Bundaberg’s Canetec has designed and manufactured a world first low emission cane harvester which will be sold internationally.
The YT4000-F is a small machine and the world's first Stage 5 emission harvester.
After months in development it was officially trialled this week ahead of delivery to Japan in mid-April.
Canetec director Cliff Fleming said the idea was developed during an international trade visit in Okinawa.
“As we investigated the market, we learnt that the biggest share of the market was in the little machines and so we came away with the idea that we should be in that market,” Cliff said.
“We've designed this harvester from ground up and it's a world first in a number of features.
“It is also important for Bundaberg that this will continue our business to be able to grow.
“We do hear of interest in a small machine like this in other places in the world, so we're very hopeful.”
Cliff said the world first cane harvester was a small, robust machine with the features and comfort of a larger machine.
“So we think that it will be a success with the operators and therefore the owners.”
World first cane harvester attracts international interest
Canetec CEO Glenn Sopper said the YT4000-F was the first use of this technology in the Southern Hemisphere.
“It's a small sized harvester that's predominantly going to be used in the Japanese market,” Glenn said.
“This is the first time we've used or built a small machine and the first time we've used a Stage 5 engine in developing a harvester.
“The Japanese [market] is going to be a big export market for this particular machine, but in advertising and doing teasers, we've had interest from from Fiji, from Taiwan and from the Philippines.”
Glenn said the world first harvester exceeded the statutory regulations for low emission harvesters in Japan and was designed and manufactured in the Bundaberg Region.
“From concept to the finished article has all been done here in Bundaberg.
“We're really excited that this is the first time this engine has been used in the Southern Hemisphere and the first stage five harvester to be used in the world.”
Cliff said following the successful trial Canetec would aim to deliver the harvester to Japan in April.
“From there … if we perform like they think we will, we’ve [been] promised more orders,” he said.
“COVID hasn’t helped us with the production of this machine, our people here have had to work around a lot of things in order to produce this machine.
“They’ve pulled it all together … we look forward to it performing well.”
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