Friday, 24 January 2020 11:52

Self-propelled mixer wagons saves time when feeding large herds

Written by  Mark Daniel
Kuhn SPW self-propelled mixer. Kuhn SPW self-propelled mixer.

Kuhn's new SPV Access and Power self-propelled silage cutter and mixer models have been developed to provide users with a compact, low height, easy to handle machine, with a 126kW (170hp) engine.

Available from 12 to 17 m3 and suited to farms with more than 80 dairy cows, the single vertical auger models are designed with a rear steering axle allowing for a short turning radius.

This new range features several models to meet varying herd sizes, with the SPV Access offered in 12, 14 and 15 cu metre capacities with a 90hp milling head, while the SPV Power is available in 12, 14, 15 and 17 cube sizes with a 120hp milling head.

The rear steering axle offers a 5.9m turning radius, making manoeuvring in silos or accessing narrow feeding passages easy, while the optional front steering axle can be specified to reduce the turning radius to only 5.0m

The engine is placed between the cab and the tub, so offering comfortable access to perform routine maintenance.

Described as an “easy to drive” machine, precise machine control is actioned via an ergonomic joystick, with an optional pedal-controlled layout if preferred. A choice of two different control terminals, the VT 30 or CCI 50, use a simple interface logic for control of the Loading, Mixing and Feeding modes.

The panoramic cab allows the operator to move safely within confined spaces, utilising 360° lighting for dark operating environments and forward-mounted electric retractable rear-view mirrors.

The design of the new range is said to allow large volumes while overall heights remain low. For example, a 15 m3 machine can now operate in buildings with less than 3.00m headroom, achieved by positioning the mixer tub low between the axles.

The machines feature right and/or left-hand side discharge, allowing feed passages requiring simultaneous, bilateral distribution to be handled in one pass. Both units can be equipped with a retractable feed conveyor under the tub, that in transport mode, remains within the machine’s outline, so protecting against impact damage.

The 2-metre wide milling heads are said to deal with all fodder and feed types, benefitting from automated control of the milling head on the downstroke to allow the force to be adapted to the density of the fodder being loaded

The mixing auger is powered hydraulically with two speed ranges. In the “mixing” mode, it ensures complete cutting and mixing of the products at 15 rpm with the ACCESS models and 20 rpm with the POWER models. In the “feeding” mode, the tubs increase speed to 38 rpm for the ACCESS and at 50 rpm for the POWER versions.

www.kuhn.co.nz

More like this

Kuhn unveils 14.5m mower for high HP harvesters

With most forage harvester manufacturers offering machines touching 1000hp, the logistics puzzle has always been ‘dropping” grass and pulling into a swath big enough to feed the “beast”.

Silage cover reduces wastage

Waikato farmer Dave Muggeridge was fed up with water seeping in through his maize silage cover and spoiling feed.

Kuhn bags tech award

French company KUHN has won a EIMA Technical Innovation Award for its Baler Automation Technology.

How to make perfect silage

Creating perfect silage is both a science and an art, and it all begins with the right tools, according to machinery maker Claas.

Featured

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

DairyNZ plantain trials cut nitrate leaching by 26%

DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.

National

Machinery & Products

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Full cabinet

OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter