Harvesting Thyme with the KVH-2000 EHT Trailed Harvester in Hungary
Medicinal herb growers often face the challenge of finding suitable machinery.
What needs to be done is well known and thoroughly described in the literature; however, information on how to carry out these operations efficiently and which machines should be used to harvest, collect, dry, or process a particular crop is often lacking. Moreover, there are considerable differences in the available equipment.
It is good to know that there is a machine specifically suited to your needs—a machine capable of harvesting a wide range of medicinal herbs while being both efficient and affordable.
KVH-2000 EHT is the latest version of HERBAS tractor-trailed harvesters equipped with a swiveling telescopic belt conveyor.
This model is the successor to the EH version with a tipping hopper and was developed in response to the need for increased productivity and to eliminate the problem of turning around at the end of the rows in permanent crops.
With this configuration, there is no need to stop or waste time turning at the headlands to empty a full hopper — the harvesting process continues uninterrupted, while trailers transporting the freshly harvested material are continuously rotated alongside the harvester, carrying it directly to the drying facilities.
Whether you are cultivating medicinal herbs on large plantation areas that need to be harvested within a narrow time frame, or you simply want to have more flexibility, this harvester is the ideal solution for increasing productivity, with a harvesting capacity of up to 1 ha/h.
The KVH serieshas been proven in harvesting chamomile, nettle, lemon balm, mint, thyme, mallow, marigold (for animal feed), and others.
The harvester has been proven to operate with tractors rated at 50 – 60 kW. Given the low power requirement for driving all moving components, power transmission is achieved hydraulically.
Table 1. – Test and suitable tractors
| Tractor | Engine power, kW |
Pressure, bar | Flow, L/min | Theoretical power of hydraulic system |
Hydr. Oil tank, L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Deere 5620 |
58,2 | 200 | 56 | 18,7 | 52 |
| Zetor 7341 SuperTurbo |
53,7 | 179 | 53 | 15,8 | – |
Hydraulic power transmission enables a more compact and lighter construction, without dangerous rotating components, while providing better maneuverability and simple operation
Upon arriving at the field, the drawbar is hydraulically moved into the working position and the conveyor is deployed in less than one minute—and harvesting can begin.
The harvester is equipped with an oil cooler, ensuring continuous operation even with lower-powered tractors and hydraulic systems that do not provide sufficient cooling of their own.
For operating the EHT harvester, it is recommended that the tractor have two hydraulic spool valves, i.e. four quick couplers for connecting the four hydraulic hoses.
Efficient operation is also possible with just one spool valve (two couplers) by manually reconnecting the hoses once after converting the machine from transport to working position.
Harvesting then continues smoothly without the need for the operator to leave the tractor.
If you are interested, contact us today for a more favorable offer via our contact form and enter “KVH-2000 EHT harvester” in the subject field.
Related Video (Click the link below to open the video):
- Nettle harvesting with the KVH-2000 EH harvester in Southeastern Europe – https://youtube.com/shorts/hdVoRR18XxQ?si=Lz21hDqk4yOL5PaG