Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
New from Kuhn at LAMMA
Kuhn Farm Machinery will launch several new machines at the LAMMA Show in Birmingham this month. Joe Spencer reports.
The Lincolnshire Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (LAMMA) Show, the UK’s leading machinery, equipment and services expo, will be held on 8 and 9 January in Birmingham. Kuhn Farm Machinery will be there.
1 Merge Maxx 950 windrow merger
Aimed at large-scale grassland operations, the Merge Maxx 950 uses two adjustable, variablewidth and bi-directional merger belts to provide a maximum grass pick-up width of 9,5m.
The bi-directional design of the twin belts enables multiple windrow delivery options. Forage can be delivered into a single central windrow, a single lateral windrow (left or right side), two lateral windrows (one on either side), or a central and left or right lateral windrow.
The pick-up and windrow width can be adjusted to suit the volume and type of forage material harvested, reducing the number of passes and the associated cost. For lateral windrows, the windrow width can be varied from 1m to 1,5m; for central windrows, it can be set up to 2,20m wide.
Auto-regulating rollers at the front and side of the pick-up unit self-adjust their position according to crop thickness. In turn, these pass a consistent supply of forage to the merger belts, enabling the Merge Maxx to produce a uniform, well-aired and quicker-drying windrow.
The Merge Maxx 950 folds down to a width of 3m, a length of 7,4m and a height of 3,6m for easy transportation between lands. It is compatible with tractors with a minimum power output of 65kW.
2 Maxima 3 precision planter
The new Maxima 3 range is available in six- to 12-row versions and is capable of planting crops with row spacings from 375mm to 800mm. It comprises 12 models with a choice of configurations, including trailed, foldable, and telescopic with adjustable spacing.
An improved seed selection and ejection system enables accurate seed placement at working speeds of up to 10km/h. Accuracy is further enhanced by a new seeding unit parallelogram reinforced in key areas, including the critical hinges and linkages, for added stability.
A new coulter pressure system, capable of producing up to 180kg of downward pressure, ensures consistent depth control.
An electrically driven seed metering system allows application rates to be adjusted manually on the move or in accordance with a pre-prescribed seeding map. Each seeding unit’s settings (including depth, ground pressure and furrow
closing) can be adjusted quickly and easily by hand without the need for any specialist tools.
Optional equipment includes angle-adjustable V-MAX rear closing wheels, with a furrow closing pressure of up to 45kg; fertiliser hoppers; front, rear and intermediate press wheels; clod cleaners; and trash wipers.
3 Oceanis 2 trailed sprayers
Kuhn has added four new models to its range of Oceanis trailed crop sprayers: the 5002 (tank capacity 5 000ℓ), the 5602 (5 600ℓ), the 6902 (6 900ℓ) and the 7702 (7 700ℓ). All are available with compact, aluminium booms in widths of 24m to 48m. (The Oceanis 7702 is shown here.)
The new sprayers are fully ISOBUS-compatible, enabling them to be controlled from a single in-cab terminal, such as Kuhn’s CCI 1200 console. A separate control box, which places the key sprayer controls (section, boom height and angle) within fingertip reach, can also be used.
Each new model is available with Kuhn’s Multispray system. The nozzle holders are electrically powered and can be selected in-cab. The nozzles can be set to automatic mode to suit the forward working speed and maximise the accuracy of variable rate applications, or individual nozzles can be controlled to reduce overlapping.
Kuhn’s e-SET cleaning system automates the tank rinsing sequence, making the Oceanis 2 extremely safe and efficient to use. The Easyflow system enables chemicals to be added without the risk of the operator coming into contact with them.
Kuhn’s self-levelling boom system keeps the spray boom in the optimal position and height irrespective of soil surface and crop conditions, increasing spraying precision and reducing spray drift. A ‘Hybrid’ mode uses three sensors to distinguish between crop canopy and ground level, improving spraying accuracy in high-density or lodged crops.
Drawbar, axle, parallelogram and boom suspension systems provide additional stability and boom security when spraying and during transportation.
4 Optimer XL 5000
The Optimer XL range of stubble cultivators consists of mounted and trailed machines in working widths of 3m to 5m. (The 5m trailed Optimer XL 5000 is seen here.)
All versions have two rows of independent discs followed by a roller bar for fitting a variety of Kuhn press wheels.
The large-diameter (620mm) notched discs, of 6mm-thick steel, can work at depths of 50mm to 150mm. The working depth can be adjusted manually as standard, or hydraulically as an option. The large diameter of the discs makes it possible to incorporate a high volume of trash and crop residue easily and efficiently, at a working speed of between 7km/h and 17km/h.
Each disc is mounted on four elastomer blocks that enable it to move independently over obstacles and maintain an even working depth across the machine’s full width, even in very stony soil.
Adjustable soil-retaining discs, which can be angled 14° to the front or 14° to the rear, and by up to 12° vertically, prevent soil being thrown out of the cultivated strip. This produces a level and consistent seedbed.
The second row of discs is followed by a roller bar, which can be equipped with a choice of Kuhn’s tube or ring rollers to ensure perfect soil tamping, irrespective of the soil type being worked.
All discs and rollers are mounted on sealed-for-life, maintenance-free bearings.
• Joe Spencer is the mechanisation editor of Farmer’s Weekly.
For more information on the equipment in this report, email him at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Equipment.