The PRIOS 440 now with chassis for bed cultivation

For the 2025 season, GRIMME is introducing the new PRIOS 440 cup planter as a version for growing potatoes in (separated) beds. Two years after the launch of the PRIOS 440, the portfolio of the 4-row trailed planter has now been expanded to include this cultivation method.

Picture: The PRIOS 440 BED can be used in both separated/destoned and pre-tilled beds. (©GRIMME)

The modular design familiar from the conventional PRIOS 440 planter can also be found in the bed version. Thanks to the new axle, a generous steering angle of +/-30° is now possible, which ensures maximum manoeuvrability on the headlands. Despite the recesses in the hopper required for the chassis, it still has a capacity of 4 tonnes. The ridge shaping unit for ‘hybrid ridges’ (which combines the advantages of ridge forming with cage rollers with those of shaping boards) known from the PRIOS 440 is also available in the bed version.

Separate depth guidance

The PRIOS 440 bed features individual depth control of the furrow openers for each of the two beds. This enables the machine to achieve an exact placement depth for the tubers, even on uneven surfaces. One skid is used per bed to scan the beds for exact depth control. The coverage of the tubers is also measured behind the planting elements using an ultrasonic sensor. 

Picture: The centre ridging body ensures a full ridge build-up even on uneven beds. (©GRIMME)

Completely integrated Section Control

In order to save money and resources, the fertiliser box, the barrel system and the planting elements can be switched on/off separately from each other and for each row individually via Section Control (single-row switch on/off with so-called "Multiboom function"). This can significantly reduce nutrient inputs into the environment, especially when creating spraying tracks or planting on wedge-shaped fields. Unnecessary pulverisation of the fertiliser in the fertiliser box is prevented by the row-specific shut-off of the metering auger and the agitator shaft. 

Optional equipment

To keep the soil in the bed in the best possible way, optional soil guiding plates can be fitted to the coulters, which are used for fertiliser application. A fill level sensor is also available for the fertiliser box. The early warning prevents parts of the field / of the tubers from being unintentionally left unfertilised.