CTM’s 50th 9000

CTM have supplied their 50^th 9000 Series beet cleaner loader to one of their oldest customers: M E Ayres & Sons Ltd of Stanhoe, a family business who bought their first CTM machine in 1982 and will be using this their eighth machine across North Norfolk.

The 9003XL RC is one of CTM’s most advanced 9000 Series cleaner
loader with 6 tons/minute throughput, wide slewing elevator, PRECLEANER and
powered wheel drive and steering with remote radio control. The motorised self-drive system permits the operator to move the cleaner loader along the clamp without diverting the loading shovel or moving the wagon. The multi functional remote control panel
can be worked either from the ground or on the loader.

Ayres load around 100,000 tons of sugar beet a year on farms across North West Norfolk, from Hunstanton to Fakenham and down to Castle Acre. They do this with the 9000 Series cleaner loader plus a backup CTM 500 Series cleaner with pick off conveyor. This is particularly useful, explains Gary Ayres, for loading beet with high trash content, stones or rot. Beet is hauled in a fleet of five beet lorries. The company also operates a similar number of grain lorries.

The business started when Gary’s father Mick came out of the army in 1954 and had the opportunity to buy a local coal merchant business and subsequently invested in lorries to haul coal from the Midland collieries. By 1960 he was hauling beet for local farmers into the King’s Lynn factory.

Today all loads go into the Wissington factory. The family have their specific roles: Gary is in charge of transport, Stephen looks after
equipment and maintenance and Andrew and Jonathan drive and provide backup where required.

When it came to selecting the new 9003XL, Gary and Stephen considered the alternative of a self-propelled ROPA euro Maus. “While 100,000 tons can justify a ‘Maus, we felt we would lose the flexibility we get with the two CTM machines” says Gary.

The photo, taken at the Royal Norfolk Show: L to R Andrew Ayres, Gary Ayres, Jonathan Ayres and Nigel Mountain.