PRODUCING 'farmer-user' combine harvesters is quite a speciality for manufacturer, Same Deutz-Fahr, and it has now totally revamped its firm favourite in that bracket with the new C6000 series.

It has already revamped its 'big' combines that are more suited to contractors and large estates - the 9000 and 7000 series, in 2013 and 2014, respectively - and now the styling gurus and engineers have given the C6000 combines an impressive makeover as a replacement for the 6040/6060 machines.

Aimed at 'independent farmers', the standard C6205 remains true to its roots as a no-nonsense, easy to use and maintain machine, but with the added benefits of being able to specify some of the more essential electronic controls and systems.

This five-straw walker combine has styling cues from its bigger brothers - designed by Italian design house, Giugiaro - but as well as being cosmetically up to date, the underpinnings have also undergone serious engineering scrutiny.

It is quite a powerful beast in the 'compact' class, with the Tier4 Final emissions qualified 230hp 6.1-litre Deutz engine (with up to 250hp at max) capable of handling standard headers from 4.2 to 6.3m, which are all fitted with the patented tandem high speed Schumacher EasyCut II system. It can also be fitted with the new Varicrop variable header - of three widths from 4.5 to 6.5m - which make them suited to switching between grain and tall rapeseed crops.

Two basic versions of the three-speed hydrostatic combine will be available - the standard C6205, or one fitted with the turbo separator technology. The base model's 600mm diameter threshing drum has eight rasp bars and the concave has a broad 'winding' angle to produce a larger separating surface.

The concave has a choice of three wire spacings to suit different crops and conditions, however an option here is to have a segmented concave which is aimed at customising the unit for different crops. Unusually on a combine this size, the concave is fully adjustable both at the front and the rear so that it can be fine-tuned for differing conditions.

The turbo separator models, (TS) which have five different work settings, cost quite a bit more, but have the ability to work up to 20% faster. Each version, though, can also be kitted out with the latest Autocontrol features.

As a guide, the C6205 Farmline is expected to start at around £142,000 but the TS version looks good value at just £5000 more.

A feature of DF combines - almost unique in this size of combine - is their double grain return system which helps speed up the threshing process at the same time as redcing losses over the back. This also has two beaters to shell much of the uncleaned grain before it heads back into the main separation area for a second go.

The finished 'product' then heads into a 7000-litre grain tank and outgoings come courtesy of a 75-litres per second disharge auger.

Comfort and ergonomics in the Evo II Commander cab have also been given a serious makeover, with much more space, the addition of a second seat and a multi-function joystick controller. That latter feature includes a 'Stop' button, as well as carrying all the essential controls for the combine in one easy to use armrest.

The combines are all made in Zupanja, in Croatia, and SDF has ambitions to grow this manufacturing plant. It currently makes about 400 combines each year - one for every employee at the facility - but has the capacity to make 1000 annually.

It is also manufacturing more components in house and from a situation just a handful of years ago when about 50% of components were self-made, now 70% are home-produced.

SDF's main man in the UK, Graham Barnwell, says he expects UK sales to be evenly split between the standard and TS models.

In Scotland, he reckons that sales will be channelled through Hendersons, of Haddington; TM Simpson, of Dunfermline; and Mark Garrick, in Elgin.