Unload on-the-move: This new silage wagon never stops

What would you get if you crossed a self-loading silage wagon with a potato harvester? That might well be the question that crosses your mind when you take a closer look at Fliegl’s latest innovation.

The Fliegl Buffel – as it will be known – is a novel forage harvesting machine; it encompasses a pick-up reel, a chopping rotor (similar to that in a silage wagon or a round baler), a bunker and an unloading conveyer.

It is essentially a self-loading silage wagon that can unload on the move – enabling it to keep picking up grass whilst unloading.

The idea is that the machine can continuously pick up swaths of grass – unloading (on-the-move) as and when tractors and trailers come back from the pit. Upon each empty trailer’s return, it simply runs alongside the Buffel – in much the same way as a trailer would ‘side-fill’ from a self-propelled (precision-chop) harvester.

However, in the case of the Buffel, grass is unloaded via a conveyor system (rather than being blown by an accelerator through a chute).

Fliegl is rather excited about the machine’s prospects. It describes the Buffel as a “revolution” in the harvesting of grass and other swath-based crops.

It reckons that the Buffel offers the best of both worlds. Unlike a self-propelled (precision-chop) harvester, it doesn’t need a trailer running alongside all the time.

Unlike a conventional self-loading forage wagon, harvesting doesn’t have to stop each time the wagon is full. The Buffel can keep ‘picking’ – albeit with the help of additional tractors and trailers.

The Buffel employs a wagon-type chopping system; Fliegl believes that wagons offer improved fuel economy over forage harvesters – on an acre-for-acre basis.

The machine will be on show at Agritechnica; it will take place in Hanover, Germany, from November 12 to November 18.

The seven-day event will showcase all types of machinery from a total of 2,900 exhibitors in over 20 different halls.

Irish presence at Agritechnica

At least 19 exhibitors will fly the flag for Ireland at Agritechnica. It is an excellent opportunity for these companies to “rub shoulders” with the “biggest” names in the machinery business – from all over the world. It also emphasises the importance of international markets for Irish manufacturers.

Companies like Mayo-based McHale will exhibit their wares – showcasing the best of what Ireland has to offer on an international stage.

The list (below) details the main Irish tally of exhibitors; it encompasses a broad range of products and a healthy geographical spread across the country.

Irish exhibitors booked in for Agritechnica 2017: