Processing & Storage

Pottinger's V 6520 C. (Image source: Pottinger)

For farms bustling with foraging and complex logistics, Pottinger has launched a compact twin rotor rake without chassis, advancing manoeuvrability 

Its simple build keeps crude ash content to a minimum while maintaining high forage quality. 

Known as the Top V 6520 C, the rotor rake is equipped with a headstock that pivots and moves in line with the tractor while taking turns, seamlessly raking central swathes. The innovative headstock stays in place with support from high centring forced mechanical stabiliser. This also keeps the machine from going haywire while driving downhill.

The floating rotor suspension is designed to enable three-dimensional ground tracking. The rake can easily bypass bumpy situations, thanks to the option of a multitask jockey wheel mounted directly on the headstock. It always ensures smooth run even at high speeds, because of the tandem axles tackling uneven ground.

At the headland, the machine is lifted by the tractor linkage and gently moved into the centre position. The high ground clearance of the TOP V 6520 C makes headland turns easier and prevents disruption of the already-formed swaths. The TOP V 6520 C is also compact during transport with its centre of gravity close to the tractor.

The working width can be adjusted mechanically from 5.9 m to 6.5 m and can be adapted to the geometry of each tractor. This produces swath widths between 1 and 1.6 m. This makes the rake capable of handling heavy forage in combination with smaller harvesting machines.

Pottinger has made sure to give the rake a rock-solid design for maximum flexibility and reliability when dealing with the unpredictability of harvesting times. 

Selecting a moisture sensor for grain processing goes beyond finding an instrument that measures water content

Moisture directly affects product quality, energy consumption, throughput, and waste at every stage — from intake and drying through to milling, blending, and packaging. The right sensor should support process control, perform reliably in demanding conditions, and integrate simply with existing systems.

Here are eight key considerations to guide your selection.

1. Start with your process demands

Define your operating conditions before evaluating any sensor. Consider the material being measured, installation location, how quickly moisture changes, control system requirements, and whether multiple grain types or recipes are involved.

2. Prioritise measurement speed for real-time control

Inline measurement is essential for closed-loop control. It allows the system to react as conditions change, maintaining target moisture rather than responding to drift after it has occurred -- particularly critical in drying operations where incoming moisture can vary significantly.

3. Require robust construction

Grain processing environments involve dust, vibration, impact, and temperature variation. Build quality directly determines whether a sensor remains reliable over its operational life and minimises unplanned downtime.

4. Ensure stable, linear output

A linear response simplifies calibration and gives operators greater confidence in the data. Consider how output behaves over time and how easily the sensor can be recalibrated as products change.

5. Choose straightforward integration

Look for standard communication interfaces and compatibility with existing PLC or control systems. Simple integration reduces engineering effort and accelerates return on investment.

6. Evaluate total cost of ownership

Maintenance requirements, calibration effort, and service life matter more than purchase price. A low-maintenance sensor is especially valuable in continuous processes where downtime disrupts production.

7. Check temperature capability early

Applications involving drying or high-temperature conditioning may exceed standard sensor limits. Confirm required temperature ranges at the start of the selection process to avoid reduced accuracy or premature failure.

8. Confirm certification requirements

Some environments require ATEX/Ex-certified instrumentation. Identify this at the outset — certification requirements can determine which sensors are legally suitable and affect project approval and site safety assessments.

The right moisture sensor supports stable, automated control, withstands plant conditions, and fits the operational needs of the business — delivering measurable benefit over its entire working life.

Meet the XT series from Hydronix 

The Hydronix XT series is designed to meet all of the criteria outlined above — in a single, field-proven platform built on unique digital microwave technology.

Explore the XT series

CISCE is going to transform China's position as a global leader in supply chain innovation.

The China-Spain Economic and Trade Forum and a roadshow for the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) were held in Madrid on June 10

The event attracted representatives from trade and investment promotion agencies, and companies from both countries.

Ren Hongbin, China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Chairman, stated that the visit to Spain aims to implement the vital consensus made by the leaders of both countries and further enhance their economic and trade relations. He emphasised that this initiative seeks to build a stronger and more dynamic comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain.

The Spanish business community has recognized China's role in fostering stability and cooperation in the global supply chain. Spanish companies articulated their eagerness to capitalise on their strengths in logistics, manufacturing, and energy. They also expressed their intention to participate in the upcoming CISCE actively.

During the forum, representatives from the China International Exhibition Center Group presented specific information about the third CISCE. They also signed cooperation agreements with Spanish institutions and businesses. The third CISCE is scheduled to take place from July 16-20, 2025, in Beijing. The event will highlight six key industrial chains: advanced manufacturing, clean energy, smart vehicles, digital technology, healthy living, and green agriculture. It will also feature a dedicated supply chain service area.

Ren Hongbin ended by reiterating the importance of this collaboration, stressing the need for both countries to work together to expand their economic ties and explore new opportunities in various sectors.
"Through this visit, we hope to implement the important consensus reached by our leaders and continue to strengthen the China-Spain relationship in trade and investment," Ren said.

The CISCE is going to play a vital role in empowering China's position as a global leader in supply chain innovation, fostering deeper international cooperation and creating new opportunities for companies worldwide.

Sudan, the Philippines and Malawi made notable contributions to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

More than 14,000 seed samples from 21 genebanks were deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault last month

These samples included essential varieties of sorghum and pearl millet from Sudan’s crop genebank; a collection of velvet beans from Malawi; and critical food crops from a Philippine gene bank that is being destroyed by typhoons and fires. Brazil, the host of this year’s global climate negotiations, also deposited a major collection of more than 3,000 varieties of rice, beans and maize.

Following the deposit ceremony, the first-ever Svalbard International Dialogue brought together high-level government officials, crop experts and global thought leaders to discuss the challenge of safeguarding crop diversity amid increasing environmental pressures and escalating global conflicts.

Sudan’s contribution 

Sudan made its sixth deposit of seed samples of 15 species, including many varieties of sorghum, a crop that is deeply tied to Sudanese cultural heritage, and is also a lifeline for food security in the country. With the help of the Emergency Reserve for Genebanks, hundreds of seed samples that were impacted during the civil war, were transported to NordGen to be sorted catalogued, packed and documented as part of the Sudanese deposit. These were then transported to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. 

The Philippines’ contribution 

After several seed stocks were destroyed by natural extreme events like typhoons and fires, partners from the Philippines with support from the BOLD Project, visited Svalbard to deposit seeds of eggplant, rice bean, lima bean and sorghum.

Malawi’s contribution 

Being another BOLD partner, Malawi deposited velvet beans, a crop that enables farmers to boost production and keep their soils healthy, while also offering important medicinal benefits. Velvet beans are a nitrogen-fixing legume that when used as a fertiliser can more than double maize yields. The species, which is also used in traditional medicine, boasts high levels of levodopa, a compound used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. 

“This moment is a powerful reminder that securing our food future requires collective action,” said Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust. “Through our partnerships, including the BOLD project, we’ve worked with institutions around the world to safeguard vital crop diversity.”  He further highlighted how the deposited seeds represented not only biodiversity, but also the knowledge, culture and resilience of the communities that steward them. “We must find a way to protect this crop diversity for generations to come,” Schmitz added.