Profi May 2021

They say April is a month for spring cleaning. Excellent. We’ll take that as an excuse to air at least some of the contents of our grumble cupboard, to get a few machinery sector niggles off our collective chest. Let’s kick off with power requirement. Why is it that so many implement manufacturers publish minimum requirement figures that are optimistic at best and, in some cases, downright misleading? Cynics would suggest that, if a more realistic statistic was quoted, potential buyers might well look elsewhere, as they’ve been put off by the prospect of having to invest in a new and more powerful tractor to pull or lift their intended purchase. So, what happens if, based on the questionable brochure claim, these customers do go ahead and buy? Ultimately, everyone…

Philipp Horsh recently posted a video of a self-propelled seed cart/hopper on Twitter. Our photographer Stefan Tovornik, stitched together the video footage to create this image. Mr Horsch replied to a number of comments with additional information “it is a hydrostatic transmission to begin with, but we are working on a vario transmission for the series production.” He goes on to say that they will have the machine in the field in April/May and it is one of three different autonomous approaches. In the video you can clearly hear a diesel engine, Mr Horsch adding that the power unit has 400hp. The prototype looks to be fitted with a Claas track system, the same as that used on the Axion 900 Terra Trac. JCB strengthens coverage Compass Tractors and Redlynch Agricultural Engineering have…

Already enabling a combine to guide a tractor and trailer alongside the harvester, Machine Sync is now also available for on-the-move exchange of machine data to automatically control the speed and travel direction of self-propelled forage harvesters, tractors and trailers. The company reckons trailed potato, carrot and vegetable harvester operators will benefit from the technology, especially during long days and nights. Machine Sync is also claimed to deliver significant assistance and productivity gains during planting applications. Awarded with an innovation award silver medal at Agritechnica 2011, and introduced in 2012, Machine Sync requires JDLink telematics, a StarFire satellite receiver and a Gen4 Premium display with automation activation. Retrofitting of all of these is possible, but the company reckons most customers select all these ex-factory when ordering a new tractor and/or self-propelled machine.…

Available in place of the existing turbine based system, the new rollerbed option from J Riley Beet Harvesters (UK) can allow for faster sugar beet harvesting speeds on certain soils. Currently suitable for the flagship six-wheel Vervaet Beet Eater 625 (anticipated that it will also be available for the four-wheel Q-Series in the near future), lifting is still carried out by rotating walking shares, and row width continues to be hydraulically adjustable from 45cm to 50cm. The shares are arranged in a straight line so that they present the lifted beet evenly to the rollerbed which is used in place of the two front turbines and consists of seven full-width 100mm diameter rollers. Roller speed can be varied from the cab, with the first six grouped together and the seventh…

The current Low Disturbance Loosener (LDL) models will do the job, but requests for a dedicated grassland machine have prompted Grange Machinery to develop the Grass Land Loosener (GLL). Available as a rigid 3.0m version and folding 4.0m, 5.0m and 6.0m models, the mounted implement is designed to alleviate compaction and remove the plough pan to improve drainage and allow air into the soil. The GLL shares the same cutting disc, leg, point and packer roller with the LDL. The main differences concern the packer depth adjustment and hydraulic rotation system used to engage the hydraulically operated discs. Also, the GLL’s frame is a bit lighter. The discs cut through the surface to enhance the loosening effect of the low disturbance legs and reduce soil build up. Working to a…

The added value generated by Amazone’s disc-integrated AutoTS border spreading system (available on trailed ZG-TS and mounted ZATS spreaders), compared with conventional systems, can now be calculated with an online border spreading calculator. The idea of producing it was to try and demonstrate the significance of improved border spreading, explains managing director Simon Brown of Amazone Ltd. “AutoTS generates a much sharper drop off at the edge of the field and so boosts yield in that first 6.0m around the border as well as minimising fertiliser wastage,” he says. “It is also adjustable on the move between the different techniques so, if we are faced with a water course or public access around a field, then three sides of that field can all have a different approach without stopping spreading.” By entering…