2 March 2023 - Flipbook - Page 34
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MACHINERY NEWS
FARMWEEK
JANUARY 28 2021
Latest-generation efcient
tyres designed for every need
S
USTAINABLE development
of the agricultural industry
is one of the greatest global
challenges. The exponential growth of the world
population means a constant
increase in the demand for food
and fodder.
The need to increase productivity on the one hand, but
also to guarantee food quality and
security on the other, has imposed
new standards and requirements
for agricultural machinery, which
undergo continuous development
and improvements in terms of
size, power and performance. It is
therefore essential that tractors
and other agricultural vehicles and
equipment can count on equally
modern, efcient and hi-tech
tyres to help optimise sustainable
operations in the eld.
This is the issue addressed by
Piero Torassa, Field Engineer
Manager at BKT Europe, as he sets
out the viewpoint of the Indian
group: “There are various new
technologies on the market which
aim to increase productivity and
efciency in agriculture. In BKT
we are researching solutions for
tyres integrated with sensors and
n The BKT Agrimax Force tyres.
software for precision agriculture.
For some time we have had a range
of products designed to guarantee
the least possible damage to the
soil and harvests.”
An example of this is the BKT
radial tyre range Agrimax, created
to satisfy the needs of agriculture,
characterised by the use of Flexion
(IF) and Very High Flexion (VF)
technologies, among which the
Agrimax Force and Agrimax
V-Flecto tyres stand out.
n The BKT V-Flexa trailer tyre.
Agrimax Force is specically
designed for high power tractors
(over 250 CV). Thanks to the
IF technology, which has been
revised by BKT, this tyre has a
higher load capacity at lower
pressures compared to standards
for the same size tyre, all to
the benet of the land, which is
signicantly less compacted.
Agrimax V-Flecto, instead, improves the performance of latest
generation tractors thanks to
Palatine launches
3-point quick
linkage system
TRAC-CESSORIES is a newly launched brand of
Palatine Engineering set up to market a line of tractor
based accessories, the rst of which is the Pal Attach.
The Pal Attach is designed to aid hitching of 3-point
linkage implements on tractors. As this can be done
from the tractor seat it makes the job easier, quicker
and most importantly, safer. It removes having the
operator in the potential crush zone between the
tractor and implement during hitching.
The unit is designed to attach to implements built
to CAT2 standards and will t on tractors with
CAT2 linkage and most with CAT3. The only other
requirement is a double acting hydraulic service
from the tractor to operate the sliding top link hook.
The Pal Attach does not require conversion plates
on implements (subject being designed to CAT 2
standards) therefore reducing expense and also
allowing other tractors to still use the implements.
In total, the implement is pushed 170mm rearwards,
which will not be an issue in most cases.
The Pal Attach was originally developed and
patented by our friends and neighbours OCE.
reduced soil compaction and
higher load capacity (+40 per cent)
at the same pressure as a standard
tyre of the same size.
Tractors yes, but more besides.
The right tyres are needed also
for the numerous complementary
agricultural machines, such as
seeders, balers, ploughs and
combine harvesters. The latter,
for example, require high performance tyres which do not
damage harvests.
The products in the special range
for harvesters, Agrimax Teris,
have excellent otation capacity
to guarantee the best possible
protection of the land and excellent
harvesting performance, with the
ability to support very high loads.
In addition, Agrimax Teris is
particularly resistant to cuts and
impacts due, for example, to the
presence of stubble on the ground,
thus guaranteeing a long lifecycle
and reducing vehicle downtime.
“Flotation is one of the essential
characteristics in modern-day
tyres,” explains Piero Torassa,
“since it is very important to
minimise the impact of the
machines – which moreover are
getting heavier and heavier – on
the soil, thus avoiding damage to
harvests.
“Equally important, however, is
the tyre’s exibility: just think of
the subcontractors who manage
extensive elds and need to move
not only over long distances, but
also over a wide range of terrains.
It is to respond to and anticipate
the most diverse and particular
needs that BKT products are
continuously developed and improved.”
John Deere sets efficiency
benchmark on the road
A
However, they ceased production a few years ago
to pursue other interests so both companies came
to an arrangement for Palatine Engineering to
restart production and sales. It was strongly felt
that the safety aspect alone was enough to restart
manufacture of the product.
OCE actually won the innovation safety award at
the 2016 national ploughing championships for the
Pal Attach.
The Pal Attach is available through Palatine dealers
(list at www.palatine.ie/dealers) with a retail price
of €1,100 (incl VAT). Limited units are currently
available with production ramping up shortly.
n For further information please contact
Trac-cessories, Palatine Engineering Ltd, County
Limerick, telephone +353 87 1636747.
CCORDING to the independent
DLG PowerMix test, John
Deere has once again proved
to be the best choice of tractor for
transport applications with the allnew 7R 330 model.
The company achieved the best
ever DLG PowerMix transport test
result in 2018 with the 6250R, and
still holds that record. More recently,
the 7R 330 with its new Stage V
engine has set the benchmark for all
tractors above 250hp rated engine
power.
With a combined fuel consumption
of only 375g/kWh diesel plus 17g/kWh
DEF, the 7R 330 delivered an 8g/kWh
diesel plus 28g/kWh DEF advantage
over the next best competitor in
this horsepower class. This will help
farmers and contractors to further
reduce their operating costs.
Depending on local diesel and
DEF prices, the result equates to
hourly savings of €1.50 to over €2
in transport applications, or even
higher compared to average tractor
performance gures.
Both the John Deere 6250R and
7R 330 tractors performed the
demanding PowerMix test at the
DLG test centre in Groß-Umstadt,
Germany, where the individual test
cycles are designed to replicate
typical heavy and light transport
work.
Available since 2017, the 6R Series
agship 6250R tractor introduced
John Deere’s new CommandPRO
joystick and provides up to 300hp
when required thanks to an engine
boost of 50hp with intelligent power
management (IPM) – more power
than any other tractor in this weight
class. Its high maximum permissible
weight also allows a 5.7 tonne
payload, which means the tractor is
able to transport heavier loads.
Mazzotti updates self-propelled sprayers for 2021
M
AZZOTTI’S MAF range of selfpropelled sprayers has been
updated and extended for 2021.
A fully-owned subsidiary of John Deere
operating from its base in Ravenna, Italy,
Mazzotti focuses on building self-propelled
sprayers that offer high customer value.
For 2021 the existing MAF 2580
(2,500-litre capacity), 3180 (3,000-litre)
and 3580 (3,500-litre) models will feature
multiple upgrades, including a new
solution system, a new wider range of
spray booms, John Deere spray controls
and a new John Deere-sourced operator
station.
The MAF range will also see the addition
of a new compact high-capacity machine,
the MAF 4080. This features a chassis with
a longer wheelbase to enable the larger
4,000-litre solution tank to be carried
while maintaining the ideal 50/50 weight
distribution achieved by the smaller MAF
models.
All four models are powered by a 175hp
four-cylinder Tier 5 John Deere engine,
offering quiet operation, high productivity
and fuel efciency. The MAF 2580 and
3180 machines feature a standard 40kph
hydrostatic transmission, with the option
to specify a high performance system
incorporating engine and transmission
management with either 40 or 50kph
transport speeds.
The high performance transmission
is tted as standard to the larger MAF
3580 and 4080 models. Alternatively,
mechanical drive can be specied with
the Mc variants, which offer a joystick-
controlled, innitely variable hydromechanical transmission. Utilising mechanical axles to transmit more power to the
ground, the Mc versions provide higher
traction, superior hill-climbing ability and
more efcient road transport.
The steering system, featuring selectable two-wheel, four-wheel or crab
steering modes, has been upgraded and
now features automatic alignment when
switching between the modes.
The 2021 Mazzotti MAF range will be
tted with the M-Spray solution system,
adopted from John Deere’s range of
trailed and self-propelled sprayers. This
dual-circuit solution system features a
dedicated 600-litre/min lling pump, able
to ll the largest MAF 4080 model in less
than seven minutes.
RANGE: The updated Mazzotti MAF 3180 self-propelled
sprayer is one of a range of four new machines that will
be available from selected John Deere dealers in 2021.