Working with XLander. A whole new level

If you think that working with an XLander is similar to working with any other cultivator, you are completely mistaken. As we say, the XLander is no ordinary cultivator, and it isn’t, primarily because of the way it’s built (central chassis, hydraulic systems, offset arms, etc.) And secondly, because after many hours of work, we couldn’t find a single thing to improve… it’s a brilliant implement. We cannot say that it is a perfect aperitif, because nothing in life is perfect, but we can say that Ovlac has a top-quality product with manufacturing standards (design, sturdiness, effectiveness, durability, maintenance, etc.) of the very highest calibre.

Having said that, which is essentially our personal assessment after a year of working with it, we’d like to introduce the Ovlac XLander range of cultivators:

• The XLander range is manufactured with 2 or 3 rows of staggered arms for a “V” flow that allows the circulation of abundant trash.
• In two rows, we have models ranging from 9 arms to 27 arms, that is to say, from a working width of 2.45 metres to 7.35 metres.
• In 3 rows, we have between 13 and 31 arms, that is to say, a working width of between 3 metres and 7.15 metres.
• A 100% maintenance-free elastomer-based safety system,
• No play or wear
• Reach of over 30 cm
• Totally silent during operation
• High-yield-strength (HYS) steels are used at all critical points. Furthermore, all the main components (frame, headstock, clamps) are robot-welded.
• Transport width of up to 3 metres.
• 74 cm under-frame clearance.
• Row spacing 86 cm (2 rows) and 63 cm (3 rows).
• Tine spacing 27 cm (2 rows) and 23 cm (3 rows).
• hydraulic lock as standard for safe road transport.
• Various wheel configurations for precise control of working depth.
• Wide range of accessories
• Rollers: notched-plate, bar and V-Ring, with diameters ranging from 400 mm to 540 mm
• Tine harrows with 1, 2 or 3 rows of 10 mm and 16 mm tines
• Knife coulters
• Levelling boards

The XLander range is rounded off by the towed XLander-GC models, which have a working width of up to 10 metres... But that’s another story, which we’ll tell you about some other time. In the meantime, we’re carrying on working and enjoying our XLander-2-21-P.

Versión en español.

Grape Harvest with Bodegas Coronado

​One of the traditional activities in September is the grape harvest. This year, with the summer being so hot and dry, the harvest has come early, and many vineyards have had to be harvested in the last few days of August. As of today, the grape harvest is practically over, whereas years ago we remember harvesting for much of the month of October.

​Another notable change in this project has been mechanization... Most of the vineyards are set up for mechanized harvesting, so this work is much faster. Mechanization represents a major leap forward in terms of controlling the grapes that arrive at the winery, since harvesting usually takes place at night (due to lower temperatures), and it also eliminates the labor shortage, which in recent years has become one of the biggest problems (along with drought and high input costs) facing the Spanish agricultural sector.

​As for Bodegas Coronado, it is a winery that has been located in our town (La Alberca de Záncara, Cuenca) since 2002. They produce white wines (Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc), red wines (Petit Verdot and Merlot), and sparkling white wine (85% Macabeo and 15% Sauvignon Blanc). For years, they have been receiving awards thanks to the excellent work they are doing, the most important of which was the “Grand Golden Bacchus” awarded in 2023 for their 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, which they call “Charcón Alegría.” It is a very prestigious award that not all wineries have received. Bodegas Coronado is the first winery in Cuenca to win it and the third in Castilla-La Mancha.

​As for the grape harvest, we encourage you to watch our two videos, in which we explain the process that takes place in the vineyard and, above all, when the grapes arrive at the winery. We also recommend a visit to Bodegas Coronado, where they frequently host wine tastings, guided tours of the vineyards, and very interesting culinary events.

Versión en español.