Pöttinger has introduced the Boss 3000 Master Series of forage wagons for smaller-scale farm businesses. The company said its engineers had succeeded in reducing maintenance requirements to a minimum with a loading unit developed from the ground up, while at the same time significantly increasing throughput capacity.
In addition, new smart options, previously only available on larger wagons, are now also available for the Boss. This powerful yet compact wagon also meets the demands for maximum forage conservation. It’s available in four sizes from 18.7 to 26.5 cubic metres; two of them also with beater rotors. The Boss 3000 Master series will be available from August 2022.
In terms of throughput and cost-effectiveness, the innovative Evomatic loading unit delivers an impressive 25 per cent more loading power and runs extremely smoothly. The conveying elements are bolted to a shaft. Wear and maintenance work are significantly reduced as a result. The geometry of the tines and the transfer throat that increases in cross-section towards the rear ensure that the crop is handled gently.
As standard, the Boss is equipped without knives. Six knives can be slotted in as an option. The knife bank with 16 or 31 knives can be folded out by an optional hydraulic system and then swung out alongside using Easymove. All the knives are individually protected against foreign objects. The new loading unit is therefore suitable for bringing in the daily basic ration, classic silage operations, and for harvesting hay and straw with tractors up to 130hp.
Thanks to the numerous equipment options as a high- or low-profile loader wagon with single or tandem axles, the Boss is extremely versatile. For example, a single-axle low loader (LP) model without suspension, combined with a low drawbar, ensures maximum stability on steep ground. A tandem axle with suspension and a parallel lift drawbar provides the best ride at up to 40km/hr on the road.
The models with beater rotors are available with load capacities of 20.5 and 23.1 cubic metres – the Boss 3210DB and Boss 3240DB. The two beater rotors can be supplemented by a third if required. A cross conveyor belt is also available. This is driven mechanically and therefore has no extra demands on the tractor. If the cross conveyor belt isn’t needed, it can simply be pushed under the loader wagon. For working with hay, the beater rotors can now easily be removed in just a few minutes, increasing the loading space by approximately one cubic metre.
The pick-up with an effective width of 1,800mm has a freedom of movement of 120mm at the outermost tine. A trailing jockey wheel chassis improves ground tracking in especially demanding terrain. Ground tracking can also be optimised with the Autotast active parallel lift drawbar. This gives the pick-up the maximum arc of movement in bumpy terrain.
Another of the pick-up’s special features is that it is driven by a V-belt. This is wear-free and can ideally accommodate the floating action of the pick-up. Naturally, the five tine carriers are controlled from the side by a cam track. This ensures clean and tidy raking and safe transfer of forage to the loading unit in all conditions. A crop swath roller is also standard.
In addition to the advantages of the lightweight dry forage extension with hydraulic folding option, crop could still get stuck between the struts or fall out. This is now a thing of the past: optional nets can be used to line the chamber; they’re easy to install and are very light. Cleaning and load retention system are significantly improved. In addition, a practical automatic loading system is now available for the dry forage extension. For longer working days an LED lighting package is also available.
With ISObus compatibility even for the most straightforward kit, Pöttinger is responding to the increasingly modern tractors being introduced even at the lower end of the power range. A dedicated control terminal is still available if required, of course. The new Select Control terminal now offers a 4.6-inch touch screen in addition to eight function keys.
The loader wagon can be equipped in three levels:
> from simple pre-select control with the functions implemented by the tractor spool valve;
> to automatic features with a hydraulic system for the scraper floor; and
> to load-sensing hydraulics with functions implemented directly from the terminal.
In addition to reduced maintenance thanks to the new Evomatic loading unit and the pick-up’s V-belt drive, users can rest assured regarding other maintenance aspects. A lubrication system greases the chain drive on the loading unit as standard. If any maintenance is needed, the wagon indicates the job in the service counter, which is also standard. Optimised hydraulics routing, large maintenance openings, plastic body panels and slanting mudguards make it easy to clean the wagon at the end of the season.
