Orchards and vineyards are cultivated in hilly or mountainous areas, not only in Italy but also in Spain, France and Eastern Europe. In these situations it is not easy to carry out weeding, especially if the aim is to avoid the use of chemical herbicides. This is why Calderoni has developed the 'Rampetta', a machine designed in the past, but with modern technology.
The Rampetta machine owes its name in Italian to the fact that it is able to cut grass and cultivate the soil even on slopes, which makes it ideal for cutting grass in orchards and vineyards with steps and steep slopes. Calderoni will be exhibiting at EIMA.
"Grass mowers, aspirators, rotary cultivators, rotary harrows and discs can be easily mounted on the machine," says owner Alessandro Calderoni. "Thanks to the tractor's hydraulic system, the Rampetta can be positioned according to the slope of the terrain for optimal work. Another great advantage is the ability to change tools easily."
Front-mounted implements provide excellent visibility for the operator, who can always see how the implement is being manoeuvred. For example, the Rampetta is often used in combination with the mini mulcher to avoid chemical weeding next to the row, even on slopes and embankments.
"With the urgent need to reduce the use of chemicals," concludes Calderoni, "mechanical weeding is becoming increasingly popular. There are many solutions, but you have to find the one that best suits your orchard. Rampetta is a multi-purpose machine that cuts grass and cultivates the soil with interchangeable tools."