ROPA at Agritechnica 2025 – Innovations in Potato and Sugar Beet Technology

• ROPA will debut the fully electric ROPA Leguan potato planter at Agritechnica 2025, featuring precise sensor technology and GPS-controlled planting for improved efficiency and sustainability.

• The Keiler 2 RK22 model introduces a hydraulic drive axle for enhanced traction and soil protection, along with the DoubleSelect system for improved crop separation and a quick-change pickup system for flexible harvesting.

• Sugar beet technology highlights include the Tiger 6S harvester with R-Flow throughput management, combined steer for better maneuverability and soil care, and the advanced Maus 6 weighing system with digital data integration.

• ROPA and Fendt collaborate on the e-LS connect system enabling fully electronic hydraulic communication, enhancing responsiveness and reducing energy consumption, available from 2026.

• A limited edition 1:32 scale Keiler 2 model will be offered exclusively at Agritechnica as a collector's item.

True to the motto 'Innovative, customer- and practice-oriented', ROPA will be presenting numerous innovations in potato and sugar beet technology at Agritechnica 2025 in Hanover.

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The family-owned company from Lower Bavaria clearly illustrates how precise sensor technology, state-of-the-art hydraulics and practice-oriented machine concepts can further improve efficiency, sustainability and user-friendliness in harvesting technology.
As always, ROPA's philosophy remains unchanged: Technology designed by farmers for farmers.

Potato Technology

Debut at Agritechnica – ROPA Leguan embodies precision in planting technology

The company is presenting its first electrically powered potato planter, the ROPA Leguan, thereby expanding its product portfolio to machines for spring season. This machine combines utmost precision, intelligent control and consistent usability.

A fully electric drive of the laying components via brushless servo motors with CAN bus control forms the core of the machine. The integrated 48 V power supply system enables precise speed control for perfect planting distances – regardless of driving speed or ground conditions.

With Section Control and Variable Rate Control, planting elements, seed treatment equipment and micro-granular spreaders can be controlled individually via GPS. This concept allows site-specific adjustment of planting distances, saving on operating resources and reducing nutrient inputs.

The automatic depth guide via ultrasonic sensors regulates the planting depth in real time.

The milling cutter with a central gear unit ensures optimum weight distribution and even power transmission to the milling shaft. Thanks to its external width of 3 metres, the machine can be driven on public roads without requiring a special approval.

The modular design with foldable and removable ridge shaper reduces weight when driving on public roads, simplifies filling of the bunker and provides options for quick change between different ridge shaping devices.

With the Leguan, ROPA enters a new market segment and sets standards for precision in the planting technology. The market launch is expected in 2027.

Keiler 2 RK22 with drive axle, DoubleSelect and quick-change system

Drive axle for better traction and soil protection

At the trade fair, ROPA will be exhibiting the Keiler 2 RK22 model with an overloading bunker, a new hydraulic box filler, DoubleSelect and a fully hydraulic drive axle.

The powerful Black Bruin wheel motors are integrated into both wheel hubs, which, in conjunction with a separate hydraulic pump, ensure maximum thrust and traction.

ROPA has developed a control block that enables sensitive control of the drive axle and smooth engagement while driving.
An integrated anti-slip regulation (ASR) prevents wheels from spinning. It significantly improves driving performance, protects the soil structure and increases operational safety on wet surface and slopes.

DoubleSelect – increased separation performance with more options

The DoubleSelect system enhances the separation performance of the Keiler 2 thanks to an additional triple UFK unit (rotating finger comb) installed on the second pintle belt. Optionally, the DoubleSelect has a separate trash track and an additional sorting platform.

Early separation of clods and stones significantly clears the crop flow in the front area, i.e. damage to the potatoes is reduced and the harvesting speed can be increased.

Rotational speed of double UFK rows can be adjusted simultaneously and independently of each other. Alternatively, the UFK units can be equipped with rotating brushes (UBK). The drive power corresponds to the standard 4-pintle solution, which makes cleaning highly energy-efficient.

All said above results in a noticeably increased separation efficiency and even gentler high-performance harvesting.

Quick-change system – flexibility for different pickup options

The ROPA quick-change system is a special feature of the Keiler, which allows the pickup to be changed for different crops in a very short time.
This system was introduced in 2015 and has been constantly developed since then. Today it is considered one of the most practical concepts for flexible switching when harvesting different crops.

Just one person without any special tools can change the pickup in a matter of minutes, e.g. from potatoes to onions, carrots or other crops. ROPA offers a wide range of pickup units, perfectly designed for different operating conditions:
Pickups with ridge rollers, skids or swath pickups, models with or without ridge rollers as well as all-round pickups for different crops.

On the all-round pickup, the ridge rollers can be hung upwards so that depth guide is alternatively performed via the support wheels.
The quick-change system reduces downtime, increases utilisation efficiency and ensures maximum flexibility when harvesting different crops.

In this way, ROPA skilfully demonstrates how modular design and practical effectiveness can be optimally combined to offer a clear advantage in modern farming.

Further highlights in potato technology

Keiler 2 Classic RK22 with XL bunker and bunker articulation for maximum power

Hydraulic box filler for overloading bunker – convenient immediate loading

Twin Clean is a new optional split of the first sieve conveyor into a lifting chain and a sieve conveyor.

Automatic bunker chain lubrication reduces maintenance requirements and extends the service life of the conveyor chains

e-LS connect – digital hydraulic connection

In collaboration with Fendt, ROPA will be presenting the new e-LS connect system at Agritechnica, which for the first time enables fully electronic communication of the hydraulic pressure via ISOBUS, without any load sensing hoses.

The e-LS connect system demonstrates its advantages in practical use, e.g. on the Keiler 2 RK22. The hydraulic functions respond more quickly, smoothly and precisely, while the energy consumption is reduced. Loss of oil and contamination are prevented as no separate load sensing line and coupling are required.

The system will be available from 2026 via a software update for ROPA RK22 Keilers already in use. From June 2026, already operating Fendt tractors of the 500 Vario Gen4, 600 Vario, 700 Vario Gen7/7.1 and 800 Vario Gen5 series can be prepared for e-LS connect via a software update.

Thus, ROPA and Fendt have jointly created a milestone on the path towards standardised, digital hydraulic connection in agriculture.

Sugar Beet Technology

Even more efficient and soil-friendly Tiger 6S with R-Flow and combined steer

The ROPA Tiger 6S is the flagship of sugar beet harvesting technology, considered the most powerful beet harvester in the world.

Its patented R-Soil Protect chassis provides maximum soil protection with the highest traction and driving comfort. The hydraulically coupled axle load distribution automatically transfers the load evenly to all wheels, thus reducing swaying movements by up to 2/3 and ensuring that the lifting unit remains precisely positioned at the correct height, even on slopes.

On slopes, the chassis remains horizontal on inclines of up to 10%, which significantly improves traction and stability. R-Soil Protect is a prime example of the ROPA's systematic approach to sustainable soil protection and increased efficiency.

R-Flow is an intelligent system that manages the cleaning units and driving speed for maximum throughput

With R-Flow, ROPA introduces a new assistance system that monitors the cleaning units and automatically regulates the throughput.

If an overload is imminent, the system adjusts the speed of the cleaning units and, if necessary, reduces the driving speed to maintain the throughput at the specified maximum. This helps to avoid blockages, keeps harvesting performance at an optimum level and significantly reduces the workload for the driver.

The combined steer for extreme manoeuvrability and soil protection

It's a new steering mode that combines U-turn steer and offset-steer in one smart operation. The combined mode offers the best of both steers: The maximum manoeuvrability of the U-turn steer and the soil-preserving characteristics of the offset-steer, which is usually activated when driving through the beet crop.

The articulation and rear axles follow the steering movements of the front axle, thus ensuring the usual agility. When driving straight ahead, the rear end automatically assumes an offset-steer position allowing the machine to react dynamically, turn precisely in tight spaces, and simultaneously protect the soil.

This steering mode can be activated at any time via a button, and the side to which the rear end should swing out can also be selected directly via the joystick. The combined steer allows you to return quickly to the row without manual switching, especially at the headlands. This results in a significant gain in efficiency and comfort.

Integrated joystick drive mode

The driver can choose whether to operate the machine as usually with the accelerator pedal or alternatively using the right joystick. The desired drive mode can be activated by pressing the corresponding button on the control panel. Thus, the machine can be operated even more simply and ergonomically either with the accelerator pedal or the joystick.

Interface for Agrarmonitor and ISOXML data

The customers who use Agrarmonitor software to manage, plan and invoice their vehicle fleets from different manufacturers can now transfer the telemetry data from their ROPA self-propelled machines (beet harvesters built in 2017 or later) live to Agrarmonitor via an interface.

In R-Connect, the order management for beet harvesters has been expanded by an ISOXML export function for each completed harvesting order.

All errors saved in the machine control system can now be displayed both in the myROPA platform and on the machine terminal. This helps machine owners and service partners to further increase availability and operational reliability.
This function is available as standard on Panther 2S, Tiger 6S, Maus 6 and Keiler 2.

Furthermore, numerous detailed improvements increase the durability, operational reliability and user-friendliness of ROPA machines – for even more efficient and cost-effective beet harvesting.

Maus 6 – weighing system with a new weighing mechanism under the CAN bus weighing cells

ROPA also consistently refines the technical features of the Maus 6.
The latest weighing system has a new frame design for the truck conveyor articulated section. The support arms for the right and left weighing rollers are mounted on separate bearing units and each suspended on a separate CAN bus weighing cell.
Load on the conveyor generated by the weight of the beets is introduced separately via 2 × 3 support rollers.

The new mechanism is resistant to twisting of the truck conveyor. With simplified wiring, the measured data can be transferred directly to ROPA's own electronics and software, eliminating the need for an additional computer module for weight calculation, unlike in the past. It reduces complexity and fault probability.

An inclination sensor compensates for different loading angles of the truck conveyor, while diagonally mounted support rollers are self-cleaning.
In the truck conveyor frame, there are now four rollers instead of two, for smoother feeding of the turnips into the weighing section.

For each loading or weighing operation, the machine settings and all scale parameters, such as calibration value, zero point adjustment, conveyor inclination and speed, are automatically transferred to the ROPA R-Connect platform, assigned to the loading position. The data for each load is digitally documented and can be analysed and exported for greater transparency in logistics and accurate invoicing.

If the Maus 6 is equipped with an R-Connect monitor, an image of the beet pile in front of the cab is also saved for each load. This gives the organisation and operation management even better insight into the conditions during loading without them being directly on site.

A new interface of the Maus 6 allows to transmit the weight of each load determined by the Maus scale via WLAN to the logistics computer of the sugar factory installed in the cabin. The logistics computer can then compare it with the actual payload of the vehicle being loaded. A comparison report between the weight recorded by the Maus scale and the sugar factory scale can also be generated automatically without any paperwork for the Maus operator.

A limited edition of the Keiler 2 collection model for Agritechnica

Collectors and ROPA fans can look forward to a special highlight. At Agritechnica, ROPA is going to present an exclusive Keiler model in 1:32 scale, with the iconic slogan 'Nothing is hotter than the Keiler' on the rear.

The highly-detailed model, created in collaboration with ROS, impresses with its precise craftsmanship and numerous true-to-life features such as a swivelling drawbar, height-adjustable support foot, movable ridge rollers and a bunker with articulation. The special edition, limited to just 500 pieces, will be available exclusively during the trade fair at the ROPA stand for €185 (including VAT), while stocks last.