Deartech rolls out a giant

The team at Deartech, the Claas Harvest Centre, in Hastings, about to steer their new machine into the big, wide world. Pictured with the custom-built squash harvester are (from left) engineers Shane Hall and Todd Kelsen, Deartech managing director Glenn Dear, and design engineer Peter Linlock. Photo / Duncan Brown

A new monster now operating in Hawke's Bay squash harvesting is showcasing both the growth in the agricultural and horticultural sector and the capabilities of design and engineering in the region.

The squash harvester entered service last week after a major project lasting almost five months at Deartech, the Claas Harvest Centre in Hastings.

The harvester was built in the Omahu Rd workshop "from the ground up", says company director Lance Dear. It has a 15m-wide header across the front, which needs its own purpose-built trailer as the harvester moves between sites.

As many as 25 people, including sub-contractors, have worked on the project, now a flagship of the company's engineering feats carried out for clients on both sides of the Tasman.

"We design and build a number of our own products for the viticulture and horticulture markets that are sold nationally as well as into Australia," Mr Dear said. "This squash harvester was a one-off design and build commission for a specific application and is certainly the largest machine we have built to date."

The company specialises in agricultural engineering and have in-house 3D design and 3D scanning capabilities which allows us to design and build world-leading products to provide competitive advantages to clients.

Interislander

Te Aute farmer and sheep dog trial veteran Bob Bruce is off to another inter-island event after his latest successes at the King Country Charity Trial and North Island Tux Yarding Challenge at the weekend.

With dogs Cheat and Susan running second and third he crosses Cook Strait with a full box on Monday for a week in Gore, including the national final and the inter-island, which last year was held at the first NZ Rural Games in Queenstown. He will be joined in the North Island team by Gisborne trialist Rod Mead.

Charlie Lee, of Elsthorpe, was also in the North Island final.

The Hawke's Bay season opens with the Waikoau club trial at the end of next week.