Farming smarter with technology
The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry professionals from across the country.
Now it looks like Krone is pulling its two areas of expertise together and bridging the gap between agriculture and road transport, with the recently announced GX 520 AgriLiner trailer - an extension of its GX universal transport wagon range.
Intended for field and road work and coupled to the fifth wheel of a road truck, rather than a tractor hitch, the GX 520 AgriLiner is based on the body of the GX 520 universal transport wagon with the third axle removed, allowing space the rear axle of the prime mover.
At this stage, the company mentions the trailer being matched an Agro Truck, with images of a matching green tractor cab unit taking up towing duties. This appears to be a Mercedes Benz Arocs tractor unit, from a range that is currently aimed at the construction and utilities industries. Vehicles from this stable are available in a multitude of combinations with all-wheel-drive and two grades of chassis build, as well as various axle arrangements, so pulling a trailer of forage around a field would be one of the easier tasks asked of them.
The Mercedes ArgoTruck is listed as delivering 510hp, putting it on par with the largest field tractors in general use on European farms, although applying that to the ground via road size tyre equipment, may offer a challenge in some conditions, although having it available for general haulage duties is a huge bonus.
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The GX 520 AgriLiner is coupled to the fifth wheel of a road truck, rather than a tractor hitch. |
Rural News understands that speeding up the haulage element of forage harvesting chain is the main aim of the new combination, a fact already recognised in New Zealand, with many contractors using road-based trucks as part of their operations.
Offering a volume of up to 52m³ which, in combination with the spring-loaded conveyor belt connected to the front wall, allows a variety of goods to be conveyed without damage. To facilitate loading, the floor belt can be run in either direction, enabling not only loose material to be carried, but also pallet goods and other miscellaneous items.
