Lemken is releasing a new seed drill, with a focus on improving precision, usability and area coverage.

The company says the new seed drill (called the Saphir XMR) builds on the strengths of the previous series while "setting new standards for precision, ease of use, and area coverage".

It claims that the machine was developed for farms that want to sow reliably, accurately, and efficiently, "regardless of time pressure".

Metering upgrade

One of the key components of the Saphir XMR is the metering system, which controls the rate at which the seeds drop from the hopper into the seed tubes.

This determines the seed rate (kg/ha) and allows for more accurate, consistent, and uniform distribution.

According to Lemken, it has developed the metering system "from the ground up".

"It delivers precise seed metering and is built for ease of use.

"Different seed wheels ensure that both fine and larger seeds aresown precisely and evenly."

The system includes a double-sided electric drive with half-width section switch, a major upgrade on the Saphir 10's single electric electrically driven main metering shaft.

This means that the drill has two independently controlled halves, and agricultural operators can switch off one side to reduce overlap at headlands, avoiding overseeding.

It can also help to effectively cover irregularly shaped fields, which often can be tricky to avoid overlaps in.

This technology avoids wastage of seed and as a result, reduces cost, the company said.

Usability focus

Lemken has concentrated on ease of use when developing the Saphir XMR with what it describes as "well-designed adjustment options" making it easy to adapt quickly to changing operating conditions.

Depth of the drill is adjusted via a central lever, while coulter pressure and sowing depth can be adjusted separately.

The company says its patented tramline control system is also "designed for flexibility", allowing operators to "easily select different tramline patterns and working widths".

Lemken's iQblue drill technology offers an ISOBUS-based operating concept with access to all key machine functions.

Depending on the specification, Lemken claims functions such as calibration testing or residual seed emptying are available with digital support.

These processes being made more efficient will allow for less wastage of seed and speed up machinery set up/service intervals, it said.

Lemken is continuing with a parallelogram-guided double disc coulter with pressure roller, a design it has used for over a decade to ensure reliable seed placement.

"This design ensures consistent seeding depth and good soil contact even under varying soil conditions and at higher driving speeds, for uniform crop emergence," it said.

In addition, coulter pressure can be "easily adjusted" to up to 45kg using the grid adjustment mechanism.

The mechanical drill continues to be available with row spacings of 12.5cm or 15cm.

Performance upgrades

The Saphir XMR is set to come with tank sizes of 900L, 1,200L and 1,500L.

Lemken's MultiHub spreader can also be installed as an optional 200L auxiliary tank that the company says can be used for micro-granules or catch crops.

The Saphir XMR can be mounted as a "proven, high-performance combination" on the company's Zirkon EMR and Zirkon XMR power harrows.

According to Lemken: "For the first time, a 600-series roller is available for this purpose, offering significantly reduced rolling resistance and improved reconsolidation, particularly on lightsoils".

The hydraulic cylinders can lift and swivel the seed drill forwards simultaneously, due to the semi-mounted design.

Lemken said this helps to reduce rear axle load and ensure stable weight distribution, which it called "an important advantage for smooth road transport".