Introducing the AVR Scorpio: A game-changer in potato box filling technology

As AVR celebrates its 175th anniversary, the company, a global leader in potato cultivation machinery, has planned a series of exciting product launches. The first wave includes three new machines within the crop handling range, marking a significant milestone with the introduction of the very first AVR box filler: the AVR Scorpio.

The AVR Scorpio box filler completes the AVR crop handling range, embodying the company’s commitment to user-friendliness, high capacity, and gentle product handling. The Scorpio’s capacity is equivalent to that of an experienced forklift driver, capable of filling one crate every minute.

Potato-Friendly Design

The moving main belt of the Scorpio consists of two sections with an inflection point in the middle. This design ensures that each section is longer than those in most other models on the market, resulting in low drop heights and a gentle gradient for guiding potatoes into the crate. The shallow incline eliminates the need for a profiled belt, while a simple scraper prevents dirt accumulation.

The main belt is driven by a drum motor on both sides, providing optimal and equal traction in both directions. This design allows for the use of drum motors with a smaller diameter, which minimizes drop heights, while ensuring a large enough contact surface to prevent slipping. For added protection, rubber flaps on the main belt slow the flow of potatoes as they descend.

User-Friendly and Pleasant to Operate

Operating the crate filler is easy with buttons on the electrical control box and a 7-inch intuitive touchscreen. Thanks to its fully electric control system, the Scorpio is energy-efficient, remarkably quiet, and operates smoothly.

Various sensors, including those that determine the position of the belt and a laser sensor that continuously monitors the product level in the crate, ensure crates are automatically filled from the bottom to the top with minimal drop heights throughout the process.

AVR Line Control Integration

With the installation of AVR Line Control software, the Scorpio crate filler can communicate with all other AVR machines in the crop handling line. For instance, the entire line halts when both crates are full and automatically restarts once an empty crate is positioned, and the main belt reaches the bottom of the empty crate.

If one crate is full and the other is empty, the crate filler pauses while the rest of the line and the AVR Line Control remain active. At this point, the crate filler buffers some product on the belt and switches to the empty crate, allowing a seamless transition without impacting the capacity of the crop handling line.

This buffering effect can also extend to the Mamba conveyor via AVR Line Control, optimizing overall capacity.

Flexible and Adaptable

The Scorpio can accommodate crates in nearly all conventional dimensions, thanks to its adjustable frame height and crate position. An indicator light helps forklift drivers ensure proper crate positioning.

Convenient options include an additional supply belt for extra buffer capacity and 180° supply, a frequency regulator for infinite conveyor speed adjustment, switched power outlets, and LED working lights.

In Practice

Prototypes of the Scorpio were extensively tested, receiving positive feedback from users. Series production is scheduled to begin in 2025. The Scorpio will be displayed in stationary mode at Potato Demo Day in Westmaas, the Netherlands, on August 21. It will also be presented live in a demo setup at the Potato Europe trade fair in Villers-Saint-Christophe, France, on September 11 and 12.

Technical detail

	Scorpio
Length transport mode – max. in work mode (m)	4.41 – 6.33
Height transport mode – max. in work mode (m)	2.6 – 3.48
Width transport mode (with supply belt) – max. in work mode (m)	1.57 (2.4 ) – 2.61
Crate width (m)	min. 0.90*
Crate length (m)	1.60 – 2.40*
Capacity	60 crates/hour** or 75 tons/hour