EP-FRM70 Residual Film Recovery Gearbox — 40 to 70 KW, Dual-Mode Reduction and Speed Increase

EP-FRM70 Residual Film Recovery Gearbox — Product Overview

Solving the Plastic Mulch Problem

Plastic mulch film is essential in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese agriculture — it suppresses weeds, conserves moisture, and warms soil for faster crop establishment. But after harvest, the used film must be recovered from the field to prevent soil contamination and microplastic accumulation. Residual film recovery machines perform this task mechanically, using a combination of low-speed pickup elements and high-speed processing components. The EP-FRM70 dual-mode gearbox is the power heart of these machines, providing both operating speeds from a single PTO input.

Two Dramatically Different Speeds, One Gearbox

The EP-FRM70 is unique in the Korea Ever-Power catalog: it provides both a 1.857 : 1 reduction (291 rpm) and a 0.463 : 1 speed increase (1,166 rpm) from the same unit. These are not subtle trim adjustments — the two outputs differ by a factor of 4×. The slow output drives the film pickup reel and winding mechanism at controlled speed, while the fast output drives the chopper or soil-separation rotor at the high RPM needed to shred collected film and separate soil particles.

Side-Mounted for Film Recovery Geometry

Film recovery machines use a wide, low frame with working elements positioned across the full width of the machine. The EP-FRM70 mounts on the side of this frame (hence “side box”), driving the working elements from a lateral position that aligns with the machine’s flat, wide architecture. Rated at 40–70 KW, it handles tractors in the 55–95 HP class typically used for rotary cultivator gearbox-equipped tillage and film recovery combination operations.

Full Technical Specifications — Both Operating Modes

What Residual Film Recovery Machines Do — And Why They Need Dual Speeds

Film recovery machines perform two fundamentally different mechanical tasks in a single pass across the field, and each task demands a radically different rotor speed:

Dual-Mode Architecture — Reduction and Speed Increase in One Housing

Why Not Use Two Separate Gearboxes?

Film recovery machines are already wide, low-profile equipment with limited frame space. Mounting two separate gearboxes — one reducer and one increaser — would require additional PTO splitters, separate drive shafts, and extra structural mounting provisions. The EP-FRM70 eliminates this complexity by integrating both gear trains into a single side-mounted housing. One PTO connection, one oil bath, one set of bearings, one mounting interface — and two radically different output speeds available from the same compact unit.

4× Speed Spread in a Compact Package

The EP-FRM70’s two ratios span a 4× speed range (291 to 1,166 rpm) — the widest spread of any dual-ratio gearbox in the Korea Ever-Power catalog. This extreme range is achieved through a compound gear arrangement that uses the same input pinion to drive two separate output gear trains: one reducing (larger ring gear driving smaller output) and one increasing (smaller ring gear driving larger output). Both gear trains are manufactured from the same 20CrMnTi alloy steel at 58–62 HRC and are designed for sustained simultaneous operation.

Simultaneous or Selectable Operation

Depending on the film recovery machine’s design, the EP-FRM70 can provide both outputs simultaneously (driving the pickup and chopper at the same time from separate output shafts) or selectively (switching between modes for different operational phases). The gear arrangement supports both configurations through the machine builder’s clutch or coupling arrangement on the output side. Korea Ever-Power’s engineering team assists OEM customers in selecting the correct output coupling strategy for their specific machine design.

Field Application Scenarios

Post-Harvest Mulch Film Collection

After crop harvest in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese vegetable and melon fields, the used plastic mulch film must be recovered before the next tillage operation. The EP-FRM70 drives the film recovery machine through this process: the 291 rpm pickup mode gently lifts the degraded film from the soil without tearing, while the 1,166 rpm processing mode separates soil and debris from the collected material. A single pass across the field completes both tasks.

Environmental Compliance Operations

Korea and China have increasingly strict regulations requiring complete recovery of agricultural plastic from fields to prevent soil microplastic contamination. Professional film recovery services using EP-FRM70-equipped machines provide the mechanical capability to meet these regulatory requirements efficiently. The dual-mode gearbox enables thorough recovery in a single field pass, reducing the cost of compliance for farms that would otherwise need multiple manual collection passes.

Film Recycling Preparation

Recovered agricultural film can be recycled into new plastic products — but only if the soil content is reduced to acceptable levels. The EP-FRM70’s 1,166 rpm processing mode provides the centrifugal separation speed needed to achieve the soil-removal levels that recycling facilities require. Cleaner recovered film has higher recycling value, directly improving the economic return on the recovery operation.

Why Choose the EP-FRM70

Installation & Maintenance

Mounting Procedure

❶ Mount the EP-FRM70 on the film recovery machine’s side frame using the lateral mounting interface. Align the output shafts with their respective driven elements (pickup mechanism and chopper/separator).

❷ Connect each output to its driven element using the appropriate coupling, belt, or chain arrangement specified by the machine manufacturer.

❸ Connect the PTO drive shaft to the input. Verify full spline engagement and install the safety guard.

❹ Fill gear oil (SAE 80W-90 GL-5) and run a 5-minute idle test. Verify both outputs rotate at their correct speeds (291 and 1,166 rpm), no abnormal noise, and zero oil leakage before field engagement.

Maintenance Schedule

◆ Before every recovery session — Check oil level; inspect both output couplings and input shaft seal.

◆ After first 100 hours — First oil change: drain, flush, refill.

◆ Every 400 hours — Oil change (the high-speed output generates elevated thermal load, requiring the shorter speed-increaser interval).

◆ Every 800 hours — Inspect bearings on both outputs; check gear mesh condition on both gear trains.

◆ End of film recovery season — Top off oil; clean debris from housing exterior; apply corrosion inhibitor to exposed shafts.

Companion Products & Seasonal Equipment

Tillage Gearbox Pairing

Farms using the EP-FRM70 for post-harvest film recovery typically equip the same tractor with a rotary cultivator gearbox for pre-planting tillage. Korea Ever-Power manufactures the complete range of tillage intermediate gearboxes from 40 to 150 KW, covering every tractor in the 55–200 HP class.

Seasonal Straw Equipment

Tractors equipped for film recovery also run round baler gearbox assemblies during straw baling season. Korea Ever-Power supplies the complete seasonal gearbox range to keep your tractor productive year-round across film recovery, tillage, and straw management operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews & Field Reports