Ero Ahead In Wine Harvesting With Poclain-Driven 8000 Grapeliner
A family-run business with 250 employees, the German-based ERO company with a subsidiary in France has been providing winegrowers with an extensive range of machinery including pruners, defoliators, trimmers and grape harvesters. When they designed their first harvester in the eighties, they went straight to Poclain for their ground drive – a failsafe guarantee aligned with their quality requirements. We talk to Ruth Weirich, Marketing and PR Manager, about their harvesters and collaborating with Poclain.
“We have a strong connection with the wine grower community,” Ruth Weirich says. “My uncle, a visionary inventor and winegrower, played a key role in shaping our machines. That tradition of co-design with growers is still the foundation of how we work.”
We have a strong connection with the wine grower community. My uncle, a visionary inventor and winegrower, played a key role in shaping our machines. That tradition of co-design with growers is still the foundation of how we work.
Early adopters of the Poclain camlobe technology
ERO was the first to apply Poclain’s technology to grape harvesters. They trusted the quality and dependability of the motors would enable winegrowers to get the harvest done in the narrow time window when grapes are perfectly ripe. They also valued the motors’ compactness, with an envelope that fits perfectly inside the wheel hub, leaving the grapevine intact. Since then, the partnership has strengthened. Over the years, Poclain’s engineering support has enabled refinements in transmission performance, reaching road speeds up to 40 km/h and 35% gradeability. Their enhancements include motor flushing through the brake shaft and an electronic control unit (ECU) to protect the Tier V engine from overspeeding.
Grapeliner 8000 - 40 kph and 35% gradeability
ERO’s latest release, the Grapeliner 8000, is equipped with MS11 motors at the front and TwinLock MSE18 motors at the rear. With its Tier V four-cylinder engine, it is the most efficient and sustainable model yet and can work the entire day without refuelling. Integrating Poclain’s CT200 ECU, it provides cruise control for consistent harvesting and engine protection. Its 40 kph travel speed increases productivity.
In a time when winegrowers face mounting challenges – climate change, decline in consumption, rising costs – ERO remains true to its values.
“Our goal is to help growers harvest more efficiently and sustainably,” says Weirich. “That’s why our partnership with technology leaders like Poclain is so important. It enables us to keep pushing the limits of performance and reliability.”