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Krone's new testing facility at Lingen.
German manufacturer Krone has opened a new testing facility at its Lingen site.
The Future Lab complex, built in just under a year at a cost of €20million, covers around 30ha and houses 30 staff.
It will be used as a validation comples to allow the company to test machinery, but also to prove supplier componentry before it is installed into Krone products.
On-site, a 4,000 square metre building houses three large-scale test benches - two for servo-hydraulic testing and another to monitor performance levels.
There are also facilities to test components, sub-assemblies, electronic systems and software applications.
A further department is available to test transmissions - particularly conducting 'lifetime usage' evaluations. This is before these are incorporated into products such as the Big X foragers, Big Pack balers and the recently released Premos pellet harvester.
Making the most of the latest energy saving technologies, the building features solar panels for electricity generation.
The indoor facilities are complemented by a 1.1km test track that offers gradients up to 18% that will be used for driving tests, homologation procedures and software validation.
"The facility will provide us with excellent opportunities to explore the industry's rapidly emerging technologies, such as autonomous driving strategies," says Krone Group chair Bernard Krone.
In other Krone news, following on from the Big X 480, 530, 580 and 630 models being configured to a 3.0m transport width as far back as 2013, the larger 680, 780, 880 and 1180 models are to follow suit, courtesy of a new 680/80 R38 front tyres option.
Compatible with all types of headers, using the optional transport running gear for the XCollect maize header, all Big X models now stay within the bounds of maximum permissable axle load ratings, according to the company.
Anyone who has been round baling and released a completed bale on a slope will remember the feeling of dread as the bale gathers speed and rolls off down the hillside, hopefully to be stopped by the hedgerow or the paddock levelling out.
Swiss-based Ecorobotix has announced its entry into the New Zealand market through a strategic partnership with Canterbury-based New Zealand Tractors.
Power Farming has announced a new chapter in its partnership with JCB, which having represented the UK-based company’s construction equipment for over three years, now sees the relationship expanding to include the renowned JCB Agriculture product range.
Access to innovation will benefit New Zealand farmers and growers with a broad toolkit of options.
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri says its kiwifruit has now reached more than 100 million households globally.
Scales Corporation managing director Andy Borland says the company has delivered an outstanding result.
A key element in Massey University’s research programme is its Farmed Landscapes Research Centre (FLRC).
Massey University is regarded by many as New Zealand’s leading tertiary education and research institute for the country’s primary industries.
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