Tractor, harvester IT comes of age
Over the last halfdecade, digital technology has appeared to be the “must-have” for tractor and machinery companies, who believe that bringing IT to tractors and farming will offer its customers huge benefits.
Valtra Unlimited works closely with other companies to supply factory- fitted implements and systems. The origin of the Valtra brand-follows on from Valmet tractors being fitted with bespoke systems or accessories. The name Valtra stuck, so from 1997, Valmet was shelved and the new name applied to all new tractors onwards.
Part of the AGCO stable, at one time, the parent company toyed with the idea of merging its Valtra, Massey Ferguson, and Fendt brands to form the AGCO tractor brand. This idea met fierce opposition from the companies concerned, who still defend their independence with vigour, resulting in Fendt building a premium tractor, MF focused on improving the everyday machine and Valtra providing a tractor tailored to the individual.
As part of the Valtra Unlimited psyche, things started out with a myriad of colours, large arrays of extra lighting and off course an air horn, while also expanding the mechanical capabilities of the tractors. More recently, the installation of digital systems over and above standard spec has become an important part of its business.
As an example, the VIEW safety feature increases safety for people working within proximity of the tractor. Using front and rearmounted cameras and artificial intelligence to detect objects moving in front of the tractor, the operator can switch between camera views displayed on a high-resolution screen and alerted to potential hazards by warning lights and sounds.
In other news, while fire suppression systems are popular on forest machines, Valtra believes there might also be a market for such items on farm tractors.
Due to the enclosed nature of key components such as engines, hydraulics, fuel lines, electrical installations and exhaust after treatment system, tractor fires spread quickly but are also difficult to put out with a handheld extinguisher.
Claimed as a fast, compact, and efficient technique to extinguish a blaze, Valtra’s automatic fire suppression system comprises an agent storage tank linked to a network of hoses and nozzles located under the bonnet and cab.
Fitted at the Unlimited Studio at the Suolahti factory in Finland and available for fitting to the N5, T5 and Q5 ranges, operators release the extinguishing agent by pressing a button on the in-cab control box, while remote activation is also available to operate the system remotely.
