JCB: New folding forks boost wheeled-loader productivity

New hydraulic-folding forks designed for shifting large quantities of forage and similar materials have been launchged by JCB to further boost the productivity of the company’s highest-output wheeled loaders, especially when working on silage clamps.

The new heavy-duty Folding Grass Fork comes in two sizes with increased load volume capacity at 5.50 cubic metres for the JCB419S and 6.70 cubic metres for the ultimate clamp-filling machine, the JCB435S.

Both sizes of the new JCB Folding Grass Fork have hydraulically-deployed side extensions that fold-out and fold-in on 65mm wear-resistant hardened pins and bushes. This provides maximum capacity in work and a convenient transport width of 2.97 metres with the wing sections securely locked when travelling between farms.

An optional lighting kit and tine guard are available for added safety when on the move, and when the fork is not in use, an integral storage dock keeps hydraulic hose couplings out of the dirt.

Both versions have been designed and engineered for optimum strength and weight, which together with the increased volume capacity, maximises the performance potential of the JCB loaders, resulting in increased productivity when filling forage crop storage clamps for winter cattle feed or anaerobic digester energy production.

The managing director of JCB Agriculture, John Smith, said the front-end implements produced by the company’s attachments division were performance-matched to each machine in the extensive JCB materials handling range, from fixed and telescopic boom skid-steer loaders, through compact wheeled loaders and telescopic handlers, to the industry’s only purpose-built agricultural wheeled loading shovels.

The new Folding Grass Forks are supplied complete with the relevant couplings and fittings and, like all JCB agricultural attachments, are certified “ready to work” on the chosen host machine.

The 3.62m wide, 5.50 cubic metre Folding Grass Fork is designed for existing JCB419S loaders or the latest Euro Stage V version featuring Dynamic power management, which provides up to 195hp and 881Nm when outright performance is needed.

JCB Q-fit or Industrial couplings are available with the 5.50 cubic metre fork, while the 4.40m wide 6.70 cubic metre version built exclusively for the JCB435S comes with the heavier-duty Industrial couplings only.

The JCB435S meets Euro Stage V emissions requirements and up to 252hp and peak torque of 1,186Nm.

The wear-resistant 65mm x 40mm x 1,190mm steel tines have smooth wear plates to prevent build-up of material. They are spaced 200mm apart and welded into a 125mm x 240mm main beam, which is reinforced and protected by a 305mm x 25mm thick strip of high wear-resistance steel on the underside.

A prominent JCB logo is laser cut into the perforated central back-plate, while square tube uprights retain the load across the rest of the fork while providing a clear view ahead when manoeuvring the loader to drive into a pile of grass or maize.

For more information visit: www.jcb.com.