A new generation of Siloking Kverneland Duo vertical twin-auger diet feeders has been introduced to sit above the existing range of Duo models. As a premium range, the new high-specification models use an all-new platform that offers greater strength and provides increased mixing efficiency when compared to the current range.
The new Duo 1814, 2218 and 3022 series are aimed at professional dairy and livestock producers with larger herds, handling high volumes of forage on a continuous basis. As a result, the new models benefit from advanced engineering features that deliver much greater reliability, lower fuel consumption and improved mixing performance that‘s suited to high use environments.
Improved mixing performance is a direct result of a conical hopper design that enhances the working efficiency of the Duo’s vertical augers, and this is based on experience gained from Kverneland’s high performance self-propelled models. The hopper design creates a much better flow of material inside the feeder, and requires much less power to operate – typically 18 per cent less than the standard models.
The adoption of a FlowPlus ring around the inner, top circumference of the hopper supercedes the traditional hay ring, and reduces the risk of blockages when processing bales. The FlowPlus ring also reduces peak torque loads on the machine, and this latest round of innovations add up to shorter mixing times, which, in addition to using less fuel, preserves ration quality.
Reflecting their status as a premium range of feeders, the Duo 1814, 2218 and 3022 series get advanced wireless control systems that allow the loader driver to carry out remote weighing and operation of hydraulic functions. Called Siloking Wireless Transfer (SWT), the wireless system operates with a handheld terminal that contains a series of control functions and a display – the latter is an alternative to the feeder’s on-board display scale that can often be difficult to see in bright sunlight when loading.
The hand-held terminal shares information stored on the diet feeder’s main electronic control box, making ration data much easier to access via the screen. It can also be configured to allow operation of feed discharge conveyors and doors, in addition to providing weighing functions.
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| The new Duo 1814, 2218 and 3022 series are aimed at professional dairy and livestock producers with larger herds. |
Using remote radio communications, the system offers a working range of up to 1.5km and an additional hand-held terminal affords one for the loader, and one for the feeder tractor. The SWT packages can also be linked to feed management software, allowing on-line access to feed management software.
A wider, ladder-frame chassis also makes these latest diet feeders much more rigid and with a change in the load cell mounting, improves weigher accuracy through the multiple load bars that separate the hopper from the chassis.
Discharge doors are now wider and taller, and available on all four corners of the feeder, while a patented TwinLift height-adjustable, sliding cross conveyor offers greater versatility when unloading in narrow buildings. This wider conveyor compliments the larger unloading doors, allowing faster discharge even with bulky, long–fibre mixes often seen in dry cow diets.
The TwinLift design allows the cross conveyor to be pushed out beyond the width of the feeder, while its height can be raised by 50cm, to give an unloading height of 1.2m. On-road stability is also enhanced with parabolic springs and ADR commercial axles now fitted as part of the premium models’ standard specification.
Other changes to the range include a new planetary gearbox design for each vertical auger. These gearboxes benefit from a four-pinion system to give greater durability and higher load capability – an increase of 69 per cent over the standard auger driver system. In addition, the new Duo models get a revised oil tank location that affords better protection.
The new Siloking Kverneland Duo series covers 14-30 cubic metres capacity, with prices starting from £29,345 (November 2012 price).
For more information visit: uk.kverneland.com.
