The new Maxima 3 TIe precision drill from Kuhn will be going out on a series of on-farm demonstrations in the UK in spring 2023.
“We’re excited to get out on farms to demonstrate what this new model is capable of,” product specialist Edd Fanshawe said. “It’s an opportunity to show operators how the Maxima can perform in a wide variety of soil types.”
The six-row TIe machine being used for the tour is part of the range that extends up to 12 rows with a telescopic chassis offering row spacings from 45cm up to 80cm. Electric drive technology also enables variable seed rates. This can be done manually from the tractor cab or as determined by a variable-rate map.
“Work carried out by Kuhn in the development of the technology showed that varying the seed rate in response to soil conditions can lead to seed savings of 10 per cent when used in conjunction with section control,” Mr Fanshawe added. “In addition to seed savings, variable seed rate also optimises plant populations according to available water and soil nutrients, resulting in an overall potential yield gain of between five and eight per cent, and seeding rates of up to 600,000 plants/ha.”
Maxima 3 precision drills are suitable for drilling maize, sunflower, beetroot, sugar beet, peas, beans, and other crops where row spacings from 45 to 80cm are used. The range includes 12 models in a choice of configurations, with electric drive versions being available in mounted formats, including telescopic, foldable, and telescopic with adjustable spacing.
“With electrically driven models exclusively available with ISObus compatibility, control can be facilitated from either the tractor terminal or Kuhn’s own CCI terminal,” Mr Fanshawe said. “With 48-volt electrical power entirely independent of the tractor, constant and smooth operation of the seeding mechanism is maintained, with seed rate variation and section control being instant and precise to avoid any seed wastage.”
Both mechanical and electric versions of the Maxima 3 range use an improved seed selection and ejection system that enables accurate seed placement at high working speeds of up to 10km/hr. Accuracy is also enhanced by a new seeding unit parallelogram that’s reinforced in key areas, including at critical hinges and linkages, for added stability, robustness and longevity.
