Transmissions factory for big brands
Italian tractor manufacturer Argo Tractors, builders of the McCormick, Landini and Valpadana marques, has opened a new factory to develop and manufacture transmissions for those brands.
Continuously variable transmissions (CVT) – or varios – have found increasing favour especially with contractors who need continuous adjustment of speed during, say, harvesting, baling or transport work. There a conventional fixed ratio power shift set-up might not offer the exact speed required.
The McCormick VT range has three, 4-cyl models from 144 to 166hp, with 'power boost' in PTO and transport work taking output to 175hp. Also offered are two 6-cyl units rated at 165 and 177hp, with 'boost' giving a maximum of 192hp.
For the VT project the company has partnered with transmission industry leader ZF, whose latest Terramatic unit
has software developed by Argo.
Product specialist Paul Wade says "the design brief was to make the VT easy and intuitive to drive. First time users can jump on and drive away, and over time explore the tractors' sophisticated features".
In operation the VT system offers four driving modes:
auto – push the pedal and go, just like the family car
manual – upper and lower engine speeds are set and the driver controls the travel speed. This is useful for keeping the tractor in a power band that exploits the torque and power available, so would be good for heavy draft work
Cruise control for constant speed
PTO mode which maintains shaft speed and adjusts travel speed as load demands.
Supplementing the four driving modes are four speeds bands – 0-3km/h, 0-12km/h, 0-21km/h and 0-40 or 50km/h – which can be pre-programmed for specific tasks. It is interesting to note that the change between each of the speed ranges is seamless, unlike some other two range systems on the market that require the tractor to be stationary before the change can be made.
The cabin and drivers spaces focuses on ergonomics; a noatable feature is a seat mounted control console with a 12 inch touch screen displaying transmission, engine, PTO and hydraulic functions, and optional display of GPS and ISOBUS control through the same screen
Generally the rest of the tractors' specifications are the same as the semi-power shift X7 Pro-Drive models introduced last year, with features such as 9300kg lift capacity, 123L hydraulic flow via a load sensing system, and a total of up to 4 rear and 2 mid-mount remotes.
Expect to see first models in NZ mid 2016.
