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The Steketee EC-Steer parallel steering frame from German manufacturer Lemken.
With growing interest in mechanical weed control to avoid the spiraling costs of herbicides, the Steketee EC-Steer parallel steering frame from German manufacturer Lemken turns un-steered hoeing machines from other manufacturers into implements with joystick or camera-controlled steering.
Offering a simple option for farmers or growers looking to upgrade their existing hoeing technology or swap between systems, a three-point mounted steering frame enables smooth and precise steering. Working with open lower link stabilisers at the tractor means there are no lateral movements being transferred between the tractor and the steering frame. Drivers can control the machine from their seat using a joystick or the IC-Light camera steering system. Camera steering enables the machine to differentiate between crop plants and weeds by recognising different shades of green or the RGB colour spectrum, resulting in automated hoeing to within two centimetres of the plant.
The parallel steering frame is available as an integral part of standard Steketee machines or as a stand-alone unit that can be used to upgrade other hoeing machines. Available in two versions, the EC-Steer 7 is suitable for hoes weighing up to 2,500kg and a maximum working width of six metres. An open three-point headstock allows a camera to be positioned centrally on the steering frame to cover a large field of view.
The EC-Steer 9 features a reinforced frame, so is suitable for larger hoes weighing up to 4,000kg and a working width of up to nine metres.
www.lemken.com
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With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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