This year’s huge Agritechnica Show in Germany is set to attract 400,000 visitors from November 12 to 18.

More than 2800 exhibitors from 53 countries will be presenting their latest farm machinery, innovations and technology at the Hanover Fairgrounds, under the theme ‘Green future – smart technology.’

Here’s some of the highlights:

Claas keeps you in suspension

Claas will introduce the first ‘high comfort’ tractor that has both front and rear suspended axles.

The semi-tracked Claas Axion 900 Terra Trac is the first to have a suspended front and rear axle and has a substantially larger contact area, compared to triangular tracks. This results inbetter directional stability, both in the field and on the road.

This is not officially available as yet but it is going to be offered as an option for all Axion models.

Optimum adaptation to the ground contours is key for low compaction. This is achieved by a 15° pivot range and the fact that the machine’s weight is distributed to all track rollers hydraulically.

The pivot point has been moved forward, shifting extra weight to the rear axle and so transmits tractor power to the ground more effectively, while keeping compaction low.

This transfers more than 450hp engine power to the ground without causing damage to the soil and it does not exceed the statutory road width limit. It also won a silver medal from Agritechnica.

JD extends 6R Series appeal

TWO new top of the range tractors are being launched by John Deere, completing its 6R Series of tractors.

The new 6230R, rated at 230hp and the 6250R, rated at 250hp, are designed for use by contractors and large arable farmers.

Thanks to an engine boost of 50hp with intelligent power management (IPM), the flagship 6250R tractor can provide up to 300hp when required.

With a comparatively light weight of 9.3 tonnes, the 6250R delivers more power than any other tractor in this weight class, along with power density of 31kg/hp.

The high maximum permissible weight of 15 tonnes allows a 5.7 tonne payload to be carried on the tractor.

Both are powered by a 6.8-litre PowerTech PSS engine, with dual turbochargers and advanced DPF and SCR technology.

An upgraded AutoPowr transmission delivers the efficiency, with 100% mechanical power available at 3.5km/h for heavy draft operations, 11km/h for light draft work, 22.5km/h for heavy transport and 47.2km/h for light transport duties.

Once at maximum road speed, rpm automatically drops and 50km/h is maintained at 1630rpm and 40km/h at 1300rpm, resulting in lower fuel consumption on the road.

Fendt’s all-electric first

AGCO Fendt won a silver medal for the world’s first all-electric tractor, the Fendt e100 Vario.

This compact tractor has a 50 kW power output and can operate for up to five hours under normal operating conditions.

It will be used for the first time in limited numbers in 2018, initially on selected farms and in local municipalities.

The energy source is a 650-volt high-capacity lithium-ion battery with a capacity of around 100 kWh. The battery is charged either with a standard CEE outdoor socket, or by a supercharging option with direct voltage.

With a standard CCS type 2 plug, the battery can be recharged to 80% in just 40 minutes. In addition, energy can be recovered from the electric motor.

The e100 Vario allows the use of conventional as well as electrified implements and is fitted with two AEF-compliant power interfaces for electrical equipment. A short-term boost of up to 150 kW for the implements can be provided by the battery.

A standard pto connection is also available, as well as the normal hydraulic supply to implements.

Precise and dynamic control is enabled by the electrical drive and maximum torque for the ground drive and pto drive is supplied from a standing start.

Merlo’s Multifarmer evolves

Merlo’s rangte of launches at Agritechnica will include important changes to its Multifarmer Range, with a new family member in the medium duty section.

Its Multifarmer Medium Duty 34.7 and 34.9 will be available in three versions – Standard; CVT version (with Merlo’s CVTRONIC; and CS, which has CVTRONIC plus cab suspension.

Due to its compact dimensions, the new 34.7 and 34.9 will work in narrow spaces and these models also have Category 2 three-point linkage with 4000kg of lifting capacity, and mechanical rear pto.

The position of the cab and the work that has been carried out on the engine layout, bonnet and boom, ensure high visibility around the vehicle.

Merlo said these new models will feature some of the most successful technologies available on the Merlo range, such as the EcoPowerDrive (EPD) system, where operators can choose between three working modes – heavy duty, speed control and self-accelerating joystick.

Fendt’s latest sprayer

Fendt’s new range of self-propelled crop sprayers, the Rogator 600 series, will be available for sale in November following Agritechnica and for delivery in the first quarter of 2018.

The self-propelled range has three models – the Rogator 635, Rogator 645 and Rogator 655, with a nominal capacity of 4000, 5000 and 6000 litres, respectively, and boom widths of up to 36m.

Powered by AGCO Power engines ranging from 175 to 242hp, combined with the stepless drive concept and the smart traction control, these machines have been designed for the larger scale arable farmer and contractors.

Their revolutionary single-beam chassis forms the backbone of the models. Alongside a low centre of gravity, this provides outstanding, balanced weight distribution, which also guarantees a stable boom.

Other features include a wide range of steering variants, all the way up to four-wheel-steer. Ground clearance can be steplessly adjusted in the field.

Hydraulic track width adjustment provides up to 2.25m flexibility, which is ideal for contract work.

Independent wheel suspension and a new Vision cab provides operators with the highest levels comfort.

JCB ambitious small loader

A new compact wheeled loader will be unveiled at Agritechnica by JCB.

Designed to suit livestock farms, equestrian centres and nurseries, the 403 Agri is a 0.3cu m rated articulated chassis loader capable of working in confined locations in and around buildings.

Power is from a compact four-cylinder Kubota engine generating 26.5kW (35.5hp) and 92Nm torque. Features include open or manual diff locks in heavy duty axles to suit hard surface and soft ground operation and a new joystick controller and armrest with one-hand shuttle with high/low operation.

High torque and fine speed control are the main characteristics of the ‘low’ transmission range.

Claas and Kemper take Agritechnica Gold

TWO gold medals for innovation at Agritechnica have been awarded this year – one is to Claas for its Cemos auto threshing system and the other to Kemper for its StalkBuster, developed jointly with John Deere.

A further 29 silver medals were awarded to a host of different entries from smart technology to practical engineering.

Cemos is the first system that sets the tangential threshing system on straw walker and hybrid machines automatically. Depending on the strategy entered into the system by the operator, it sets the drum speed and the concave gap for optimum results in any given harvest conditions.

All controllers and sensors communicate with each other within the threshing system folr optimum performance, while Auto Threshing, mode for the first time completes the enormous complex technical step to implement fully automated threshing and the auto-learning system optimizes all parameters.

Kemper and John Deere’s StalkBuster is the first stubble-destroying technology that forms an integral part of a maize header.

It is the only machine on the market that destroys all the stubble before it is driven on by the forager or the tractor and trailer.

Usually about 30% of stubble remains intact, allowing pests such as corn borer a haven to infest the area again the following year.

The topper is integrated in the header, is relatively lightweight and has a relatively low power input requirement.