Pruning is one of the most labour-intensive parts of vineyard management, especially in the UK, where achieving the right crop load and vine balance is critical. And while battery-powered secateurs, like the Felco Powerblade and cordless Felco 834s, quickly come to mind, more mechanical options often get overlooked.
For vineyard managers looking to streamline pruning, specialist vineyard machinery from German manufacturer ERO is designed to make pruning faster, more consistent, and far less dependent on large teams of seasonal labour.
Used together, the ERO BINGER Mechanical Pre-Pruner VSL 07 P and the ERO VITECO cane puller transform the pruning process from start to finish.
The mechanical pre-pruner removes a significant proportion of unwanted growth before manual pruning begins. In practice, this typically removes around 20 to 30% percent of the wood, including fine ends and tangled tendrils that slow down hand work. By clearing this material early, the time and effort needed for cane pulling and finishing work is greatly reduced.
The ERO mechanical pre pruner is well suited to established vineyards trained on single- or double-Guyot systems. It uses counter rotating serrated shearing disks to remove between 40 and 105cm of canes and tendrils from the wires. This creates a clean and uniform working area that allows pruning teams to move through the vineyard more quickly and with greater accuracy.
The shearing disks are built to handle dense vine growth while maintaining cutting performance over long periods of use. This reduces maintenance demands and supports reliable operation throughout the pruning season.
The pre-pruner can also be adjusted to leave longer canes where required. This allows sacrificial canes to be retained as frost protection or gives greater control over bud numbers depending on vineyard strategy.
The pre-pruner now also features VITIassist, a camera-based opening system that brings a new level of automation and accuracy to vineyard pruning. Using a combination of camera technology and artificial intelligence, VITIassist recognises every type of post without any physical contact. Its key strength is its immediate and reliable response, even in challenging vineyard conditions. Operators can work at speeds of up to 8kph, increasing daily output without increasing fatigue. The system is easy to operate and can be switched on or off directly from the terminal, with manual opening still available when required. All parameters can be adjusted from the terminal while driving, and the system automatically adapts itself to working conditions.
VITIassist continues to function securely even in dense foliage and a full canopy. It also works reliably at night or in poor light, giving greater flexibility during busy periods. Reverse travel within the row is possible, and the compact design of the machine ensures good manoeuvrability, even on slopes or uneven ground.
Once pruning is complete, the ERO VITECO cane puller takes over the physically demanding task of removing the canes. This stage of vineyard work is not only labour intensive but is also carried out during the coldest and wettest months of the year. It is slow, uncomfortable, and heavily dependent on large numbers of workers.
The VITECO cane puller strips and mulches canes in a single pass, removing the need for most manual handling. It raises the movable bending and fruiting wires on the machine side of the trellis and guides them into the machine head. From there, all woody shoots, tendrils, and fruiting canes are stripped cleanly from the wires, leaving almost nothing behind.
Any canes that are wrapped or tied to the wires are shredded as they pass through the mulcher. The debris is spread evenly across the vineyard floor. Growers can choose whether to leave this material as it is or make a further pass with a pulveriser. Using a machine such as the Perfect Van Wamel KK 150 with side chutes allows the mulch to be refined further and spread directly under the vines.
Cane stripping typically accounts for between 35 and 60 labour hours per hectare, depending on grape variety and vineyard structure. Traditionally, this means employing large teams of seasonal workers, often ten to 15 people, which brings additional administrative cost and the ongoing challenge of recruitment.
With the ERO VITECO, the same task can be completed by just three people. One walks ahead to check pruning quality and unhook the wire, one operates the tractor and machine, and one follows behind to reposition the wire correctly. Removing and resetting the fruiting wires takes around six hours per hectare and can be completed immediately after with minimal physical effort.
ERO estimates that the VITECO can save between 30 and 50 labour hours per hectare. For vineyards over 35hectares, this can mean a return on investment within the first full season of use.
To operate effectively, vineyards should have rows of at least 70metres in length, with all wires on the machine side of the trellis being removable. The VITECO is compatible with narrow tractors from 70hp upwards and is supplied with the VITIpower 60 hydraulic system, running at a maximum PTO speed of 540rpm and delivering 60 litres per minute.
Together, the ERO mechanical pre-pruner with VITIassist and the ERO VITECO cane puller offer a practical, modern approach to vineyard pruning. They reduce reliance on large labour teams, improve consistency, and turn one of the most demanding vineyard tasks into a faster, more predictable operation.
For more information on how these machines could support your vineyard operations, contact the NP Seymour sales team on 01580 712200 or email sales@npseymour.co.uk.
