In the Austrian region of Styria, the pumpkin is an integral part of life. Bernhard Pfeiffer, Managing Director of the machine builder ASCON3, also feels a strong connection to the region and its agricultural tradition. It is, above all, the technical side of the pumpkin harvest that he has always been fascinated by. He finally materialised his vision of the ideal harvester in 2019 with his own company. "We wanted to engineer the pumpkin harvesting technique better than ever before," explains Bernhard Pfeiffer, describing his ambition at the time. Today, just four years after its foundation, the "market leader since 2020" has 12 employees and supplies around 70 per cent of the total domestic demand for harvesting vehicles with machines "100% made in Austria". They are considered easy to maintain; upgrades can also be retrofitted to early models, and the materials used are optimised for maximum performance. ASCON3 also places a high value on exemplary service and a seamless supply of spare parts around the clock.
The single-axis ASCON3 machines are comparatively heavy: they weigh around 6 tonnes. This means that each tyre has to bear 3,000 kilograms. When it came to choosing the tread for his machines, Bernhard Pfeiffer therefore opted for two extremely rugged and wear-resistant tyres from the global brand BKT. Alexander Tischler, Managing Director of the tyre wholesaler Bohnenkamp Austria, personally assisted the Austrian machine manufacturer in his search for the right tread.
The "pumpkin harvest" application scenario: speed, road portion, axle load
"If we consider the application profile in pumpkin harvesting, we reach a maximum speed of 6 km/h in the pumpkin field. Depending on the distribution of the agricultural land, a road portion may also have to be taken into consideration, which may account for around a third of the tractor hours. Added to this is the enormous axle load. The Austrian subsidiary of the German Bohnenkamp SE ultimately recommended two extremely resilient BKT profiles: the flotation tyre TR 678 and the FL630 Ultra/Super.
Zum BKT TR 678 in the ShopZum BKT FL 630 Super in the Shop
BKT TR 678 and BKT FL630 Ultra/Super mounted on special rims
Together, the two tyres cover a wide range of application scenarios. While the stable TR 678 offers secure lateral support on slopes and terrain even under high loads, the FL630 Ultra/Super is recommended as a good alternative with all-rounder qualities for a high proportion of on-road driving. Both tyres are delivered by Bohnenkamp fully-mounted on special rims with high offsets directly to the ASCON3 production site near the Slovenian border. So far, customer feedback has been positive: "Our customers tell us that the treads are suitable for the application," confirms Bernhard Pfeiffer. He is also impressed by the delivery reliability and adherence to deadlines that Bohnenkamp Austria demonstrates in its cooperation with ASCON3, "and the price-performance ratio is spot on too!" In the future, buyers of the pumpkin harvesting machines should have a further low-pressure tyre to choose from, however, the decision on this tread has not yet been made.
Bohnenkamp – partner for manufacturers and machine builders since 1950
Bohnenkamp SE provides machine builders with significant advantages in the selection and assembly of wheels with regard to variety, availability and reliability. The high assembly capacity of 17 state-of-the-art stations and the world's first fully automatic wheel assembly machine enable the daily production of more than 1,000 individually configured complete wheels. The Osnabrück-based wholesaler for commercial vehicle tyres uses a concentricity-optimised assembly process where the highest point of the rim is aligned with the lowest point of the tyre, resulting in commercial vehicle tyres with exceptionally smooth running. The experts at Bohnenkamp support machine builders from the individual wheel configuration to the finished assembly, including specific adaptations from rim well depth to brand-compliant painting.
The individually agreed delivery terms to the customer's production site are carried out flexibly according to the manufacturer's specifications and adapted to delivery times, packaging preferences and other individual requirements. Comprehensive guidance from the 3D drawing to the finished wheel, along with the provision of technical certificates, ensures the highest quality and supports compliance with technical standards and approval criteria. Bohnenkamp is known as a reliable partner for machine manufacturers who count on precision, individuality and quality.
ASCON3 – A portrait of the machine manufacturer from Styria
Ascon3 PHÖNIX GmbH is an Austrian company that specialises in the further development of pumpkin harvesting machines. By acquiring the expertise of AgroStahl Maschinenfabrik GmbH in 2019, ASCON3 has established itself as a leader in innovation, particularly with the successful development of the ASCON3 Phoenix pumpkin seed harvester. ASCON3 offers a comprehensive range of products, including not only the Phoenix and Taurus pumpkin harvesters, but also pumpkin rakes, washing machines and drying systems. A comprehensive technical service and a seamless supply of spare parts round off the range of services. As a proud participant in the pumpkin-growing industry in southern Styria, the company is committed to innovation, premium quality and regionality.
