Kuhn Farm Machinery has launched two new trailed centre-pivot mower conditioners, the 3.1m FC3160TCD and the 3.5m FC3560TCD. Both units feature Kuhn’s centre-pivot design that enables the unit to be operated on either side of the tractor, or in conjunction with a front-mounted mower for improved productivity and reduced “dead time”.
According to Kuhn Farm Machinery’s UK sales manager, Duncan McLeish, centre-pivot machines offer significant operational advantages over their more commonly used side-pull counterparts.
“Centre-pivot machines can work across the field rather than setting it out at the headlands,” he said. “This alone can reduce the working time for each field by as much as 15 per cent by virtually eliminating the “dead time” spent travelling at the headlands which occurs with side-pull machines.”
Reducing traffic on headlands also prevents the flattening of headland swaths and can contribute to a reduction in soil compaction and soil contamination on the headlands.
“All these factors lead to the production of better silage, with any improvements in productivity ensuring that farmers and contractors can make the most of narrow weather windows,” Mr McLeish added.
Kuhn’s FC range of centre-pivot mower conditioners are fitted with the company’s Gyrodine swivel hitch that ensures the PTO shaft is always perfectly aligned for improved reliability, reduced maintenance and enhanced ground following. The Gyrodine headstock can operate at 540 or 1,000rpm and allows the centre-pivot machines to turn sharply, and at speed, without the risk of damaging the input drive and without destabilising the machine’s ground-following capability.
Both of the new centre-pivot mower conditioners are fitted with Kuhn’s Optidisc cutterbar and Fast-Fit cutting knives as standard. They also feature adjustable suspension and large diameter tyres for superior ground-following and stability, even when working on steep sloping ground.
The conditioning unit utilises a rotor with free swinging, 560mm steel flails or a 240mm roller conditioner, both of which offer high material throughput, with two rotor speeds (780 or 1,000rpm) for different crop conditions.
The conditioner also features an articulated hood that can be set for swathing or wide-spreading of the crop, adding considerably to the versatility of this range.
Further more information visit: www.kuhn.co.uk.
