Off-Ground Harvesting: How the Flory COE C7 Shaker, L2 Receiver and B8 Cart Work Together

What is off-ground harvesting?

With off-ground harvesting, the crop falls onto catching platforms during shaking and is conveyed straight into bins or a cart, instead of being shaken onto the ground, then swept and picked up in later passes. Flory Industries, which acquired COE Orchard Equipment in 2023, builds equipment for both methods. Its COE catching sets are a premium, configurable option: programmable shaking, crop-specific equipment, bin or bulk handling and dealer support.

Less labour, faster harvesting, more control

Manual harvesting can become a bottleneck when large orchards need to be harvested within a short window. Mechanised off-ground harvesting reduces reliance on seasonal labour by combining shaking, catching and crop transfer in one coordinated operation. Keeping the crop off the ground also reduces soil contact and removes the need for separate sweeping and pickup passes, helping suitable orchards harvest more efficiently and move the crop onward sooner.

How the Flory COE C7 Shaker and L2 Receiver work together

The two machines work on opposite sides of the tree, with the trunk between their catching platforms. The Flory COE C7 Shaker clamps the trunk and shakes it with ESHAKE, a programmable shake system that lets operators set shake profiles for different crops, tree sizes and conditions and repeat them consistently. Trees still respond differently, so operator judgement remains important.

The Flory COE L2 Receiver collects the falling crop and lifts it with a 90-degree or 45-degree elevator into a bin or the Flory COE B8 Cart. Its standard trash blower removes leaves, and the optional de-sticker and trash cleaner helps remove sticks and debris before the crop reaches the processing line. That option is not compatible with the 45-degree elevator.

Bins or the Flory COE B8 Cart?

Neither option is better in every orchard. The choice depends on the crop, post-harvest handling and orchard layout.

• Bins: the L2 can be configured to handle one bin at a time. The straight-through bin shuttle with covered-belt mini conveyor is an option, not standard on every L2, and carries four empty bins plus the bin being filled. Bins suit crops that should not travel in bulk, but the machines stop while bins are moved, and extra staff may be needed.
• B8 Cart: the B8 is hitched to the L2, filled from its conveyor and needs no separate operator. Hydraulic Power Assist Wheels, standard on the B8, help on difficult ground and slopes. Its capacity of about 11.9 m³ can balance a substantial load with manageable orchard logistics: compared with smaller carts, it can mean fewer unloading stops and, depending on the operation, less need for support equipment. Bulk handling is generally faster and suits crops that tolerate it, such as almonds and pistachios.

An L2 can also be ordered for both bin and bulk handling. It works in one mode at a time, and a changeover takes about one working day.

Which crops suit an off-ground harvester?

COE catching sets can be configured for almonds, pistachios, olives, sweet and sour cherries, peaches and plums for prunes.

For almonds and pistachios, the recommended base set pairs a 74 hp C7 and standard head with a 90-degree L2 fitted with a de-sticker and bulk handling, and the B8 Cart offers a mesh chain option for almonds.

For olives, the C7 Olive Frame has a chassis about 152 mm longer to carry a larger shaker head and its carriage. The wide-opening olive head takes trunks up to about 51 cm in diameter, compared with about 36 cm for the standard head. A 139 hp engine on the C7 is recommended because it can improve fruit removal, and the L2 has its own olive de-sticker option.

For peaches and plums for prunes, a 45-degree L2 gives sensitive fruit a gentler transfer. Cherries have dedicated options on both machines, and some growers collect them into water-filled bins, which requires a three-way fork on the L2. Shaking does not suit every fresh-market crop, so fresh-market harvesting and water-filled bins are assessed case by case.

Will it fit your orchard?

The set suits a variety of tree spacings, but not every configuration fits every orchard. These manufacturer guides are a starting point:

• Rows: about 4.9 m may be possible only with a single-bin arrangement; about 5.2 m is tight but can work with an offset bin shuttle, and the straight-through shuttle needs about 5.5 m.
• Trees: at least about 2.45 m between trunk centres. Clear trunk height below the first branches, trunk diameter (normally at least about 13 cm) and tree size are assessed for each orchard.
• Row ends and terrain: about 9 m is a practical turning space for bin-handling configurations, while a towed B8 Cart needs more. Berms, slopes and ground conditions are assessed for the chosen system.

Which configurations and options are available?

Growers are not limited to one fixed machine arrangement. OVE can assess the orchard and select from multiple Flory configurations and options to suit the crop, trees, terrain and handling requirements.

• Both machines: open operator station or air-conditioned cab; 74 hp as standard, 139 hp where applicable (on the L2, for bulk handling only) or a 99 hp Tier 3 engine for certain export markets; the AXIOM lift for raised working positions and berms; and TRAX tracks on new machines for suitable difficult ground, within slope limits.
• C7 Shaker: the Olive Frame, crop-specific shaker heads and weight packages, deck and cut-out sizes for different tree spacings, and raised mid and top decks for cherries and peaches.
• L2 Receiver: white cherry belts and a narrow flipper for close plantings, plus the handling choices above.

Further options are available; OVE confirms compatibility before quoting.

Where to buy Flory COE off-ground equipment in Europe and Asia

OVE is an authorised Flory dealer serving growers from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, through Serbia and other Balkan countries, to Türkiye, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan. OVE provides configuration selection, logistics, commissioning, operator training and spare parts, and machines carry the manufacturer's warranty under the applicable terms. Details are on the Flory COE C7 Shaker, Flory COE L2 Receiver and Flory COE B8 Cart pages.

Tell us about your orchard

Send OVE your country, crop, orchard layout and preferred handling, bins or bulk. We will tell you whether a C7 and L2 set fits and which configuration makes sense. Email info@ove-europe.com or export@ove-europe.com, or message +34 627 04 08 64 or +34 667 54 97 26 on WhatsApp.

For general information only. Information may become outdated and does not replace site-specific professional advice. Consult a qualified agronomist and confirm equipment suitability with OVE before acting.