tractor times 7

TractorTimes
The Journal for Agricultural Professionals
100,000 tractors
Page 4
Irish NEXOS
Page 12
www.claas.co.uk
Bicton ARION
Page 16
Summer 2014
AXION 900 drilling boost
Page 20
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News
100,000 tractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4/5
Royal Award winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
LAMMA winner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Helmut Claas honoured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Oldest combine winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
CLAAS UK out and about the UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
EASY GPS steering
New EASY terminals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
RTK for driver comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Easy-to-use S7 terminal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
NEXOS
Narrow width power for Irish orchard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
ELIOS
Perfect fit for strawberry tunnels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
AXOS
Unique beet hoe slashes costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
ARION
ARION 640 goes to college at Bicton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
ARION CIS simplicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Refined ARION CEBIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
AXION 800
Economical lugging power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
AXION 900
20% boost to daily drilling output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
XERION
The ideal FW60 replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
SCORPION
Pre-series SCORPIONs in the field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22/23
Welcome
The agricultural industry is never
without its challenges and this year its
blackgrass that has again reared its
ugly head. One solution is early harvest
of the contaminated crop. With the
increased number of anaerobic
digesters in the UK – 138 plants
Jeremy Wiggins
currently operational and a further 341
Manager,
in development, the early whole-cropping Sales and MarketingCLAAS
UK
of cereals such as wheat and rye has
become a more viable option for many growers. To this end at
CLAAS we have seen a recent increase in the demand for
wholecrop headers which can cope with harvesting the
contaminated crop eradicating return of the seeds to the soil,
with the crop then supplying an AD plant.
Looking to harvest, combine deliveries are now a major priority
as crops appear to be a good week ahead. Our Logistics
department works tirelessly to ensure that our customers have
their combines delivered to farm in good time and that
everyone has the harvesting capacity they require. CLAAS
combine operator training is also in full swing across the UK
and at the CLAAS Academy at Saxham, ensuring that everyone
gets the very best performance from their machine.
We have also been busy attending a number of key events
across the country. Grassland at Stoneleigh was very well
attended. We were blessed (just in time) with a great couple of
days weather for demonstrating our expanding line up of green
harvest equipment and tractors to an enthusiastic crowd.
The Royal Highland Show remains the premier show in
Scotland and for our customers in the North and the CLAAS
stand welcomed customers old and new for a chat and a cup
of coffee.
Finally, a very big thank to all our students who have done a
sterling job for us this year, supporting our dealerships across
the UK and Ireland. We hope that they have enjoyed their
placement year and learnt more about CLAAS and the
business in general, and that when they graduate they return to
the industry to follow a career in agriculture.
Lets all hope the good weather continues and I wish you a
successful and trouble free harvest.
Kind regards
Jeremy Wiggins
Sales and Marketing Manager
CLAAS UK Ltd
Scan the QR code with your smart phone to
connect to the CLAAS UK website
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www.claas.co.uk
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3
100,000 tractors in 10 years
The CLAAS tractor division reached a major milestone when the 100,000th CLAAS tractor to be built since production started in
2003, recently rolled off the assembly line at the Le Mans tractor factory.
This year it is 10 years since the first
CLAAS tractors arrived in the UK,
following the formation of the CLAAS
Tractor division a year earlier.
any other manufacturer. At the same time,
the range has grown from five to nine
ranges with power outputs from 75hp to
525hp.
The intervening years have seen CLAAS
tractors becoming well established
throughout the UK, and CLAAS has been
one of the few manufacturers to enjoy a
consistent increase in sales and market
share.
Le Mans is responsible for building
tractors from the 75hp AXOS 310 up to
the largest standard CLAAS tractor, the
410hp AXION 950 and currently over
13,000 tractors a year are produced there.
Just how far CLAAS has progressed in 10
years is evident in the fact that over that
time, each model has been replaced
nearly two-and-a-half times, more than
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Since taking over the tractor plant from
Renault 10 years ago, over €400 million
has been invested both in product
Research and Development and also in
developing the tractor production
facilities.
In 2008, a new assembly line for cabs was
built, with a new paint shop set up two
years later and in mid-2012, a new testing
and validation centre in Trangé went into
service. Thanks to its proximity to the
assembly plant, this new facility at Trangé
allows CLAAS to work closely with the
Product Development, Industrial
Production and Service teams at CLAAS
Tractor.
CLAAS TractorTimes / Summer 2014
CLAAS made its latest large investment in
the development and production of a new
automatic transmission for the ARION 500
and 600 series. This transmission, which
was developed and manufactured by
CLAAS Industrietechnik (CIT) based at
Paderborn, has been co-developed by
CLAAS Tractor.
CLAAS has been developing and building
tractors for 10 years now and what the
company has achieved over that time is
impressive.
Thirty-four models have been developed,
covering a power range from 72 to 524 hp
and all tailored to modern agriculture. The
leading role that CLAAS now has in the
development of modern, well designed
tractors is exemplified in the new AXION
800, which was recently awarded
‘Machine of the Year 2014’, ‘Tractor of the
Year 2014’, Gold at the iF Product Design
awards 2014, and “Best value” in its class
in the DLG PowerMix Test.
However, it should be remembered that
CLAAS’ association with tractors did not
just start in 2003, but goes right back to
the 1950s with the development of the
HUCKLEPACK tool carrier which was
designed for use with a wide range of
attachments and configurations.
Taking this concept a stage further, in the
1960s CLAAS started work in conjunction
with Mercedes-Benz on the HSG and
Mercedes went on to launch the MB Trac.
CLAAS restarted work in 1978 on a totally
new systems tractor, code named Project
207 which was eventually unveiled as the
XERION in November 1993.
The original HUCKLEPACK tool carrier from the 1950’s.
The CLAAS Tractor timeline:
1950 HUCKLEPACK developed
1960 Work on the HSG with
Mercedes-Benz
1978 Project 207 launched
1993 XERION launched
2003 CLAAS acquire majority share
in Renault Agriculture
2004 CLAAS CELTIS, ARES and
ATLES ranges arrive in UK
XERION 3300 launched
NECTIS narrow width tractors
launched
2006 New 163-260hp AXION range
launched
2007 ARION 600 and 500 range
introduced with hp from
112-155
AXION CMATIC with infinitely
variable transmission launched
2007 XERION 3800 added
to the range
2008 AXOS range replaces CELTIS
2009 Smaller 90-125hp ARION 400
range introduced
New XERION 4500 and 5000
announced
Narrow-width NEXOS and
compact ELIOS ranges
announced
2011 New 280-410hp AXION 900
range announced
2012 New TIER 4i ARION 600/500
range introduced
2013 AXION 800 announced at
SIMA and wins ‘Tractor of the
Year’
EQ200 infinitely variable
transmission developed
2014 Watch this space!
5
Royal award
winners
One of the busiest areas at the recent
Suffolk Show was the Farm Discovery
Zone, a new area designed to educate
children on the importance of
agriculture.
A highlight for many of the children was
the announcement of the results of the
new Suffolk Farming School of the Year
competition, with the winners amazed to
find that they would be receiving their
award from Prince Harry.
As part of the competition, which is for
Key Stage 2. The children had to make a
model combine from recycled food
packaging and give a short presentation
on what they had learnt about agriculture
over the course of the competition.
The entries from schools throughout the
county were narrowed down to just three,
with the panel of judges, including CLAAS
UK CEO Trevor Tyrrell, finally declaring
Saxmundham Primary School the
winner’s. Part of their prize will also
include a visit to CLAAS UK at Saxham.
The runners-up were Stanton and Orford
primary schools.
with displays and activities so that
children could learn all about farming and
the journey their food takes from field to
plate. A popular exhibit was the latest
CLAAS LEXION 780TT combine,
alongside which was parked a CLAAS
SUPER from the 1930s to show how
farming has advanced over the years.
The Discovery Zone itself was packed
Wedding
bells
Karen Presland and James Watson invited
a CLAAS ARION 640 to be their ‘guest of
honour’ at their recent wedding at
Fornham, Bury St. Edmunds.
Married on Saturday 14th June,
2014, Karen has worked for MANNS at
Saxham for the past 16 years.
James has worked for MANNS over the
past 6 years. 6
Both are now hard back at work at
MANNs after their wonderful day. We wish
them the very best of luck for the future.
CLAAS TractorTimes / Summer 2014
Combine
competition
winners
As part of our 100 Year celebrations, we
set about trying to find both the oldest
CLAAS combine in the UK and Ireland
and the oldest CLAAS combine that
commercially harvests more than 2.0ha.
Run in conjunction with Classic Tractor
magazine, the responses from the
competition came flooding in. It was
amazing to learn of how many classic
and vintage CLAAS combines are still in
regular use each harvest.
The winner of the oldest CLAAS combine
was just down the road from Saxham at
Woolpit, where Stephen Proctor owns a
1948 CLAAS SUPER trailed combine. In
addition to a commemorative plaque and
a model vintage combine, he received a
cheque for £500, which he very kindly
donated to the Rainbow Children’s Ward
in Bury St Edmunds Hospital.
The winner of the oldest commercial
working combine was Peter Jeden, who
Stephen Proctor (left) recieves his prize from Paul Moss
at the Suffolk Show.
still uses a 1961 CLAAS COLUMBUS to
harvest his crops at Tain in Ross-Shire.
Congratulations to them and many
thanks to all those who entered the
competition.
Helmut Claas
honoured
Helmut Claas has been awarded the highest honour in
American equipment manufacturing.
His induction into the Hall of Fame of the American
Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) association recognises his
lifetime’s work and achievements. Helmut Claas joins the
ranks of other founders and leaders of companies, such as
Benjamin Holt (founder of Caterpillar), Joseph Cyril Bamford
(JCB) and Jerome Increase Case (J I Case).
Dr Theo Freye receives the plaque of honour on behalf of Helmut Claas from Stu Levenik
(AEM President and President of the Caterpillar Group).
LAMMA winner
Richard Edgeley, pictured here with his son Hugh and
granddaughter, receives his prize of £1000 worth of CLAAS oils
and lubricants from Richard Vaughan, which he won having
entered a prize draw run by COMBINE WORLD at LAMMA in
January.
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Busy Grassland
The CLAAS UK demonstration plot again
proved one of the major attractions at this
year’s Grassland & Muck.
CLAAS had one of the main 3.2ha plots,
with a total of 18 CLAAS tractors working,
from the smallest ELIOS up to the AXION
900, demonstrating the full range of
CLAAS forage harvesting equipment.
Highland
sunshine
The Royal Highland Show again proved a
great success, with the CLAAS stand
busy on all days, helped by the great
weather.
On the stand was the complete range
range of CLAAS machinery, including the
new, award winning AXION 800 which
attracted particular attention.
Glastonbury
calling ...
It wouldn’t be Glastonbury if there wasn’t
a bit of mud, so in anticipation of this a
fleet of six CLAAS tractors will again be
on hand to keep traffic moving, manned
by Wells & Glastonbury Young Farmers
Club.
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The tractors have been hired from local
dealer Vaughan Agri, and will be located
around the main site and in the car parks.
CLAAS TractorTimes / Summer 2014
More than just a steering terminal
The new CLAAS S7 and S10 control terminals will be the standard control terminals for all CLAAS steering systems, and can
provide far greater functionality.
Both terminals support all the driving
modes that CLAAS offers and can be
used with either steering valve technology
or the GPS PILOT FLEX steering wheel.
The standard dual frequency receiver for
the different correction signals from
EGNOS to RTK is now integrated in the
housing, which means that antennas do
not need to be repositioned when
switching to another correction signal. As
standard they work with EGNOS;
OMNISTAR, BASELINE and RTK
corrections and GLONASS reception can
be activated via the terminal menu if
desired.
For those who just want a terminal for
setting-up and operating their GPS
steering, then the new S7 is ideal. With its
7-inch touch screen, this incorporates the
latest technology and the simple
operation makes it quick and easy to use.
The new S10 terminal, which features a
considerably larger 10.4” touchscreen,
provides a greater range of functionality
so is perfect for those who want to use
the terminal to control additional
functions.
The S10 can also be used to control
ISOBUS implements, so the touch screen
can be used to display either individual
application screens, one full-screen image
from a single camera, three screens of
different applications, or all four camera
images at the same time. Comprehensive
reference line management and SECTION
VIEW are also available (section width
control display) and the S10 can also be
enhanced to offer many other functions
through the use of additional modules.
The new S7 terminal (above) is ideal for those who will
only use it for steering.
The S10 (below) offers greater functionality and is
ISOBUS compatible.
AUTO TURN automatic headland control
also features a number of new functions.
The adaptive AB contour, for example, rerecords existing AB contours in sections,
such as when travelling round obstacles.
Another feature that makes work easier is
the favourites menu and users can also
design their own main menu and set it to
show up to eight of the functions they use
the most.
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“I can’t fault the S3 terminal”
GPS steering provides benefits both operationally and physically for the operator. As a result, this means that Pickering
Contractors intend to spec RTK as a matter of course as they replace their tractors.
The last few years have seen
considerable expansion for Robert
Pickering and his son Matthew.
Traditionally the company, which also
farms and contract farms, has provided
an arable contracting service for farmers
in the Gainsborough area, but the
development of a number of AD plants in
North Lincolnshire has opened the door to
new opportunities.
Working with neighbouring contractor
David Fox, the Pickering’s are already
establishing and harvesting crops for four
AD plants and by the end of next year this
number will have doubled.
“As arable contractors we had a short
season and we were keen to expand. AD
fits in well and has stretched our season.
The workload has doubled, but the extra
investment needed has only been for
attachments,” explains Robert. “However,
whilst it’s great to add operations like
mowing and drilling maize, the sheer
hours the drivers do each season is also
increasing, so having steering on the
tractors helps them increase output and
makes their job as easy as possible.”
Spearheading the Pickering’s tractor fleet,
which is supplied by Marsh, are two
XERION 3800s with full steering,
controlled using S3 terminals and an RTK
signal from the CLAAS network. An older
XERION 3300 uses RTK controlled with a
CEBIS MOBILE terminal, shared with an
ARION 640, and a second ARION 640 has
a simple Outback lightbar guidance
system.
Robert is the first to admit that he was not
initially sure about the benefits of GPS
steering when Matthew fitted a system to
his tractor. “It was funny that after he had
driven my tractor and I had showed him
how to use the GPS steering, by the
following week he had it fitted to his own
tractor,” quips Matthew.
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“As contractors you want everything to
look right. Whilst we initially got a steering
system for accuracy when drilling, we
now use it for virtually everything,” says
Robert. “However, one of the biggest
advantages for me is that when you go
home after a long day you are still awake.
You don’t realise quite how tiring
concentrating on following a line is, so by
removing that strain you are far more
relaxed.”
“Also during the autumn the tractors are
often cultivating 24 hours. Having steering
makes the job far easier and we can be
confident that they are doing just as good
a job at night as they would during the
day. Also the wider the implement, the
more you need steering.”
For the Pickering’s, one of the great
benefits of the S3 terminal, which has
now been replaced by the new S7, is their
Robert (left) and Matthew Pickering
simplicity and ease of use, ensuring that
anyone can quickly set-up and use the
steering system.
“I can’t fault the S3 terminal,” says
Matthew. “It’s very user friendly. We have
also found that the whole CLAAS RTK
system keeps on improving year on year.
We can now work up to 50 miles away
with a constant RTK signal.”
“The other big advantage of the CLAAS
RTK network is that the subscription is
cheaper compared to others available in
the area, particularly as it is a flat rate for
12 months rather than varying according
to use.”
CLAAS TractorTimes / Summer 2014
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Easy-to-use
S7
You can’t appreciate the benefits GPS
steering brings until you have tried it.
And once you have you would never go
back to manual steering again states
contractor David Fox.
David’s first experience of GPS steering
was a steering wheel system fitted to a
prototype AXION 950 he was given to use
in 2010. This was replaced by a pre-series
AXION 920 in 2012 fitted with a hydraulic
steering system. This in turn was replaced
by his current AXION 920 CMATIC, fitted
with an S3 based RTK steering system.
When David ordered a new TIER 4i
ARION 650 CEBIS, he specified this with
RTK and the latest S7 control terminal,
having seen the benefits of RTK steering
on his AXION 920,
“I really like the S7 terminal,” says John
Street who drives the new ARION 650.
“It’s a good clear screen and makes it
very easy to set-up your lines and use.
The system will fully come into its own
when drilling, but so far I have mainly
used it when raking. It makes marking out
far easier and avoids short work, which in
turn will help the forager driver.”
Apart from having a larger 7 inch screen,
the fact that the S7 terminal can also
receive correction signals from the Glonas
satellite network will help the terminal
maintain accuracy.
“RTK steering really comes into its own
with root crops. We do a lot of bedforming
for potatoes and the accuracy is second
to none. Having RTK steering on the
tractors takes the pressure off the drivers,
so they can just concentrate in the
implement. I am sure that it also helps
save fuel and certainly results in improved
workrates.”
David Fox (right) with ARION 650 operator John Street.
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“It’s simple to operate”
A new NEXOS 240 VL has helped Keelings, who are one of Ireland’s largest growers
and suppliers of fresh produce, to increase productivity and reduce disease
pressure in their historic apple orchards.
The Keelings family has been growing
fresh produce just north of Dublin since
1896. Originally growing fruit and salads
for the Dublin markets, in the 1920’s and
‘30’s cropping was expanded to include
rhubarb and strawberries, with the first of
their Bramley apple orchards being
planted in 1949.
The good ground clearance (306mm
under the front axle and 330mm under the
rear) were a clear advantage to Ian. Other
features that appealed were the the
standard 540/540 ECO rear PTO and the
availability of a factory fitted with a front
linkage and integral 1000rpm PTO, plus
the four spool valves needed to operate
the combination. The cab is fitted with
carbon filters so that the tractor can be
used for mist blowing.
Considerable investment over the past 20
years in state-of-the-art glasshouses
means that the Keelings are now also able
to supply supermarkets with Irish grown
produce such as peppers, tomatoes,
aubergines and lilies.
Bramley apples still account for the
majority of the 40ha grown by the
company for supermarkets. All the
orchards are hand pruned and as their
most powerful fruit tractor, one of the
main operations for the new 101hp
NEXOS is to power a front-mounted
brush working in combination with a rearmounted pulveriser from November
through to February. During the spring
and early summer the NEXOS will then be
used for mist blowing and general
haulage work come harvest.
“A key factor in choosing the NEXOS was
its high ground clearance, as most other
fruit tractors we looked at were not high
enough to safely clear the prunings in
easily clear out small cuttings and old fruit
from under the trees, which will help
reduce the risk of disease and mildew.”
The new NEXOS VL, which is just 1.3m
wide, arrived in November, and was
supplied by Leinster Farm Machines to
replace a 1998 Renault that had clockedup over 10,000 hours.
With the orchards spread out over a five
mile radius from the company’s base at St
Margaret’s near Dublin Airport, another
standard feature that Ian appreciates is
the tractor’s 40kph road speed.
Ian Sheridan
case they ride-up. As it is, we have also
added some additional guarding
underneath just for extra protection,”
explains Ian Sheridan who is responsible
for machinery operations in the orchard
and is the main driver.
“Using a front brush in combination with
the pulveriser, will enable us to more
“The NEXOS is very well equipped for
what we need,” states Ian. “For a small
tractor the cab with its air-seat is very
comfortable and the access is good. On
the road it’s very sturdy and having
suspension on the front linkage is a great
advantage. It’s simple to operate,
everything comes to hand well, has plenty
of hydraulic power and with the ECO
speed rear PTO, to be able to knock the
engine speed back to around 1700rpm
makes a great difference. All in all we
have been extremely pleased with it,” he
concludes.
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CLAAS TractorTimes / Summer 2014
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“Our drivers love the ELIOS”
Two 88hp ELIOS 230 tractors have been specially adapted in order to meet the exacting demands of one of Scotland’s largest
fruit farms.
As you tuck into your strawberries and
cream this summer, if the strawberries
were bought in M&S, Tesco or Waitrose,
then there is a fair chance that they were
grown by P J Stirling Fruit Farms. Based
near Arbroath, the company grow a total
of 65ha of strawberries under tunnels,
giving them a harvesting season that lasts
from May through to mid-September.
P J Stirling has been growing strawberries
under standard tunnels since 1996.
Having changed to lower Spanish tunnels
in the last year, which are stronger and
result in an earlier harvest, their low
overall height did pose a problem.
“The challenge was that our existing
tractors were too big,” explains manager
Kenny Shellard. “to work in the tunnels we
need a tractor that is no higher than about
2.5 metres, but also has to have a
maximum ground clearance of about
600mm in order to clear the strawberry
beds, and it needs to be no more than
1.8m wide and have a comfortable cab.”
Finding such a tractor was no easy
challenge. Having gone through all the
tractor manufacturers’ specifications and
options, Kenny found nothing that exactly
met their needs.
The only tractor that came close was the
ELIOS, but even then the ground
clearance was not high enough. However,
Peter Stewart at Sellars, Letham was
positive that a solution could be found
and arranged for a demonstration ELIOS
so that Stirling’s could assess the tractor
and look at various tyre options.
“No other manufacturer did what these
guys did,” states Kenny. “I spoke to Peter
on the Wednesday and by Friday a tractor
was in the yard, so that we could use it in
the tunnels and try different tyre options
to increase the clearance.”
To accommodate wider diameter tyres,
but still maintain the lead ratio between
the axles and leave clearance under the
mudguards, Sellars came up with the
solution of adding a drop box and
changing the front axle and differential to
achieve a different rolling radius. This
Kenny Shellard
allowed bigger 320-85 R32 tyres to be
fitted to the front axle and 380-80R38
tyres on the back in place of the standard
R20 and R28 tyres.
Due to the amount of work the ELIOS’ will
be doing and the long hours they are
worked, the tractors have been specified
with a number of optional extras including
electronic linkage control, air conditioning,
an air seat, horizontal exhaust and a three
spool block.
“The cab on the ELIOS is a nice place to
sit and there is plenty of room. Also with a
kerb weight of only around three tonnes
they are fairly light and will not create too
much compaction or churn up the
headlands when turning.”
“It was very much a case of the two
companies working together and the
result is ‘bang on’ and the drivers love
using them,” states Kenny. “Each tractor
will do about 1000 hours a year, mainly
spraying and 90 percent of the time they
will be in the tunnels, so it was important
we got it right.”
“The only other solution would have been
to go for a cabless tractor and that would
have done the job, but the health and
safety implications for spraying work
would have been a problem, so this was
the ideal outcome.”
13
“It’s light, the right horsepower and the
price is right”
The development of a unique sugar beet hoe and sprayer combination built around an AXOS 340 will enable Hogsbjerg Farms
to slash their variable costs.
With weed control costs amounting to
around £200/ha over the 97ha of sugar
beet that Tony Hogsbjerg and his son
Aaron grow and manage at Belchamp
Walter in Suffolk, they were keen to look
at ways to not only reduce their costs, but
also achieve better control.
The solution has been to invest in a new
12 row Garford Robocrop self-steering
hoe. To this they have added a band
sprayer system fed by a 500 litre tank
mounted on a frame on the front of the
new 102hp AXOS 340. This in turn has
been fitted with an RTK steering system
and RDS variable rate control box to
maintain spray rate relative to forward
speed.
“It makes sense to spray whilst you hoe,
because both jobs are done at a similar
speed. Whilst similar systems are used in
Europe, as far as we know there is no
other system like this in the UK and
Garford are interested in how well it will
work,” explains Aaron.
“Weed control can be a nightmare,” adds
Tony. “We felt there had to be other ways
of achieving similar, if not better control
but at less cost. By using this
combination of mechanical and chemical
weed control, our aim is that depending
on the season, in three years out of five
we should be able to reduce costs to as
little as £50 per hectare.”
From their well equipped workshop, the
Hogsbjergs have designed the sprayer
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system so that it can be completely
removed from the steering hoe and
mounted on their Monosem drill instead.
Another option will be to take all the tines
off the hoe and just use it as a band
sprayer. To achieve an optimum spray
cone of 16cm, each of the nozzles is
angled and as the working height
increases during the season, the angle
can be altered to maintain the optimum
pattern.
In addition to fitting the RTK steering
system to the tractor, which works in
tandem with the steering system on the
hoe, Aaron has also fitted a movement
sensor on the linkage that automatically
shuts off the sprayer when lifted. He has
also added a pulser on the wheel to again
shut off the sprayer when the tractor
stops. A second 35 litre/minute PTO
driven pump is used to provide enough oil
for the hydraulically
powered sprayer,
which is fed directly
from the tractor’s
sump. They have
also used spacers
to push the
340/85R38-shod
rear wheels out to
2.00 metre centres.
When it came to a
tractor to mount the
whole system on,
one of the reasons
Aaron and Tony Hogsbjerg
that the Hogsbjergs chose the AXOS was
on account of its simplicity. “This is our
first CLAAS tractor, but we have always
run CLAAS combines, so we knew the
service from Manns would be excellent,”
explains Aaron.
“For this job you just need a simple,
straightforward tractor and with its
mechanical controls the AXOS is ideal. Its
light, the right horsepower and the price
was right. Most other manufacturers want
30% more for tractors that are the same
power but have electronic spools and
linkage, which we just don’t need. The
AXOS is definitely right for the job.”
“It’s been a difficult season, but so far it
has gone well and I have been able to
increase water rates to between 150 to
250 litres according to forward speed.
Working at 8kph I can cover around 30ha
a day and hopefully between hoeing and
spraying we should achieve total control
at far less cost.”
CLAAS TractorTimes / Summer 2014
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Neil and Stephen Garrod
“It’s reliable, holds its value and
economic to run”
Simplicity is the key for Neil Garrod and the fact that CLAAS are one of the few manufacturers to offer differing levels of
specification is key to his decision to standardise on CLAAS tractors.
Neil and his son Stephen like to do
everything themselves over the 243
hectares they farm near Ipswich, where all
but 12ha is down to combineable crops.
Whilst their LEXION 620 is the latest in a
long line of CLAAS combines, it is only in
the last seven years that the Garrods have
changed over to CLAAS tractors, with the
arrival this spring of the 158hp TIER 4i
ARION 620 CIS completing the change. It
joins two other tractors, a 2012 AXION
820 CIS which replaced their first CLAAS
ARES 836 tractor bought in 2007, and a
2010 ARION 630 CIS.
“There are three things I Iook for in a
tractor,” states Neil. “Firstly reliability,
secondly back-up and finally comfort. A
lot depends on the dealer and we have
dealers for all four major brands within 20
miles. But we knew how good the backup from Manns is and having Saxham on
the doorstep, if we need anything we
know they will have it and we know the
people there well.”
“But as a company CLAAS seem to be far
more progressive. They do listen and pay
attention to what their customers want.
This is reflected in the fact they still offer
the two CIS or CEBIS specification
options for tractors, unlike other
manufacturers where there is just the one
high specification. The CIS specification is
perfectly good for us. For what we do and
the machinery we have, we don’t want or
need things like electronic spools.”
further. The whole combination of the cab
comfort and the front axle and cab
suspension system makes it extremely
smooth to drive. The ARION has plenty of
power for what we need it to do and it’s
also very versatile. It’s light enough for
spraying but we can easily weight it up for
cultivations. Also, by having the eco
speed PTO, for spraying I can run at just
1300 rpm, which helps save fuel.”
The new 158hp ARION 620 is driven by
Stephen and will mainly be used for
spraying, ploughing and drilling with a
6.6m Sulky. As the most powerful tractor
on the farm, the AXION 820 is responsible
for all the heavy draft work, including
ploughing, establishing oilseed rape using
a Simba DTX with seeder and general
cultivations, whilst the other ARION 630 is
used for hedgecutting, power harrowing
and fertiliser spreading.
The only options added to the ARION’s
CIS standard specification were 50kph for
road work between their two farms, which
are four miles apart, and front axle
suspension. Like the other two tractors,
the new ARION is also fitted with Michelin
AxioBib tyres, which the Garrods have
found work well with the tractors and at
reduced pressures enable maximum grip,
especially when cultivating on their heavy
clay soils.
“The new ARION 620 is a definite step on
from the old ARION in many respects, but
especially cab comfort,” says Stephen.
“The old ARION is a very good tractor, but
CLAAS seem to have upped their game
“For what we need, the tractors are ideal.
They are reliable, seem to hold their value
well, are economical to run and
comfortable to drive; they ‘do what they
say on the tin’”, sums up Neil.
15
“Competes
with the
best”
A new TIER 4i ARION 640 CEBIS is
playing a central role in Bicton College’s
Fossil Fuel Free Farming project that
was launched last year.
Working with partners such as the
Dartington Hall Trust and Laverstoke Park,
which is owned by ex-F1 driver Jody
Scheckter, the Fossil Fuel Free Farming
(F3) project has been set-up in order to
look at ways in which farming can reduce
its reliance on fossil fuels. As part of the
project, over the next 10 years the
College will be looking to reduce fossil
fuel use on its own 200ha farm near
Budleigh Salterton in Devon by at least
10% a year.
“A key part in achieving that will be to
make use of the latest technology
available,” explains farm manager James
Drury. “We will be keen to forge links with
companies such as CLAAS and to look
and assess new developments.”
The arrival of the new ARION 640 CEBIS
this spring was one of the first steps in
the College farm’s drive to achieve this
aim and was specifically chosen by
James on account of the tractor’s high
fuel efficiency. To further ensure optimum
fuel use, the tractor has been specified
with RTK steering, using a BASELINE
mobile base station. At the same time,
Hamblys also supplied the College with a
new DISCO 3200FC mower, VOLTO 52
tedder, LINER 2600 rake and a VARIANT
385RC baler.
“In the past the College has relied on
contractors so silage, but there was
minimal student involvement in what for
many of them will be a key operation. The
deal that CLAAS and Hamblys have put
together means we can now make all our
own silage, so we will have more control
over quality and by making bales this will
be easier for feeding outwintered stock in
the fields.”
Alex Tapp from Hamblys (right) who is an ex-Bicton student,
hands over the keys for the ARION 640 CEBIS to Bicton
College principle David Henley (left) and farm manager James
Drury.
“Having run ARION tractors in the past, I
knew they are a good tractor and that the
dealer service and back-up would be
good. But I have been extremely
impressed by the performance of the new
ARION 640. It has done everything I
expected of it and is a mile apart from not
only the old ARION but also the darker
green competition. You can’t compare the
two. With the new ARION, CLAAS without
doubt have a range to compete with the
best.”
“It has so far only done about 350 hours,
but that has been hard work on some
steep ground mainly handling a 5-furrow
plough at 95cm centres, drilling, mowing
and baling but combined fuel
consumption has averaged just 12.8
litres/hour.”
“The ARION is a resource that will be
shared with the teaching side and it is
important that Level 3 students are
introduced and learn about this kind of
technology and that we can demonstrate
to students how costly overlaps can be at
today’s input costs.”
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16
By opting for the higher CEBIS
specification, which James comments is
no more difficult to operate than an I
Phone, and RTK steering, not only will the
tractor be best equipped to achieve
optimum performance, but it will also act
as a valuable teaching aid.
“The ARION is ideal for what we do. Not
only is it fuel efficient, but it never lacks
for power or grip on our steep hills and
cab comfort due to the front axle and cab
suspension is incredible.”
The first job for the new ARION 640 CEBIS was drilling spring
barley for Somerset Levels flood victim James Winslade,
whose land was submerged to depths of 10ft.
CLAAS TractorTimes / Summer 2014
“It’s the little things that
make the difference”
Michael Parrish traded in his old ARION 640 CIS for a new TIER 4i ARION 650 CEBIS,
and was delighted that over the five years he had it, the ARION only lost £6.66/hour
in value – a figure, he says, that is hard to beat.
“When Olivers sold my father and I the
ARION, they assured us that the tractor
would do us well, and they were spot on,”
states Michael. “It was a good tractor and
apart from routine servicing we never had
to lay a spanner on it. But for it then to
only lose £16,000 over the five years and
2,500 hours - you can’t argue with that.”
Having worked as an agricultural
consultant, since returning five years ago
to run the 263ha farm near Shefford in
Bedfordshire, Michael has gradually builtup his machinery fleet and taken more
jobs back in-house. In addition to his own
222ha of arable crops, Michael also works
closely with his cousin nearby, which
gives him an additional 182ha of contract
work. He also does contract trailer work
for neighbouring onion and vegetable
growers.
One of the main reasons for buying the
new 184hp ARION 650 CEBIS has been
the decision to invest in a sprayer, and
Michael has bought a new Knight
Trailblazer sprayer for use on his own and
his cousin’s crops.
“With the spraying work, the new ARION
650 will do far more work than the old
640, and it will be used for both
cultivating and top-work. I have had it
fitted with Michelin 650 Multibibs as I got
on very well with those on the old ARION,
plus I have kept the narrow wheels for
spraying. Also, compared to other
tractors, it is noticeable how good the
ground clearance is on the ARION, which
is ideal in oilseed rape.”
Another item carried across for the old
ARION is the steering system, which is
used in conjunction with RTK for both
cultivations and spraying.
“The old ARION 640 was a good tractor,
but comparing the two it is noticeable
how much more refined the new ARION
650 is. The cab, especially, is superb. The
visibility is fantastic and I love the
CMOTION control - it’s so easy to use
and what you can do with it is amazing,”
says Michael, who has also taken out a
4,000 hour, four year MAXI-CARE cover to
fix his costs.
“The engine is very responsive and even
though its a slightly higher horsepower,
you can tell there is more torque, as it
pulls a lot better. )n general work it has
only been averaging 10 litres an hour.”
Michael Parrish
But he adds that it’s also the little things
that he likes, such as the space for the
toolbox under the steps which avoids
having it in the cab and the pressure
release levers for the hydraulics, he says,
which are such a simple idea. Also the
ability he has with CEBIS to be able to
individually set-up the electronic spool
valves, and having both linkage and
hydraulic top-link control buttons on the
mudguards makes hitching on machinery
extremely easy.
“The old ARION was brilliant, but however
good the ARION is, ultimately it is also
down to the support you receive from the
dealer and Olivers are excellent. They are
a good solid company, a pleasure to deal
with and are an important part of the
running of the farm.”
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17
Smooth
running
lugging
power
One of the first of the new ‘Tractor of the
Year’ award winning AXION 800’s has
been delivered to William and Robert
Hays’ farm near Turriff in Aberdeenshire.
It replaces an old 8500-hour Renault and
another fast tractor used for spraying. It
will work alongside two older 232hp
AXIONs, which have so far clocked-up
3500 and 4500 hours.
For both the brothers and operator Willie
Still, one of the most noticeable
differences between the old and new
AXION is the performance of the FPT
TIER 4 engine in the new AXION 840
compared to the DPS in the old AXION’s.
“The new AXION may be heavier and
more powerful, but the engine is more
responsive and has far greater ‘lugging’
power,” comments Robert. “It quite
happily sits at around 1100 to 1200 rpm
and will just keep pulling up hills. If we
tried that with the old AXIONs they would
just die. And whilst we don’t monitor fuel,
it does certainly seem to be more
economical.”
With most of the 340ha farm down to
cereals, one of the main jobs for the new
AXION is primary
cultivations using a
Simba SL400 and then
drilling with a 4.0m Horsh
Sprinter. The other main
job will be spreading
poultry muck from the
farm’s 70,000 broiler
chickens and 76,000
laying hens in colony and
free range systems.
To ensure a plentiful
hydraulic oil supply for
the drill, the AXION 840
has been specified with
the higher capacity 150
litre hydraulic system.
They have added the full
lighting package. Like the
other two AXIONs, the
AXION 840 also has RTK
guided steering using the
CLAAS GPS PILOT
terminal.
For operator Willie Still one of the biggest
changes is the comfort of the four-pillar
cab. “The cab is really comfortable, very
quiet and easy to get into thanks to the
folding steering wheel. Overall visibility is
excellent, especially to the back with the
curved rear screen. Compared to the
CEBIS on the old AXION, the colour
screen is easier to see and very logical to
set-up and use. Also having the linkage
buttons at the front and rear is a great
help when connecting machines.”
“Whilst the transmission is basically the
same, it’s far smoother and the
(CMOTION) control is easy to use. I also
really like having the braked front axle as
Operator Willie Still (centre) with Robert (left) and William Hay
not only is it safer but makes stopping
effortless.”
Although they did consider other makes,
it was the support and service that they
receive from local dealer Bruce Farm
Machinery that also played an important
part in the Hays’ decision to stay with
CLAAS tractors.
“Between the three AXIONs, they can all
mix and match and do everything,” states
Robert. “It’s early days; the AXION arrived
in March and has only done 300 hours,
but so far we have been very impressed
with it. It’s an extremely good tractor and
a big change from the old AXION.”
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19
“Extra power has boosted
output by 20%”
The first AXION 900 series tractor to be sold in Scotland has helped revolutionise
drilling over the 1592ha managed by Robert Drysdale, enabling more consistent
results and a 20% increase in daily output.
Robert Drysdale and
operator Iain Turner
The undulating terrain over the three
farms run by Farmcare at Monymusk in
Aberdeenshire soaks up power. Of the
total area, 1333ha is down to arable crops
drilled using a 6.0m Horsch Pronto. So
greater horsepower was high on Robert’s
wish list when his previous drilling tractor,
a 268hp AXION 850, came due for
replacement.
“The hills meant the AXION 850 was
always on its limit with the drill,” states
Robert. “I had an AXION 950 on
demonstration and you could see just
how much easier it made drilling because
it could maintain an even speed up and
down hills. It could also pull a full drill on
the steeper ground instead of half filling it
to get up the slope.”
Having looked at a number of other
makes, Robert eventually opted for a
380hp AXION 940 CMATIC, which has
now done over 1000 hours. “The main
reasons for choosing it were the overall
design of the tractor, which I thought was
very good, and Iain who would drive the
tractor also liked it. I also knew we would
get good support from Sellars, which is
important as it is a key machine.”
20
Robert has also taken out MAXI CARE for
the AXION 940, which will also fix his
costs and also points out that the
extended service interval of 600 hours is a
bonus that helps to minimise downtime.
The tractor has also been fitted with RTK
guidance using a CLAAS GPS PILOT
screen and options also included Xenon
work lights.
“Having the extra power has boosted
daily output by around 20%, but also
resulted in more even germination and a
consistent depth when cultivating. It’s
important we finish drilling by the first
week of October and with a large area of
spring barley to drill, that extra 20%
makes a considerable difference and frees
up time for other jobs that need doing.”
Iain Turner who drives the AXION 940, has
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been particularly impressed with the cab
comfort, the all-round visibility that its 4pillar design provides and the ease with
which the tractor can be set-up and
operated.
“The old AXION 850 was a good tractor to
drive, but when we had the new AXION
on demo you could see there was a big
difference. The visibility is superb,
everything you need is at your fingertips
and the vario gearbox is extremely
smooth. The engine pulls well and never
dies.”
“The old AXION 850 would always be at
maximum revs, roaring its head off and at
its limit, but the AXION 940’s extra power
just makes it far more relaxing to drive.
For drilling, having set CRUISE PILOT it
will just sit at 1300 to 1350 rpm even on
the hills. As a result, although it’s a bigger,
more powerful tractor it does not seem to
be using as much fuel, and on something
like ploughing the AdBlue only needs
topping up every three to four days.”
Iain adds that the intuitive design of
CEBIS and the CMOTION control makes
it very simple and quick to set-up and
store the headland control, alter the
hydraulic flow rates and to change the
sensitivity of the transmission for different
operations.
“But it’s the small details like the ease
with which the radiators can be swung up
for servicing and the toolbox store under
the steps. I particularly like the rails in the
cab for mounting control boxes and the
fact that there are plenty of sockets. It’s a
very simple idea but far better than having
to weld-up something.”
CLAAS TractorTimes / Summer 2014
A hard act
to follow
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When it came to replacing his faithful old
FW 60 Automatic, having looked at
various options, Ben Whittles felt that
the XERION 4500 best met his needs
and has been very pleased with its
performance.
One of the great strengths of the FW60
was the fact that whilst its 14 litre engine
developed over 400hp, the tractor only
weighed 13 tonnes, making it ideal for use
on Ben’s easily compacted soils.
However, having decided at 12,000 hours
that it was time to retire the tractor, finding
a suitable replacement proved a
challenge.
“Our soils are what are referred to locally
as ‘minute land’,” explains Ben, who
farms 526ha at Upton Magna near
Shrewsbury. “One minute they are fine,
the next they are not. In some fields I have
up to seven different recognised soil types
and typically the soil is low in organic
matter, difficult to handle and easily
compacted.”
“Its man’s land and autumn cultivations
have to be quick because once you get
beyond September you will have
problems. So for cultivations I am looking
for a tractor with plenty of power to
quickly cover the ground whilst
minimising compaction.
the front or rear axle to ensure the
optimum balance is achieved for the task
being undertaken. I have also had it fitted
with 900/62R42 tyres so it is as light as
possible on the ground whilst optimising
traction.”
With its 12,500 cc Caterpillar engine
developing 483hp, Ben adds that the
XERION has more than enough power to
ensure that he can cover the ground
quickly, to aerate the soil at depth and
allow it to breath to ensure good root
establishment.
“With minimal labour on the farm, the aim
is that the XERION can crack on and
cover at least 20-30 ha a day so that we
can then get the crops drilled in about 12
to 15 days in optimum conditions,
finishing wheat drilling by the end of
September.”
“Timeliness is everything, so, with no
spare capacity, reliability and back up
service is vital. With the XERION, it is the
complete package in terms of buying into
the service and support that both Morris
Corfield and CLAAS offer that is crucial.”
In operation, Ben has been extremely
impressed both by how comfortable the
XERION is but also how easy it is to
operate. “Morris Corfield set the XERION
up beautifully. The CVT transmission is
fantastic and so easy to use. It’s also
great on the road. Even with the big tyres
it is only 3.3m wide and despite its size
it’s very versatile, I have been surprised
by how handy it is when corn carting with
an 18 tonne trailer.”
“However, the biggest
benefit has to be its fuel
economy. Whilst most
high horsepower tractors
tend to use a lot of fuel,
when set-up correctly the
XERION, even when
working at full depth, was
running at just 1500rpm
with 10 to 15 percent
wheel slip and using up to
12 litres per hectare less
than other tractors we
tried.”
Rubber tracked crawler tractors were
immediately ruled out due to their lack of
versatility, poor traction on greasy soils
and the fact that when lifting heavy
implements, too much weight is
transferred to the rear of the tractor,
causing smearing and compaction on the
headlands.
Having ruled out tracks, whilst there is a
good selection of wheeled tractors
developing over 360hp, the main problem
with virtually all of them was that they
tipped the scales at circa 20 tonnes.
“The XERION 4500 was the only tractor
that came close to the FW60 in terms of
weight. I like the fact that you can easily
add weight if you need it. The XERION is
designed so that weight can be added to
Ben Whittles
“Of all the tractors I
looked at, the XERION
was the only one that felt
‘right’ and best met my
needs. It was the only one
to come close to the old
FW60.”
21
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The SCORPION 6030 at work in the sandpit.
“Improving on the
unbeatable”
A key part in the development of any CLAAS machine is to get final pre-series
machines out on farm, so that the design and production teams can get valuable
feedback from users prior to final production.
Over the past year a number of pre-series SCORPION telescopic handlers have
been at work in the UK, including a SCORPION 7044 and 6030 with Stewart Innes in
Scotland and a SCORPION 7035 with Noel Marsh in Dorset.
Running five telescopic handlers,
including four CLAAS SCORPIONs, each
of which clock-up around 2,500 hours a
year, Stewart Innes was a natural choice
to run a new pre-series SCORPION 7044
VP which has a 122hp Tier 4 engine,.
Stewart expects his telescopic handlers
to work hard. With a total of 1500 dairy
cows, split between two herds yielding
10,500 litres and housed all year round on
the 1173ha farm, their working day starts
a 4.00am and the SCORPIONs will be in
use in all weathers seven days a week.
“It’s fair to say that the handlers are out
more or less 24/7 and I will look to keep
them until they are around four years old
and have done 10,000 hours,” he says.
“The old SCORPION 7040 is an
extremely good machine; I would go so
far as to say that the last two 7040s are
probably the best two machines we have
ever run on the farm. Also the support
and service from Sellars has been
fantastic.”
Whilst he says the SCORPION 7040 will
be a hard act to follow, having now
clocked up 2,000 hours with the new
SCORPION 7044 VP Stewart has been
so impressed with the new machine, that
he has now also taken delivery of a
smaller frame pre-series 122hp
SCORPION 6030 VP.
The SCORPION 7044 loads 90 tonnes of feed a day
22
Stewart Innes
“The engine on the SCORPION 7044 is
very responsive, it’s better on the road
and the power to weight ratio seems
exceptionally good. There is a lot of
power and grip, it has a plenty of pushing
power and fuel wise it seems very good
for the work it is doing.”
“However, what I am really impressed by
is the little things they have done. Having
the new storage boxes cast into the rear
weight block is such a simple idea and
very clever. You wonder why no-one has
thought of that before as they are ideal for
chains and straps which otherwise clutter
up the cab. Also the operating modes in
SMART HANDLING make loading very
simple.”
“The curvey glass in the cab has always
been a strong selling point, but the new
cab is a far better space. The new joystick
control is very comfortable and easy to
use, and the overall layout of the buttons
is far neater. Having 360 degree lighting is
excellent for the winter.”
CLAAS TractorTimes / Summer 2014
Whilst it has only done 600 hours, Stewart
has been no less impressed with the new
SCORPION 6030 which, he says, is a little
power house. “Compared to the old
version, the new SCORPION 6030 is
twice the machine. It’s fantastic. It’s quick
on the road, very responsive and seems
to have far more power. It’s great to
drive.”
The new 7.0 metre SCORPION 7044 and
an older 7040 are based on the main farm
near Nairn. Here, their main job is loading
the 90 tonnes of feed into the mixer
wagon each day for the 900-cow herd.
The narrower 6.0m SCORPION 6030 and
a second 6030 are based on the second
600-cow unit that uses sand for bedding,
with 50 tonnes a week being dug out from
the farm’s own sandpit.
“I am impressed. The few things that
needed changing on the old SCORPIONs
have been done and to pick-out the very
few bits I would change on either of the
new SCORPIONs really would be nitpicking,” concludes Stewart.
Impressive SCORPION 7035
Noel Marsh, who has a 300-cow organic dairy herd and is also Chairman of the Dairy Crest Organic Group, has been putting a
pre-series SCORPION 7035VP through its paces on his 320ha farm near Dorchester.
The SCORPION 7035 replaces a ‘10 plate
SCORPION 7044 which, over its 5,500
hours, Noel says, was faultless. Everryone
who drove it just loved it and it made a
welcome change after a problematic pivot
steer machine.
The new SCORPION 7035 has only been
on the farm a couple of months, so whilst
it is early days, Noel and his team have so
far been very impressed with the power
and comfort that the small frame, 7.0m
reach SCORPION provides.
“It’s a job to improve on what is already a
very good machine, but they have. The
old SCORPION 7044 was pretty well
unbeatable,” says Noel. “One of the
original reasons for changing to CLAAS
was Vaughan Agri and the service and
support that they provide for what is a key
machine on the farm. With CLAAS you
know they will listen. We have already had
a couple of visits from the factory and I
am sure they will take on board the
suggestions we have made.”
For Neil Dennis, who mainly operates the
SCORPION 7035, one of the biggest
improvements is the cab. “It’s bigger and
wider so there is plenty of space and the
ventilation is good. I like the new layout
for the controls, which is a lot better and
the colour coding makes the SCORPION
very easy to use,” comments Neil. “Also
little things like having the greasers all in
one bank make servicing very easy.”
Tom and Noel Marsh
“I like having the option of three driving
ranges. Tortoise is ideal for getting around
the yard and general work, but for rolling
the clamp I used it in Snail mode, so it
had plenty of power for climbing.”
it’s not only more precise, but because
you know the grab will stay dead level
and go back to the same position, means
you can concentrate more on
manoeuvring,” he states.
Even when turned out, the 300-cow herd,
which averages around 7,700 litres, is still
buffer fed, so one of the main jobs for the
new SCORPION is loading the mixer
wagon, which does up to four mixes a
day. One of the most useful new features
for Neil is therefore the bucket mode
within SMART HANDLING. “This means
“For a 7.0m reach machine, the 7035 is
really compact. It’s a size that suits us and
having changed our feeding system, the
new SCORPION will be doing at least
around 1800 hours a year. Overall it’s a
very good machine and definitely an
improvement on the old SCORPION,”
concludes Noel.
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Powered by a 122hp TIER 4i engine, Neil
is impressed by how much power this
gives the SCORPION 7035 VP, especially
for jobs such as pushing up and loading
dung, or when using it to roll the clamp.
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