Whether farmers are opting for minimum tillage, deep inversion or somewhere in between, improvements in implements can help create the ideal seedbed. CPM explores some of the new machines on the market.
“Users will benefit from a more cost-effective option, increased longevity, and less downtime during the season.” EDD FANSHAWE
By Melanie Jenkins
Working soils is no one-size-fits-all undertaking, meaning having the right tool for the job can make operations smoother and help achieve the desired result, which is why manufacturers continue to innovate and develop new machines and implements to improve performance and efficiency.
Amazone
To meet increasing demands for ultra-shallow soil tillage, Amazone has developed the TopCut 12000-2T cutting roller combination in a working width of 12m. It consists of up to three consecutive tool segments plus a rear segment that can be equipped with various different tools to suit the customer’s requirements.
The first row can include optional leading tools such as a knife roller, while the second and third row consists of main tools such as a knife roller and/or the firm’s Minimum TillDisc. The final fourth row rear segment can have a three-row straw harrow or the option of packer rollers without the leading tool.
For those looking for a trailed compact disc harrow, Amazone has also released the Catros+ 6003-2TS Special in a 6m working width. This is designed for shallow soil tillage from a working depth of 5cm and can also be used up to 14cm, to incorporate larger quantities of organic matter with operating speeds of up to 18km/h.
Adding to its mounted cultivator range, the firm has launched the Cenius Ultra in working widths of 3m and 3.5m. The standout feature of the machine is the C-Mix Ultra tine with its automatic overload protection via a hydraulic cylinder. This tine system is designed to offer a high level of reliability and durability, especially under intensive operating conditions.
The release force can be adjusted between 500kg and 800kg to ensure optimum adaptation to differing soil types. The tines can move upwards more quickly on light soils with large stones at the lower release force setting of 500kg. This protects the frame of the mounted cultivator from excessive loads while any stones remain under the surface.
Where there’s compaction, or on heavy clay soils, the pressure can be increased up to 800kg to help ensure a consistent, reliable loosening of the soil.
The lift heights of the individual tines mean that the machine maintains the desired working depth of up to 35cm, even under the toughest of conditions.
The firm has also introduced the FW 580 flex ring roller, a new packer roller for the Cenio and Cenius mounted cultivators and Catros mounted compact disc harrows. Due to its ring spacing of 200mm and its narrow roller core, the roller, with a total diameter of 580mm, is suitable for a broad range of applications.
As a result of the continuous spring action of the rings, the FW 580 is designed to produce fine soil while ensuring deep reconsolidation and a loose soil surface. An optional spring cleaning system offers additional functionality and prevents the roller from sticking, even in more demanding soil conditions.
Bednar
Bednar has expanded its range with a 12.3m version of its Cambridge roller, the Galaxy GE 12300. Like the other two models in the range, it can be optionally equipped with the ALFA DRILL 800 seeding unit.
The firm has strengthened the chassis to make it suitable for supporting the five sections of the roller. One of the main advantages of this frame is its compatibility with a Crushbar levelling bar or seeding unit. In addition, its weight of almost 10t should increase the clod breaking effect of the roller.
As with the other rollers in the range, the cast iron segments are mounted alternately: a smooth segment (diameter 500mm) followed by a toothed segment (diameter 530mm).
Horsch
Horsch’s new Kredo HD is the next generation of power harrow from the firm which can be operated by tractors up to 300hp – made possible by an 8mm thick hollow profile trough. This hollow profile design reduces the sealing surface to a minimum and the rotor sets are screwed from below. The tine carrier, rotor kit and the shaft, that’s supported by two taper 60mm and 70mm roller bearings, can be dismantled from below.
The Kredo HD is part of the standard specification of the Express KR, Versa KR, Versa SW and Versa SL drills however, it’s also available without a seed unit to be used for tillage and seedbed preparation.
It’s available in 3m, 3.5m, and 4m working widths as rigid models and 4m and 6m folding models. The Kredo HD features the quick-change drag or grip Horsch tines and carbide coating is available.
The machine features the quick-change drag or grip Horsch tines and carbide coating is available. This coating technology should ensure a constant working depth in addition to a long service life.
By adapting the operational speed and the rotational speed of the power harrow, the cultivation intensity in the seedbed can be controlled in a targeted way.
The precise adjustment of the working depth of the Kredo HD power harrow is accessible from the outside. A lasered hole and position pattern allows for depth to be easily monitored. The levelling bar can also be adjusted using the universal tool, and in the future will be fitted on the packer roller.
Kuhn
Kuhn has increased its range of entry-level Performer Select cultivators to offer users a wider choice of versatile and straightforward one-pass machines. The new models are suited to those requiring a simple cultivator, says the firm’s Edd Fanshawe.
“Adding two models to complement the existing 4000 machine will open the range to a greater number of small and medium-sized farmers. The one-pass Performer system allows a versatile approach to cultivations, with discs, legs and a packer roller capable of operating in a wide range of conditions to leave a drill-ready finish.
“The additional Select models retain the same working features as the 1000 range and will appeal to users requiring manual controls and simple operation,” he explains.
The three machines offer mechanical adjustment of levelling discs and working depth, NSM (spring) rather than NSH (hydraulic) leg protection, and a 600mm HD or Double U roller instead of the 700mm version on the Performer 1000 range. Kuhn’s SH 600 seeding unit is an option for growers establishing cover crops in one pass.
The manufacturer has also launched a redesign of its mid-range Olympic plough points to offer a 30% increase in longevity.
The second-generation Olympic point is now fitted as standard on all Kuhn ploughs from the smallest Master 113 up to the largest Challenger range. They offer increased thickness at the top of the point to extend the lifespan and a bevelled shape to help improve soil penetration. Further to this is an accentuated design to even wear and reduce tractor power consumption. The central section is now protected from extended wear to shield the bolts, making changing points easier.
“The new point retains similar dimensions to the previous version but offers an increased lifespan of 30% at a recommended retail price increase of just 6%,” says Edd. “This means users willbenefit from a more cost-effective option, increased longevity, and less downtime during the season.”
Beyond this, a new optional Durakarb point increases longevity by four times on the new Olympic points, he adds. These feature tungsten carbide inserts to improve impact resistance and a patented brazing and heat treatment process. “The working surface of the point is 100% carbide, using brazed insert technology rather than adding the carbide on the working face. This reduces the risk of loss during work and helps to increase protection and longevity,” he adds.
On the firm’s Vari-Leader ploughs, a new T traction bolt safety feature has been added to K offer users a cost-effective option for load protection. This is aimed at growers farming light soils with low stone content. The simple T traction bolt has a share point load of 4700kg and provides an alternative to the non-stop hydraulic system that’s already available on the Vari-Leader range.
The shearing design, as opposed to snapping, prevents broken bolts becoming stuck in the plough framework as they break, allowing users to quickly and easily replace bolts and return to work.
Lemken
Lemken’s new Diamant 18 is a semi-mounted reversible plough designed for large tractors up to 650hp and difficult operating conditions. With 6-8 furrows and a 180mm x 180mm x 12.5mm box section frame, the plough is designed to perform well on dry soils due to its increased weight and updated wheel position.
The new wheel position is designed to result in a lower centre of gravity so the plough is subjected to lower rotational forces and there’s less strain on the rear lift. This not only aims to protect the plough components, but also ensures high tipping stability of the tractor/plough combination and a smooth ride.
The hydraulic steering of the transport wheel automatically adapts the steering angle to the turning manoeuvre and, in combination with the 90° steering angle on the plough headstock, enables the smallest possible turning radius at the headland. The transport wheel can also be actively controlled and manually steered for manoeuvring work.
By introducing the integrated FlexPack furrow press for the Diamant 18 semi-mounted plough, Lemken has extended the range of applications for its ploughing technology, including in dry and stony soils. The 6-8-furrow Diamant 18 single-wheel semi-mounted plough is combined with a directly mounted furrow press as standard.
Running parallel to the plough frame, the FlexPack has been designed to achieve consistent reconsolidation at any working width setting, with no overlaps or unworked areas.
In addition to its own weight, the FlexPack furrow press can be hydraulically pressurised to help adapt it to different soil conditions. It can also be used together with the OptiStone hydraulic overload protection system on the plough, for use in stony conditions. To help avoid stones, each pair of rings is suspended individually from spring steel elements.
The firm has also expanded its harrow range with its Rubin 10 compact disc harrows multi-tool. The semi-mounted Rubin 10 TF is available with working widths of 4-7m with a number of new features. The bar spacing has been increased by 150mm to 1350mm to ensure that the organic matter settles further after the first row of discs, to help improve the cutting and mixing effect of the second row of discs. Two more front tools, a levelling tine section and a leading cutting roller have been introduced.
Lemken has also released a quick-change roller system for the Rubin 10 MR and TF. This allows users to switch between different single and double rollers quickly and with less effort so that they can optimally adapt the implement to individual requirements.
This article was taken from the latest issue of CPM. Read the article in full here.
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