Profi

I do like shiny paint. And it doesn’t even necessarily have to be new paint. In fact, seeing the mirror-like reflections on the gleaming panels of a working classic are more rewarding. Admittedly, It’s been a few years since I wielded a polisher in anger, to resurrect the dull bodywork of a car, tractor or even fertiliser spreader … to try to restore their original day glow. However, Amazon recently tempted me with a cordless rotary polisher, and I have to say it’s an absolute joy to use when compared to the old mains-powered dual-action. Given this renewed interest in making things sparkle, I tackled my brother’s 2005 New Holland TVT, and, together with my daughter, we managed to get the blue, which had been bleached from years of steam…

In the May issue we had a photo of a new flagship Optum model being unveiled to dealers in Spain. At the time we were expecting Case IH to keep its powder dry until later in the year, but the new 340 CVXDrive will make its European public debut at Cereals in June. The spec details are discussed in our Cereals preview which starts on page 84. There is still no news on the blue version, believed to be called the T7.340 HD, although there is a rumour it too could be at Cereals.…

A heavy-duty, 18m3 trailed tanker can be added to Vervaet’s 22m3 Quad 550 to create a combination dubbed the Quad XL. An additional centrifugal pump is used for filling and emptying the tanker from the Quad. The self-propelled also feeds the applicator which is carried by the towed tanker’s hydraulic linkage. If the extra capacity is not needed the trailed tanker can be simply unhitched and the applicator attached directly to the rear of the Quad. Additional macerator, pump, manifold and control systems can also be supplied to enable the trailed tanker to be used on its own. To enhance manoeuvrability, and ensure accurate tracking in tramlines, the tanker has an electronically controlled steering system. Four 800/70 R38 tyres help reduce soil compaction. “We believe this to be the highest-capacity…

Photos of Malone’s front mower conditioner have popped up on social media recently. The manufacturer has made no secret of wanting to increase its mower range, and in fact there was a prototype front mower in the factory’s car park when we visited them in 2020 to see the Procut 3000 MP rear mower for a driving impression. The new front mower conditioner is destined to get its official launch at the Irish Ploughing Championships in September but there are 10 new pre-production units heading to work this season, joining three other front mowers being used by Irish contractors since last year. For now there will be just the one model with a conditioner, but a plain front is in the pipeline and we could very well see a rear…

RECORD Q1 FOR CNH CNH has reported record results for the first quarter of 2023. Consolidated revenues were $5,342 which is 15% higher than for the same period last year. Net income was $486 while net sales for industrial activities was $4776. Brands owned by CNH Industrial include Case IH, New Holland, Steyer and Case Construction. LARRINGTON ROLLOVER A new rollover sheet developed in house by Larrington, can fold to either side of the trailer. The Lincolnshire-based firm has also launched direct sales and hire. All hire trailers come with a rollover sheet, and tractor linkage-mounted mudflaps are included in the hire. ITALIAN TRACTOR MARKET STRUGGLES In the first quarter of this year, the Italian tractor market registered 5,083 units. This was lower than for the same period last year.…

The Min-Disc from Agriweld has been re-designed to a disc, tine, disc, packer format. The leading row of discs now cut a path through the soil and trash for the following soil loosening legs which precede a second row of discs. Previously both rows of discs followed the tines. “When the previous configuration was used in thick trash, such as pea haulm, it could get caught on the tines,” explains Harry Martin, design engineer at Agriweld. “The front row of discs now cut a path for the tines which we’ve found works very well”. The concave, serrated, 508mm diameter discs are 250mm apart and every other disc is directly in line with a following tine, at 500mm spacing. Similar discs follow the tines and these are arranged to run in…