Farmers Review Africa March/April 2020 Farmers Review Africa March - April 2020 digital ( | Page 14
FEATURE
Case IH tractors play key role in turning
sugarcane waste into valuable commodity
W
ith energy generated from renewable
sources predicted to be among the
major sources of power in the next
decade, a company in the Philippines is tackling
the challenge head-on and turning trash into a
highly prized commodity. Paul said when looking for an equipment supplier,
they recognised Case IH’s position as a leading
provider of technology solutions, with a state-of-
the-art machinery line-up that assisted Biopower
in sustaining the fuel supply necessary for their
electricity obligations.
Biopower is constructing three biomass power
stations on Negros, the fourth largest island of
the Philippines, with the aim of producing a total
of 72 megawatts of green baseload power to
feed into the local grid as well as for export to
surrounding islands. The company has purchased over 100 Case IH
machines including Farmlift telehandlers and
Farmall, Maxxum and Puma tractors through
Filholland, the distributor of Case IH machinery
in the Philippines.
The key to this clean, green energy is the waste
products from the harvest of the local sugarcane
crop, the trash that would previously have been
left on the ground once the sugarcane was taken
from the fields. The collection of this waste is a
crucial part of Biopower’s operation and one
they’ve entrusted to Case IH, one of the world’s
leading agricultural machinery brands.
“The cane farmers leave the trash after the
harvest, and we move into the field with our
equipment and collect it, taking it to the power
station for burning in a controlled environment
to produce electricity,” said Paul Coveny, Vice-
President Biomass Operations and Materials
Management for Biopower.
Tractors and other associated machinery need to
collect the trash and get it to the power station
as quickly and efficiently as possible, Paul said,
and Case IH is delivering on every one of these
requirements.
12 | March - April 2020
“Our operation has a very small window to
do what we need to do, so we needed reliable
tractors that could operate continuously, 24 hours
a day,” Paul said.
“The technology in these Case IH tractors has
given us that reliability, and along with the support
of Filholland, they deliver what we need in the
short time we have.”
For the Biopower staff who operate the fleet
of Case IH tractors, there’s no doubting their
satisfaction with the machines. Paul said the
operators regularly commented on the ease of
operation, power and speed of the tractors, and
the technology features that made their job easier.
Staff also had high praise for the training offered
by Filholland on the tractors and telehandlers.
Biopower has also been able to install GPS-trackers
and data loggers into the tractor fleet that identify
each machine’s location and provide detailed
information on what they’re doing and how they’re
doing it at any given time—it basically provides a
live, real-time overview of the entire operation.
The Case IH Farmall JX is one of the models used
in the Biopower operation, a small tractor designed
with manoeuvrability, visibility and handling top
of mind. Powered by an upgraded 8000 Series,
Tier 3 turbo-charged engine to provide optimum
fuel efficiency and maximum power, the Farmall
JX also offers logically-positioned controls with
clear, concise instrumentation that make tasks
less arduous when in the field all day.
Paul said the performance of the Case IH tractors
and telehandlers had been everything they’d
expected and this, coupled with the 24-hour
service and support, service updates and training
provided by Filholland, confirmed they’d made
the right choice. When it came to running a high-
pressure, round-the-clock operation like that of
Biopower, Paul said, it was reassuring to have the
peace of mind of reliable machinery, and support
and assistance when and where it was needed.
“My experience in the sugar industry in Australia
means I’ve seen a lot of Case IH equipment,
and know the reputation of their tractors and
harvesters, so I had the confidence in the brand
to introduce it here onto Negros,” Paul said.
“Case IH is well-known worldwide, and with a
good partner like Filholland I’d have no hesitation
in recommending their products to anyone in
the Philippines. “The brand has a great support
network, it’s a quality product and that’s important
when you’re running any business.”