Attendees had the chance to see this advanced machine in action, including being able to sit in the cab with contractor and operator Sam Barnes to see how the cab’s central location, glass floor, camera system and auto steering option all help make driving this impressive bit of kit as easy as possible.

“Overcoming the wet weather conditions that have impacted the 2024 season, the Grapeliner’s performance impressed those present, proving that it’s built to handle even the most demanding harvest conditions and is well-equipped for UK vineyards,” said Claire Seymour, director of NP Seymour. “We were also very grateful to have Lukas from ERO with us, who provided expert insights into the self-propelled mechanical grape harvester’s capabilities.”

NP Seymour, the UK’s leading provider of specialist orchard and vineyard machinery, recently announced its partnership with German manufacturer ERO GmbH as the first UK dealership to supply the renowned ERO Grapeliner 7000 series self-propelled mechanical grape harvesters.

“We’ve been proudly supplying ERO’s range of vine trimmers and defoliators for many years and have always been impressed with the quality and reliability. The harvesters they produce are no different, and the Grapeliner 7000 series is packed with innovative features that distinguish it as one of the top choices for mechanical grape harvesting worldwide,” said Claire.

For more than 40 years, ERO has been building and selling self-propelled harvesters. The self-propelled machine also features a unique three-stage harvest cleaning system to deliver the purest grape yield with a cross-air nozzle and leaf rake eject up to 70% of leaves before they reach the conveyor belt, reducing juice and fruit loss.

Unlike other self-propelled harvesters, which feature an offset cab, the ERO Grapeliner cab is centrally mounted and also features a glassed-in floor which means the operator has a better perspective of where the machine is in relation to the rows.

For easy operation, the Grapeliner was the first grape harvester to feature a one-sided unloading conveyor. NP Seymour has further modified the chute to better suit UK growers, allowing them to fill one bin at a time. An external camera system has also been fitted to allow the operator to see exactly where the fruit goes when unloading into bins.

The ERO Grapeliner 7000 mechanical grape harvesters were also the first to feature an automatic steering system, which allows operators to focus on the fruit to get the cleanest sample. Despite being self-propelled, the harvesters offer excellent manoeuvrability as the inside rear wheel remains stationary when performing tight turns.

For those who couldn’t attend due to their own busy harvest schedules, please contact NP Seymour on 01580 712200 or by emailing sales@npseymour.co.uk if you’d like to discuss how the Grapeliner 7000 can benefit your vineyard operations