The machine is equipped with an LS pump, a gear pump and an oil cooler. Thanks to the standard wheel drive, the GK3 can harvest in all conditions with a lighter tractor. In fact, the trailed top lifting harvester has a minimum tractor power requirement of just 150 hp.

In 2024, Dewulf has constructed two trial series, set to be demonstrated in the fields of Belgium and the Netherlands later in the year. Starting in 2025, the new GK3 will be available in unlimited quantities.