Krone’s Big X 700 and 770 self-propelled forage harvesters will be powered by Liebherr V8 engines from this season onwards.
The move marks a first-time cooperation between Liebherr (from Switzerland) and Krone.
Liebherr, best known here in Ireland for its construction equipment (especially its loading shovels), is a significant engine manufacturer in its own right. These engines are used in earth-moving, mining, forestry and farming equipment.
Liebherr claims that customers appreciate the “hard-wearing components” and the “twice-as-long service intervals” of its ‘oil burners’. Engine oil and filters only need changing after 1,000 hours, for instance.
A view from inside the cab of a modern Krone forager
New self-loading wagon
Also new on the horizon from Krone – and exhibited at the recent SIMA show in Paris – is the RX forage wagon. The line-up includes the RX 360 (36m³), RX 400 (40m³) and the RX 430 (43m³). All capacity sizes, says the firm, are actual sizes – not compressed volume figures.
All three models share the same chassis. However, while the 360 has a fixed front ‘wall’ or headboard, the larger two machines have movable front ‘walls’ – to enable them to carry significantly more. The 430 also features an extending rear (tailgate) section.
The camless pick-up has its tines arranged in a symmetrical, helical pattern. This, says Krone, makes for a more uniform and even flow of crop into the machine. It is also claimed to reduce peak torque loads on the drive system.
The 8-row, 880mm-diameter rotor is driven by an oil-immersed gearbox. It’s equipped with hardox plates and outward-facing tines in a helical arrangement.
The 46-unit knife-bank offers a nominal (theoretical) chop length of 37mm. Operators can opt to “quickly” select zero, 23 or 46 knives. The knife-bank swings out to the side, for maintenance and knife changes.
All RX units are twin-axle machines. Buyers can opt for passive or forced rear steering.
According to Farmhand, the existing ZX forage wagons will continue to be available.
