Used Harvesting conveyors

About second-hand Harvesting conveyors

A harvest conveyor is used to harvest vegetables, large fruit and flowers straight from the field. The belt runs low to the ground, so workers don't have to reach far to place the product on it. From there, the harvest conveyor moves the crop to a trailer: the harvesting trolley, which is usually enclosed to protect the product from the sun and which runs on heavy tyres, so it stays stable even on muddy ground and doesn't sink in.

Duijndam Machines has a changing range of used harvest conveyors, including from the renowned Dutch brands Beets and Van den Beucken. Our machines are inspected before they go on sale and can be viewed at our premises. Besides used harvest conveyors, we also supply new, custom-built models.

How does a harvest conveyor work?

The harvest conveyor is placed alongside the harvesting trolley, making it possible to harvest a wide field in a single pass. This not only saves labour, but also results in a cleaner product with less damage than manually carrying it to the trolley.

Harvest conveyors are easy to mount on almost any farm trailer, with or without a canopy, and can therefore be used on multiple trailers. The belt is hydraulically driven and infinitely variable in speed. The frame is largely made of aluminium, which keeps the harvest conveyor lightweight — a heavy harvest conveyor would upset the balance of the harvesting trolley. Some versions come with extra options, such as an end stop, electro-hydraulic height and level adjustment, cross transport on the trailer, and wheels for transport on the road.

The working width and positioning of the belt are matched to the number of workers harvesting at the same time and to the row spacing of the crop. For wider crops, the harvest conveyor is sometimes used in combination with a second belt or an extension, so that several rows can be reached at once without workers having to walk any further than necessary.

The harvesting trolley: essential alongside the harvest conveyor

The harvest conveyor always works together with a harvesting trolley: the trailer that receives the harvested product. This trolley is usually enclosed — often with a canopy or a closed structure — so that the product stays protected against sun, wind and dehydration on its way to storage. Especially with vulnerable products such as cauliflower or summer flowers, that protection makes a noticeable difference to the quality on arrival at the barn.

A harvesting trolley also runs on heavy, wide tyres. This is necessary because during harvesting the trolley regularly has to drive fully loaded over loose, wet or muddy ground. Narrow or light tyres would sink in and cause rutting, damaging the field and making the trolley unstable. Heavy tyres keep the trolley stable, even with a full load and changing ground conditions.

At Duijndam Machines, alongside harvest conveyors, we also regularly have used harvesting trolleys available, suitable for varying pallet capacities.

For which crops is a harvest conveyor used?

Harvest conveyors are mainly used for crops that are harvested by hand. Think of cabbage, cauliflower, broccol and >span class="s1">lettuce, but also larger fruit such as pumpkins and melons, and summer flowers. In all these cases, the belt prevents workers from having to carry the product to the trolley by hand, which both saves labour and limits damage to the product.

With heavier products such as pumpkins and watermelons, the construction of the belt is put to an extra test: the weight is often not distributed evenly over the belt, but concentrated on a few points. This is exactly why the condition of the weld seams is so important to check when buying.

What to look out for when buying a used harvest conveyor?

You shouldn't choose a used harvest conveyor on price alone. The points below give a good picture of the machine's actual condition.

Is the belt still lying straight?

It sometimes happens that a harvest conveyor gets caught on something during use, or that damage occurs during storage. So check whether the frame is still straight.

Are there any cracks at the weld seams?

Harvest conveyors are almost always made of light aluminium, and that aluminium is often kept thin so the belt stays light. It's exactly at the points where the aluminium is welded together that cracks can develop, since the belt is regularly under heavy load, for example from several cabbages, pumpkins or watermelons at once. Check whether any weld seams have been professionally made and/or repaired.

Is the hydraulic system free of leaks?

Since the belt is hydraulically driven, it's important to check that there are no leaks at the hydraulic connections and cylinders.

Is there still room to loosen the conveyor belt at the end roller?

The often white conveyor belt of a harvest conveyor shrinks over time through use. As long as there is still room at the end roller to set the belt less tightly, this loss can be compensated for. If that room has run out, the conveyor belt needs replacing, and this is usually the most expensive part to replace.

How does the conveyor belt sound and run?

Listen to whether the belt runs smoothly or whether you can hear rattling, and check the inside of the belt for wear.

What is the brand?

Good-quality brands include Beets and Van den Beucken, both Dutch manufacturers with a good name on the second-hand market.

Duijndam Machines checks these points on every harvest conveyor we offer, so you know exactly what you're getting before you buy.

New, custom-built harvest conveyors

Besides used harvest conveyors, Duijndam Machines also supplies new harvest conveyors. Each new belt is individually designed based on CAD drawings and custom-built to your requirements. You determine the length and the desired options yourself. Discuss your requirements with one of our staff for a personal quote.

Why choose a second-hand harvest conveyor?

A new harvest conveyor is a significant investment, especially when custom-built. A good second-hand harvest conveyor is a cost-effective alternative that is often ready for immediate use. Duijndam Machines inspects every machine before it goes on sale and replaces worn parts where necessary.

Our machines can be viewed at our premises in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel (Rotterdam region). We deliver worldwide and have extensive experience with export.

Also take a look at our wider range of harvesting machines, harvesting trolleys and conveyor belts for the rest of your harvesting and processing chain.