Italian stallions hit the spot
Having got throught the ravages of PSA, kiwifruit production has bounced back delivering record harvests and record prices for orchards.
The 380mm diameter high-performance coulters are made of pre-tensioned boron steel for high wear resistance. Fitted on a row spacing of between 12.5cm and 16.6cm, the coulter pressure can be hydraulically adjusted from 15 to 100kg. This ensures accurate contour tracking on hilly terrain and precise seed placement, even with small seeds.
Coulter pressure is adjusted using the pressure relief valve, while working depth is altered using the mechanical crank handles. Depth guidance rollers with running widths of 50, 65 or 80mm can be fitted to match to light, meium or heavy soil conditions. A coulter harrow, with adjustable operating intensity, can be fitted to the wheel carriers of the second coulter row.
CLAAS Harvest Centre product manager Steve Gorman says the new coulters incorporate several technical innovations.
"TwinTeC+ coulters provide reliable operation under all soil types and operating conditions," he explains.
,p>"Even with crusted surfaces, heavy soils or undulating ground, the coulter reliably reaches the placement death. They cut perfet seed furrows with accurate depth at operating speeds of between 10 and 20km/h."
Gorman says the wide spacing between coulters and rows, together with the relatively flat 10-degree pitch of the seeding discs, ensures good throughput and blockage-free operation - even under different conditions.
Alternatively, the Cirrus can be equipped with the existing RoTeC single disc coulters, which are ideal for use on heavy or sticky soils or if there is a high amount of crop residues.
The coulter arm, manufactured from forged steel, thickens at the end and is interlocked with tongue and groove - thereby creating a longer and stronger welding seam. The coulters are attached to the machine frame via a special bearing clampmade of high-strength forged steel.
Embossing on the inside of the clamp prevents the four shock-absorbing rubber cords from moving or twisting. There is also a metal stop preventing the coulter arm from swinging up during road transport.
The disc carrier arms also carry a guide extension, which prevents the seed from jumping within the furrow, a closer that presses the seed into the bottom of the furrow for uniform placement.
