New Pottinger Novacat comes with automated curve control
Triple 'butterfly' or dual mower combinations have become increasingly popular, offering increased output and better utilisation of tractors that keep gaining horsepower.
Pottinger has introduced upgrades from the large trailed HIT tedder series to smaller 8-rotor models with working widths of up to 8.86m.
The headstock is a sturdy three-point pivoting unit with absorber struts as standard and the best tracking performance prevents the tedder from jolting during operation, working well on slopes. The horizontal headstock guidance provides high clearance at headland turns and prevents under-running on slopes.
A newly designed DynaTech rotor unit and tine arm has been introduced, using smaller rotor diameters and either five or six curved tine arms. And a new tine design ensures optimum tedding quality and ground tracking for a superior spread pattern, giving faster and more uniform wilting of forage.
This rotor geometry ensures forage cannot snag or wrap around the tine arms, and a gentle uptake by the trailing, sweeping arms ensures the crop is subjected to less damage between the tine arms, reducing crop losses.
Spreading angles can be adjusted on each rotor in three steps without tools.
All rotors have 16 x 6.5-8 tyres, better protected from contamination by a newly designed axle. An optional front jockey wheel system is available which ensures optimum ground tracking for protection of the sward and forage.
The new HIT 8.91 T trailed version has transport wheels that fold up hydraulically over the rotors during operation, achieving an optimal centre of gravity and preventing oscillation during work. These make it ideal for use with smaller tractors.
Operation is straightforward, activated using a double-acting connection with sequential control. Fence line tedding systems are available for all models to clear the crop from fence lines.
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Former chief executive of Beef+Lamb New Zealand Scott Champion will head the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) from July.
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