Easier system to collect stones

If you have an ATV/UTV and a problem with stones, then the Stoneless, a towed stone collector, could be just the job.Developed by Søren Kristensen, the Danish man spent many years removing stones by hand from fields at the family´s 400ha farm. “It was a tiring job that had to be done every year,” he recalls. After searching for a smarter solution he concluded that nothing big has happened in the field of stone collection in the last several years.So, the creative Dane set to work to devise a solution to make it a much easier job. The first prototypes was ready for testing in 2018, and the first commercial machines were running in Denmark in 2019.Made from galvanised steel (empty weight 400kg), the Stoneless is described as a simply-made and flexible machine that allows users to collect stones even in between other jobs.Working offset behind the ATV (500cc+ recommended), operation is via control box on the handlebar. When a stone (max. diameter 50cm) is encountered the operator lowers what is best described as hydraulically operated digger plate. This can also be lowered to tease stones out of the ground.The Stoneless picks up stones of 6.0-50cm diameter and the hopper holds up to 500kg.A rotor then holds the stone against it. Both rotor and digger plate are then lifted and the stone drawn into the 500kg capacity hopper (tips to the rear to empty stones at the headland or into a loader bucket). It depends on the numbers, but it is said to be possible to clear stones from up to 5-10ha/hr, and the four wide wheels help to protect young crops. default More than 300 units have been sold in Denmark in the past four years. First seen in the UK at LAMMA 2022, it was met with positive reactions and the company spent most of last year setting up a UK and Irish dealer network – Compass Tractors (Bridgewater), Turney Group (Bicester), Tallis Amos Group (Evesham), Tallis Amos Group (Pembrokeshire), Malpas Tractors (Wrexham), Brian Robinson Machinery (Northallerton), G Marshall Tractors (Melrose, Scotland) and Kellys of Borris (Co. Carlow, Ireland).Mr Kristensen is confident that his creation has enormous potential. “There is a need for flexible solutions that not only address the challenges of finding qualified labour but also make stone collection an easy activity that you can always find time for.”For more up-to-date farming news click here and subscribe now to profi and save 47%.Share this: TwitterFacebookRedditWhatsApp Steven Vale