High-performance McCormick tractors for ploughing, cultivations, drilling and other arable farming operations will return to the Cereals Event on June 12/13, 2019, at Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire, as Italian manufacturer Argo Tractors continues to raise the profile of the range throughout the UK and Ireland.
“With its rejuvenated format and even greater emphasis on information to help arable farms perform profitably, we consider Cereals 2019 to be an ideal shop window for the 140-310hp tractors in the McCormick range,” the managing director of Argo Tractors’ operations in the UK and Ireland, Adrian Winnett, said.
“The new-generation X7 Series and the X8 Series cater for a broad range of arable farming applications and implements with a choice of powershift and stepless transmissions, different levels of equipment, and precision farming options that include factory-installed ISObus implement control and Topcon guidance, section control, variable-rate applications and so on.
“So we’re pleased to be making a return to the UK’s leading arable farming event to showcase these features and encourage farmers and contractors to get behind the wheel to discover for themselves what the modern McCormick range has to offer.”
The top model in the McCormick range will take centre stage at Cereals to highlight a three-model line-up of 264-310hp tractors that deliver a great deal of performance while being sufficiently versatile to handle operations such as manure and digestate spreading in addition to all tillage operations.
The tractors come to McCormick Premium specification, which means they have front-axle and cab suspension, a top-spec driver’s seat and the convenience of all-electric spool valves for the hydraulic system. This is based on a 157-lit/min or 212-lit/min variable-output piston pump, supported by a 115-lit/min piston pump dedicated to the steering and ancillary systems to ensure the main system never runs short of flow.
The high-output hydraulics package also includes 12,000kg capacity rear implement linkage paired with a three-speed PTO system, and fully integrated 5,000kg capacity front links with optional PTO.
These systems are configured to the optimum settings for different applications through the McCormick Data Screen Manager, a 30cm colour touch screen terminal with ISObus implement control capability that’s also used to set-up the VT-Drive stepless transmission. This delivers seamless acceleration and ground speed control for optimum outputs and work quality with any implement, together with automatic adjustment of engine revs and transmission ratio in line with the parameters set by the operator.
Different modes that can be fine-tuned by the operator help extract the most cost-efficient performance from the powertrain while making the driver’s task easier and less tiring over a long working day – all the more so when Topcon guidance and other precision-farming functions are added to Premier cab’s control features.
The latest McCormick X7 Series tractors from 140-225hp will also feature at Cereals 2019.
These latest-generation machines are available with the new P6-Drive semi-powershift transmission in addition to the stepless VT-Drive alternative, exhaust compression braking on all six-cylinder variants that relieves wear and tear on the friction brakes during road travel, and a new semi-active hydraulic cab suspension option.
Revised power outputs from the Euro Stage IV four- and six-cylinder engines include an automatic “boost” when operating PTO-driven implements such as power harrows and air drills, and when hauling trailers, tankers and spreaders on the road.
The P6-Drive transmission has been upgraded from the previous design and now serves up more speeds in total and more powershift steps for a further improvement in speed control versatility. Within each of the five ranges, the operator can shift manually or automatically among six powershift ratios to find the best ground speed for the prevailing conditions and the work being done.
While VT-Drive is available only with Premium specification models, McCormick X7 Series tractors equipped with P6-Drive are available in both Premium and the simpler Efficient specification. The latter will suit operators who want the same powertrain performance, but are happy with manual spool valves and fewer electronic features.
For more information visit: www.mccormick.it/en/.
