Looking back at a great year for machinery
It’s that time of year again, the time to reminisce about the year of machinery that was 2017, writes
The year started with an influx of events both in Ireland and overseas. In Ireland we had the normal spring machinery events as well as FTMTA while the UK hosted lamma and Paris hosted SIMA.
One of the highlight debuts from Lamma 17 at the start of the year was the McCormick X8 VT Drive.
This is the most powerful McCormick tractor ever built. The range was introduced with three models that have engine power outputs of 264hp, 286hp and 310hp.
Key features included a heavy-duty CVT transmission and electronically-controlled hydraulics with 157-litre or 212-litre load-sensing pumps plus 115-litres/min dedicated to steering and other ancillary systems.
Ford used the Lamma event to showcase its 100 years of tractor production with two vintage Fordson tractors alongside their latest tractor models. Celebrations for the 100-year anniversary began with a book launch at New Holland’s Basildon manufacturing site and showroom earlier in January.
The motor manufacturer’s 528-page book — 100 years of Fordson, Ford and New Holland Tractors 1917-2017 — published by tractor enthusiast club Blue Force, included over 1,270 colour photographs and details of tractor models produced since 1917.
McConnel’s Irish distribution partner Kverneland Group Ireland previewed the new McConnel PA7775T at the FTMTA Show.
The machine featured a 7.7m reach, a telescopic arm with a 1.35m extension and 75hp high-performance
hydraulics.
The machine is the first incarnation of a complete new series which McConnel have designed for professional contractors.
Massey Ferguson introduced its new MF6700S Series that include the world’s first 200hp, four-cylinder agricultural tractor at the FTMTA Show.
The six new models in the MF6700S Series are all powered by the very latest Agco Power 4.9-litre, four-
cylinder engine. For the first time, the continuously variable Dyna-VT is now available from the 130hp MF6713S model upwards.
The company’s MF6718S has a four-cylinder engine with an output of 200hp with Engine Power Management (EPM) for the first time.
A new Austrian company, RT Engineering had a presence at the FTMTA Show.
The young company was founded in 2014 and introduced to our shores through its Irish agents, T McFarland, Co Tyrone and Suirway Farm Machinery. Their new machines, Reiter Respiro R3 Compact and Profi, boast a new revolutionary elastic pick-up in the swathing market.
A groundbreaking new technology that should be suitable for the permanent grassland of Ireland with the challenges of soil adaptation and relatively high humidity.
The machinery show carousel then moved into Paris for the famous SIMA exhibition. Case IH unveiled its autonomous tractor concept to a European audience for the first time.
While the brand expect several years more testing required, it fitted in with the events futuristic theme. Case IH also commemorate their 175th anniversary this year.
A special Puma 175 CVX Limited Edition 175th anniversary version was launched to commemorate.
Only 175 are to be built. They will also carry unique 175th anniversary decals.
The Jubilee Edition is being finished in a distinctive “Viper Stryker” pearlescent red inherited from the Case IH Autonomous Concept Vehicle (ACV).
Massey Ferguson launched their new generation MF FL front loader range at the SIMA Show.
A choice of 16 self-levelling, parallel linkage models offer lift heights from 3.5m to 5m and capacities from 1.5t to 3.3t.
The range is completed by Four non-self levellers, handling loads of 2.2t to 2.7t and lift heights from 3.5m to 4m.
As we moved into summer, Fullwood launched a new pedometer-based fertility monitoring system that offers heat detection as well as enabling dairy farmers to easily recognise underlying conditions such as cystic ovaries, embryonic losses and non-cycling cows.
Kubota launched its new MGX-III tractor range.
The new range boasts machines from 90 to 140hp, to build on the success they established with their MGX-II models.
Featuring modern four-cylinder engines, combined with an eight-gear powershift transmission, they allow users to quickly switch between multiple applications without losing power.
Another anniversary celebrated this year was the 50th anniversary since the first Kuhn GMD disc mower was launched.
Kuhn commemorated this by displaying an original GMD 4 at Grassland and Muck, held in the UK in May.
John Deere’s new 8400R tractor added the tag of record breaker to its accolades during the year.
The 400hp machine set three world records for fuel efficiency (field and transport) and maximum drawbar performance at the DLG Test Station in Germany.
It beat its nearest competitors by almost 23% in drawbar performance, and lowered the combined fluid consumption figure for field work to only 247g/kWh.
At the Ploughing 2017, Keenans won an innovation award with their self propelled MechFiber 345SP.
The green diet feeding monster is one of the first results of the Carlow’s collaboration with Italian firm, Storti. The firm says the new product has been engineered to deliver rapid loading of a vast array of products, leaving a clean, uniform face for optimum pit face management.
Based in Co Kerry, Censortec introduced Nedap Heat Detection to the Irish market also at the Ploughing.
The Detection technology not only alerts you to cows in heat in good time, it also draws attention to any
animals in your herd with possible health problems.
The most significant benefit the Nedap SmartTag brings to the market is its battery life which makes the system very cost effective.
The National Dairy Innovation Award was won by water heating system, Dairy Geyser.
The Dairy Geyser does away with the idea of storing as well as batching water for heating.
A new coil system allows water access to the heating element for longer meaning water is heated on demand.
Virtual Vet won an Innovation Award at the National Dairy Show with a service for keeping of on farm animal remedy records for department and quality assurance inspections.
The free service keep all on farm records up to date simply by sending them the information through smart phone app, text, images or even by voicemail.
The new Claas Axion 900 tractors were unveiled to the public for the first time at Agritechnica 2017.
The new series has undergone systematic refinement and offers many new features.
These include more powerful engines with a low-speed concept, optimised CMatic transmission control, the new Cebis terminal with touch display and CMotion multifunction control lever, as well as the new CIS+ equipment option with multifunction armrest.
All new Axion 900 models have the proven and highly sophisticated six-cylinder FPT Cursor 9 engine with 8.7 litre cubic capacity.
In November, the yellow and black colours of the large Challenger tracked tractors will be resigned to history in Europe. The Challenger tractors are still available but are now sold under the Fendt brand and colours.
The Deutz-Fahr 6 series 6-cylinder range was diversified by the introduction of three new 4-cylinder models.
The modular high tech system now includes a 6155.4, 6165.4 and 6175.4 models powered at 156hp, 164hp and 171hp respectively.
