News and pictures from the largest LAMMA Show to date

BIOMASS CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS

In the wake of constantly increasing oil prices, Louth Tractors reports renewed interest in its biomass central heating systems and the latest Danish-built wood-fired boiler – the Gejs Stoker – is one that can be fuelled by wood pellets, wood chip, barley or oats.

Said to be suitable for those with access to an easily renewable energy resource, the system is fully automated, with built-in fire protection, and a regulated feed system that is determined by furnace temperature. The Gejs Stoker system also has an automated standby system that maintains glowing embers within the furnace, to avoid having to frequently relight the boiler.

A system suitable for a four- bedroom house costs from £6000.

JOHN DEERE PANORAMA DOOR

John Deere’s optional Panorama door for Mannheim-built 6000 Premium, 7430 and 7530 Premium tractors was revealed at Lamma. As seen on 7000 and 8000-series Waterloo-built tractors, the one-piece, full-length door is hinged at the rear of the cab and eliminates the need for a B- post.

Advantages include improved visibility, though the need for the door to open wider to allow access might not suit mixed-farm operations where frequent entry and exit from the cab within buildings is concerned.

With a four-post cab and two full-length doors of course, the side-opening rear windows are eradicated, removing the ability to use such windows as fresh air-scoops at reasonable forward speeds. It also makes the installation and use of air-conditioning, virtually a mandatory requirement.

WEAVING MACHINERY MULTIDISC CULTIVATOR

Weaving Machinery has introduced a trailed version of its Multidisc cultivator as it seeks wider working widths without imposing excessive weight on a tractor’s three-point linkage.

The 400H offers a working width of 4m, but is carried on a single-central spine chassis with seven sub-soiler legs, two rows of discs and a 600mm packer suspended beneath. A ram beneath chassis and drawbar is used to raise the cultivator onto its transport wheels which are fixed to the chassis beam at the rear of the cultivator.

When in work, Weaving says that this is a system that ensures the transport wheels are raised clear of the ground as the machine is lowered. Said to need a minimum of 200hp to operate, the £16,950 Multidisc 400H can be equipped with double D press rings for a further £1800, and a 5m version is already in the drawing board.

WATKINS' TWIN AXLE BULK SPREADER

Demand for a cost-effective, basic specification trailed lime spreader has seen Philip Watkins develop a twin axle bulk spreader.

With 10- tonne hopper capacity, pto-powered spinning discs suitable for a 12m working width and a hydraulically variable central feed conveyor, the bulk spreader runs on 550x22.5 tyres to create low ground pressure characteristics. Features include a demountable body and separately demountable roller belt conveyor system.

The arrival of the £17,000 machine has prompted the Yorkshire manufacturer to generate a rnage of bulk spreaders, from 3-18 tonnes capacity, with a choice of air or hydraulic brakes and different spreading discs to suit.

CULTIMAX 800 FROM DAL-BO

The Danish-built Cultimax 800 from Dal-Bo - sold through Kongskilde in the UK - is one of three new trailed cultivators in a range that spans working widths from 6.5 to 9m.

With seven rows of 45mm-wide spring tines, followed by either a crackerboard, following harrow or crumbler roller, the Cultimax has been developed for seedbed preparation on ploughed or heavily cultivated land. Four sets of bogie wheels beneath the wing sections enable ground contours to be followed.

Kongskilde is hoping the new models will allow it to take advantage of the growing spring tine cultivator market. But expect this 3.7 tonne, 8m version to need 200hp to take full advantage of its 100 tines.

KVERNELAND'S ACCORD DG

The Kverneland Group’s move into high capacity, wide drills sees the Accord DG make its official introduction at Lamma.

This 12m, trailed drill uses two 6m folding frames that roll upwards then fold alongside the hopper, simplifying transport. In standard guise, the 12m DG packs a 5000 litre hopper, Isobus control system, electric drive seed metering, CX Ultra coulters with the ability to handle greater downward pressures, a hydraulic levelling board and twin seed metering units – all of which requires a 300hp tractor to take advantage of its generous working width.

Said to be based upon the proven MSC cultivator drill but without the cultivation elements, the Accord DG is also available in 8m, 9m and 15m versions. This 12m version retails for about £88,000.

POTTINGER'S PROFI LINE HARROW DRILL

Pottinger’s latest profi line power harrow drill combination draws together its Aerosem 3000 drill with the Lion 3001.

The firm’s Shaun Groom says demand for higher-specification drills with power harrows encouraged the firm to mate the two machines to give combination users the same level of sophistication as found on the Terrasem high capacity trailed drills.

Complete with electronically controlled variable rate seed rate adjustment, hydraulic fan, hydraulic coulter pressure and a 1400-litre seed hopper with steel, cantilever lid and oil-immersed cam clutch in the gearbox, the 3m combination costs £24,550.

WATKINS' TRI-TILL CULTIVATORS

South Yorkshire manufacturer Philip Watkins has extended his range of mounted Tri-Till cultivators with the development of a trailed model, called the Tri-Till Extra.

“At 3m wide, we’d reached a weight limit with mounted equipment, so the only way to develop wider kit, was to use a trailed chassis,” says Philip Watkins. Compared to the mounted models, this 4.2m, hydraulic folding, trailed cultivator revealed at Lamma gains a second row of DD rings and a paddle board levelling system, earning it the ‘Extra’ badging.

Standard configuration includes seven auto reset sub-soiling legs, two rows of 510mm discs, paddle board and two rows of DD press rings. Watkins now offers 3.6m and 4.8m folding versions too – the latter for tractors up to 350hp.