Stihl Launches BT140, Its First Battery-Powered Auger
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
Built for spreading both fertiliser and lime, Amazone says the ZG-TX is a popular choice for farmers and contractors, so the features, including an integrated weighing system and automated rate control for lime spreading.
Already offering versatility and accuracy for spreading lime and fertilisers, the new weighing system gives operators accurate hopper fill level information, that the manufacturer suggests will also make it easier to set spread rates for both product groups.
The system is configured with a pair of weigh cells mounted between the axle and frame, along with a drawbar-mounted sensor, to continuously measure the load.
All information for the weighing system is displayed on the ISOBUS terminal, allowing operators to quickly calibrate application rates, achieved after spreading a known amount of material, from where the system checks the hopper weight and automatically calculates the calibration factor. The company says this removes the need to manually measure material bulk density and helps ensure accurate application across a wider range of products.
When combined with the ZG-TX’s optional work lights, the system can also help during filling, particularly at night or in poor lighting conditions, by flashing once a pre-determined fill height has been reached, so eliminating spills and resultant waste.
The new FlowControl function automates spread rate regulation for lime, using torque measurement technology through newly developed gearboxes to monitor and adjust the flow of material, by continuously measuring the torque loading at the spreading discs.
Already well proven in conventional fertiliser-spreading applications, operators enter the target application rate, and the system automatically monitors and adjusts material flow rates during operation.
Amazone suggests this helps “maintain a consistent spread rate and improves accuracy”, particularly when using lime products that can vary in quality or flow characteristics.
These new technology upgrades are available on all ISOBUS-equipped ZG-TX models, including the ZG-TX Super and the ZG-TX Special, which offer maximum permissible weights of 21 and 12.5 tonnes respectively.
