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The new QM Command control joystick replaces the previous Ergo Drive.
Trima Loaders from the Alo Group in Sweden are the preferred loader for Deutz-Fahr tractors, supplied in NZ by Power Farming.
As one would expect from the largest loader manufacturer in the world and the inventor of the first detachable machine, the company’s brands have many features, such as a unique sub frame design, integral weighing systems and precise control. Recent updates to the control and coupling systems are said to make the loaders even more operator-friendly.
The new QM Command control joystick is the entry point, replacing the previous Ergo Drive. It offers mechanical operation of the loader, while featuring the addition of two general purpose buttons for tractor control. These buttons can be wired to duplicate tractor functions onto the joystick, such as shifting powershift steps for improved output and ease of operation.
The new QE Command control is the premium offering, delivering electronic control, incorporating the same toggle controller as its Easi Drive predecessor. However, there has been a redesign of the joystick’s main body to improve ergonomics and operator comfort. Featuring a pistol grip, the new controller is designed to be grasped in the hand and to use the thumb to control the loader functions.
The new design provides a more stable platform to control the boom, as the operator has their hand firmly grasped around the controller. The controller itself is mounted on an adjustable flexible cable mount, although on some Deutz- Fahr products it can be integrated into the tractor armrest.
The new format means the hand is placed in a more natural position, while like the QM Command, the QE Command version also benefits from the addition of the two general purpose buttons.
Third service and control of the boom suspension (Q Series loaders only) are also standard additions for the QE Command. Meanwhile, extra buttons also offer control of the optional “Q-Companion” weigh scale system that can be retrofitted to all Q series Trima or Quicke booms.
Other options include the Deluxe integrated hydraulic kit that utilises the tractor’s pre-existing, integral hydraulic joystick controls to control the loader through a diverter valve system.
A new multi-coupler makes for fast, efficient connection of the loader’s hydraulic and electrical circuits. It incorporates a new ergonomic design, simplified use and automatic dust protection with a sealed cap to cover the face of the valve assembly when the boom is disconnected from the tractor. The use of new hydraulic components greatly reduces pressure loss through the valve providing a faster operating boom and reducing fuel consumption through reduced load on the hydraulic circuit.
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With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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