Cultivation, seeding, fertiliser and crop-care machinery previewed ahead of major show Amazone staged a European press event to announce its latest products and innovations ahead of the Agritechnica show this November. David Williams was there.
The popular Amazone Pantera range has been expanded to include a larger 7,000-litre model.
The Amazone event was held on land adjacent to the Amazone sprayer factory in North Germany. Working demonstrations of most machines were planned but, like many other European press events so far this year, inclement weather prevented field work. However, there were plenty of new products on show, and the Amazone team was kept busy throughout the event explaining new features and their benefits for users.
140th anniversary
This year, Amazone is celebrating 140 years since the company was founded in 1883. The German press event started with an introduction by managing director Cristian Dreyer, who talked about the company’s recently acquired experimental and demonstration farm, which also includes the fascinating Amazone museum. The site is 120ha of which there are 32ha of trial plots where techniques such as companion planting, wider row spacing and controlled row farming are being evaluated.
Cristian said that the company’s sales for 2022 totalled €804M, contrasting with €650M the previous year. Exports account for 80% of production and, at the sprayer factory, nothing is manufactured unless it is sold.
Future farming
Joint managing director, Dr Justus Dreyer talked about future innovations, including automated machine operation, and he said that the ability to pre-plan work and load applications onto the machine before arriving at the field, as well as automation in the field using features such as Amazone WindControl for spreading, all contribute to increased precision and the ability to maximise efficiency and work rates.
Larger Pantera
One of the highlights for larger UK farms and contractors: a new, higher capacity Pantera self-propelled sprayer is joining the line-up. The new 7004 model has a 7,000-litre glass fibre-reinforced plastic tank – an increase of 2,500 litres over the current 4504. Like the current Pantera, the new model features an extremely efficient liquid circuit developed to minimise residual fluid. There is a 500-litre clean water tank at the rear of the sprayer, positioned to help maintain a low centre of gravity even with an empty main spray tank.
The new sprayer’s unladen weight is approximately 12t, and Amazone explained that a priority during its design was achieving similar ground contour following capability to the smaller version. A new chassis keeps the weight low for stability and pneumatic suspension keeps the machine level on side slopes. The new running gear featuring independent trailing arm suspension is unique, says the company. The hydro-pneumatic suspension is adaptive and intelligent control maintains maximum stability and comfort.
Hydraulic track width adjustment from 2.00–2.75m is standard, but the Pantera-W version can achieve wider 2.25–3.00m track widths. Ground clearance for both versions is approximately 1.3m.
The hydraulic axle adjustment also allows offset track operation, helping spread the weight so that only one wheel passes over each piece of ground. This is particularly suitable for operation on stubbles, and in wet conditions where plants are small enough to withstand the wheels.
The slope compensation activates automatically responding to angle information from sensors.
There are three levels of cab equipment, all with Cat 4 filtration as standard. The control armrest is new and tailored specifically for the self-propelled sprayer application, and the AmaDrive terminal operates the base vehicle while the spraying system is controlled through Isobus.
The engine is 306hp and drive to the wheels is hydraulic. The piston diaphragm spray pumps provide 710 litres/min total output, and the injection principle achieves filling rates of 700 litres/min.
Boom widths of 24–48m are available with ContourControl active boom guidance.
DirectInject is an option, allowing additional spray products to be added as and when required at the touch of a button, and it is also a new option for the smaller 4504 models.
Future technologies
Amazone is working with Claas and AgXeed to accelerate development of autonomous and semi-autonomous tractor and implement combinations. At the event, a Cenio 3000 Super tine cultivator with AutoTill technology was displayed. This makes it possible for the cultivator to record its performance automatically as soon as it engages the soil, in accordance with pre-defined parameters. Integrated sensors across the working elements monitor the conditions and change settings as required.
The Cenio 4000-2 4m folding mulch cultivator will be shown for the first time at Agritechnica. It joins narrower 3.0 and 3.5m models in the line-up, and the new 4m hydraulic folding variant is suitable for tractors from 105–275hp.
Convenient adjustment
New Catros+ 03-2 compact mounted disc harrows are available in folding versions of 4, 5, 6 and 7m working widths. There is also a trailed TS variant of the same models.
The Catros is ideal for shallow tillage and intensive mixing. The complete third generation range includes models from 2.5–12.0m.
The Smart Frame System frame concept means that the Catros only needs aligning with the field surface once. Working depth is adjusted by rotating the disc carrier arms, so that they rotate away from the frame for deeper working and towards the frame for shallow work. The design means the frame is always parallel to the soil, so all discs maintain the correct depth, and hydraulic control means there is no need for the user to leave the cab.
Schmotzer manufactures mechanical hoes and weeders, and the company was acquired by Amazone in 2019. A new compact VR 2 Linear Shift Frame which provides side travel across 600mm was displayed at the event, along with a mounted hoe.
Larger spreader and CurveControl
The mounted spreader range has been expanded with the addition of the ZA-TS 5000 model. Precise spreading up to 54m at rates up to 650kg/min can be achieved. Previous maximum capacity was 4,200 litres, but the new model’s hopper takes up to 5,000 litres to reduce filling frequency and increase daily output.
The Ultra frame and Profis weighing system are standard. Intelligent integration of the Profis weighing system within the Isobus software enables the user to monitor fill levels and residual volumes, to define target weights and to fill precisely at any time.
CurveControl is in development as a new software option for all ZA-TS mounted and ZA-TG trailed spreaders. Like CurveControl on Amazone sprayers, the system automatically adjusts application rates across the spread width when turning, to compensate for relative difference in travel speed and application rate across the turning radius.
Hydraulic-driven pump option
As an alternative to DistanceControl automatic boom guidance, the ContourControl system is now available for UF 1602 and 2002 sprayers with boom widths above 27m. The advanced system allows operation closer to the crop down to 50cm with 25cm nozzle spacing.
The UF 1602 and UF 2002 sprayers are also available with hydraulic pump drive as a new option, completely integrated within the hydraulic system as part of the Comfort-Pack. The hydraulic pump drive is controlled through the Load-Sensing system, and operation is through the Isobus software of the UF 02 sprayers. Different pump speeds can be achieved for filling, agitating and spraying, and pump speed control is independent of the tractor engine or travel speed. Minimum oil flow requirement is just 50 litres/min, allowing use with smaller tractors.
Drill news included the Centaya-C Special harrow-mounted seed drill with a twin-chamber hopper.
The new drill has a 1,500 litre capacity with the hopper divided 70:30, enabling two different materials to be metered separately and precisely. Infinitely-adjustable metering allows seed rates of 0.5–400kg/ha at up to 10kph.
Read more seeding, fertiliser, crop-care and cultivation machinery news from Farmers Guide here.
